Partnership with Children

What Partnership with Children does

Partnership with Children (PWC) is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1908 (118 years of continuous operation) that delivers trauma-informed counseling, community school programming, and healing-based arts education to students in New York City public schools. The organization embeds licensed clinical social workers directly into partner schools across all five NYC boroughs, currently operating in 54+ schools and serving more than 17,000 students annually in high-poverty communities. Its portfolio is organized around three core pillars: Trauma-Informed Counseling (with full-time LCSWs and crisis intervention), PWC Community Schools (family outreach and resource connection under the mayor's community schools initiative), and Healing Arts Education (arts-based therapies, augmented by the 2020 integration of The Center for Arts Education). Supporting programs include Summer Quest, Freedom Schools (a Children's Defense Fund partnership), Restorative Justice programs in Brooklyn schools, the Jeppe Hein Art Program, and a dedicated Clinical Supervision program for staff development.

The organization has no proprietary technology stack — its core delivery vehicle is human clinical labor. There is no public or partner-facing API, no software product, and no mobile app; service delivery occurs on-site at partner schools during school hours and through school-year and summer extensions. The distribution model is a single contracted channel: direct embedding in NYC Department of Education schools, brokered through relationships with school principals, administrators, and the NYC DOE.

The business model is that of a grant-funded nonprofit: services are provided at no cost to students, families, or schools. Revenue is sourced from foundation and corporate grants (Robin Hood Foundation, Ford Foundation, Brooklyn Community Foundation, Staten Island Foundation, Bank of America, EY, UnitedHealthcare), federal/state grants (FEMA Project Hope, Social Services Block Grant), and individual donations channeled through annual events such as the Inspiration Gala (which raised $1.16M in 2015, up from $575K in 2012). The organization holds a Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating and is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Helena Willner, with CEO Wesner Pierre leading day-to-day operations since 2022 and a full executive team including CFO, CDO, CPO, and Chief Equity & Strategy Officer.

Name

Partnership with Children

Legal name

Partnership with Children

Website

https://partnershipwithchildren.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Partnership with Children is a New York City nonprofit founded in 1908 that embeds licensed clinical social workers in 54+ NYC public schools, delivering trauma-informed counseling, community school programming, and healing arts education to 17,000+ students annually across high-poverty communities, funded by grants, corporate sponsors, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

School-based Youth Mental Health Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

School-Based Mental & Behavioral Health Services (EDAJAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trauma-Informed Care & Crisis Response (School-Based) (EDAKAMAF), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Mental Health Counseling & Therapy Services (K–12) (EDAJALAG)

Keywords

• Trauma-informed counseling
• School-based social services
• Community school programs
• Youth mental health
• Healing arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Major funding from foundations such as Robin Hood Foundation, Ford Foundation, Brooklyn Community Foundation, and The Staten Island Foundation. Corporate grants from companies including Bank of America, Ernst & Young, and others support specific programs and operational costs.
2. Government Grants: Federal and state funding including FEMA Project Hope grants, Social Services Block Grant ($6.5 million), and Red Cross grants for disaster recovery and mental health services.
3. Individual Donations and Fundraising Events: Annual Inspiration Gala and other fundraising events generate significant revenue. The 2015 gala raised $1.16 million; 2014 gala raised $800,000; 2013 gala raised $750,000; 2012 gala raised $575,000.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Longstanding partnerships with corporations like EY provide both financial support and volunteer engagement for trauma-informed services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Partnership with Children embeds licensed clinical social workers directly in New York City public schools to deliver trauma-informed counseling, social-emotional learning, and family/community outreach. The organization operates three core service pillars — Trauma-Informed Counseling, PWC Community Schools, and Healing Arts Education — supported by programs such as Summer Quest, Freedom Schools, and Restorative Justice initiatives.

Product overview

Partnership with Children is a nonprofit organization providing direct social work and mental health services to New York City public schools. Rather than a software platform, the organization offers a portfolio of service programs organized around three core pillars: Trauma-Informed Counseling (embedded social workers providing mental health support), PWC Community Schools (family outreach and community resource connection), and Healing Arts Education (arts-based therapies for emotional expression). Supporting programs include Summer Quest (summer learning loss prevention), Freedom Schools (Children's Defense Fund partnership), Restorative Justice Programs (disciplinary alternatives), and specialized initiatives like the Jeppe Hein Art Program. The organization also provides professional development for educators and school staff through its Clinical Supervision program. All programs are designed to strengthen the emotional, social, and cognitive skills of children in high-need communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Center for Arts Education at Partnership with Children: Program division focused on healing-based arts therapies helping students express themselves and build resilience through creativity.

Products and services

• Trauma-Informed Counseling

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of students increased self-awareness
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ernst & Young LLP (EY)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2025Longstanding partnership with EY contributing to trauma-informed services for thousands of children annually. John Walsh, Global Client Service Partner at EY, serves on the Board of Directors. EY provides both financial support and volunteer engagement.
• NYC Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner for embedding social workers in NYC public schools. Partnership enables delivery of social-emotional programs across 54+ schools in all five boroughs.
• Children's Defense FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to operate 3 Freedom Schools providing summer programming focused on literacy, conflict resolution, and social-emotional development.
• United Way of New York CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with NYC Department of Education and United Way under mayor's community school initiative to implement Community School model in 3 schools.
• Potbelly Sandwich ShopsminorGTM or Marketing Partner'Chocolateship with Children' milkshake fundraiser partnership where Potbelly donated portion of sales to support PWC programs at NYC schools.
• Soles4SoulsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for exclusive shoe distribution events at partner schools, providing footwear to students in need.
• NYC Department of Youth and Community DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NYC Summer Quest program to combat summer learning loss among high-need students.
• Fund for Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NYC Summer Quest collaborative program delivering enrichment opportunities for students.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Good Shepherd Services: NYC-based nonprofit providing school-based, mental health, and community services to children and families across all five boroughs. Directly comparable in mission, embedded-in-schools delivery model, and target population of high-need NYC youth.
• Children's Aid Society: Long-running NYC child welfare and youth services nonprofit operating school-based programs and community schools in high-poverty neighborhoods. Comparable in focus on K-12 social-emotional support, family engagement, and DOE partnerships.
• SCO Family of Services: NYC-based nonprofit serving children, youth, and families through a range of programs including school-based services, foster care, and mental health support. Directly comparable in embedded school-based service model and youth mental health focus.
• Communities In Schools: National nonprofit that places site coordinators inside K-12 schools to deliver integrated student supports including mental health, SEL, and crisis intervention. Closely matches PWC's embedded-in-schools service model, while operating at much greater national scale.
• Children's Defense Fund: National child advocacy nonprofit that operates the Freedom Schools program in partnership with PWC. Comparable in youth development mission and Freedom Schools summer programming, with similar focus on high-need K-12 populations.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities of New York: One of the largest NYC social services networks providing youth, family, mental health, and community programs, often funded by government grants and contracts. Overlaps significantly with PWC in target population and grant-funded service delivery.
• KIPP NYC: NYC charter school network serving high-need students with strong emphasis on SEL and trauma-informed practice. Comparable in NYC footprint, K-12 student population, and SEL orientation, though as a school operator rather than an external service provider.
• Mental Health America: National nonprofit focused on mental health advocacy, education, and support. Comparable in mental health orientation and nonprofit funding model, but operates at the advocacy/policy level rather than as a direct K-12 service provider.

Emerging players

• City Year New York: Nonprofit placing near-peer tutors and student success coaches in high-poverty public schools, addressing non-academic barriers to learning including SEL and attendance. Overlaps with PWC in DOE partnership for student support, but uses AmeriCorps members rather than licensed clinicians.

Regional players

• Boys' Club of New York: NYC youth development nonprofit offering programs in education, social-emotional learning, and college/career readiness. Comparable in mission and NYC youth focus, though more after-school oriented than fully embedded school social work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/PWCNYC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PartnershipChildren
• Facebookfacebook.com/PartnershipwithChildren
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/partnership-with-children
• Instagraminstagram.com/partnershipwithchildren

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Partnership with Children