HEALS

What HEALS does

HEALS, Inc. (Health Establishments at Local Schools) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1998 and headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama. The organization provides free, school-based primary medical, dental, and optometry care to economically disadvantaged children attending partner elementary schools in the Huntsville City Schools and Madison County Schools districts. Services are delivered through a network of approximately six fixed clinics embedded within partner school facilities, plus a mobile medical and dental clinic launched in 2024 that travels to rural and lower-income neighborhoods across Madison County. The clinical team includes physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, medical assistants, dentists, dental hygienists, optometrists, and interpreters, with all services provided at no cost to families regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

The underlying operating model is a school-embedded health center network in which physical clinic space is co-located within partner schools, removing transportation and financial barriers to pediatric care. Core clinical offerings include well-child physicals, immunizations, acute care, lab work, chronic disease management, dental cleanings, sealants, and restorative work, plus full vision exams with on-site prescription glasses. HEALS also runs support programs such as HEELS for HEALS (a shoe donation initiative linked to well-child visits), social services coordination, and insurance enrollment assistance for Medicaid and AllKids.

HEALS does not generate revenue from service fees. Instead, the organization is funded through diversified contributions including individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation and government grants (including a $195,000 Delta Dental Community Care Foundation grant in 2020), recurring fundraising events (STARS Dancing for HEALS gala and Pars Fore A Purpose golf tournament), planned giving through the Dr. Charles Hall Legacy Society, and in-kind support from community partners. Go-to-market is community-led: enrollment occurs through parents/guardians contacting HEALS staff at site schools, and awareness is built via community engagement, social media (Facebook), and email newsletters. The organization is led by CEO Heather Mason, Chief Nurse & Operations Officer Tomarha Harrison, and Chief Development Officer Risha Sanderson, with governance by a Board of Directors.

Name

HEALS

Legal name

HEALS, Inc.

Website

https://healsinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HEALS, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free school-based medical, dental, and optometry care to underserved children in Huntsville and Madison County, Alabama, delivering services through on-site school clinics and a mobile clinic.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

School-Based Pediatric Healthcare

NAICS

All Other Outpatient Care Centers (621498), Offices of Other Health Practitioners (6213), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

School-Based & Community Women’s/Children’s Health Clinics (HLAFAJAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community & Public Health Dentistry Clinics (FQHC/School-Based/Nonprofit) (HLABAAAF)

Keywords

• School-based healthcare
• Pediatric primary care
• Mobile dental clinic
• Community health services
• School health centers

Headquarters

HQ city

Huntsville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: HEALS relies on charitable donations from individuals, businesses, and community organizations. Annual fundraising events include STARS Dancing for HEALS (annual gala/dance competition), Pars Fore A Purpose (golf tournament), Heels for HEALS (shoe drive), and general donations through online platforms.
2. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Donors can make legacy gifts through wills, trusts, retirement assets, life insurance, charitable gift annuities, IRA rollovers, stock gifts, and lead trusts as part of the Dr. Charles Hall Legacy Society planned giving program.
3. Grant Funding: HEALS receives support from foundations and government grants to fund operations and expansion of services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HEALS, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free, on-site medical, dental, and optometry care to children in underserved communities by embedding clinics within partner elementary schools in Huntsville City Schools and Madison County Schools. Services are delivered regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, and the organization extends its reach through a mobile medical and dental clinic serving rural and lower-income neighborhoods throughout Madison County, Alabama.

Product overview

HEALS, Inc. is a nonprofit healthcare organization providing school-based medical, dental, and optometry services through a multi-location clinic network. The organization operates as a single unified offering centered on accessible pediatric healthcare, with core services including Medical Services, Dental Services, and Optometry Services delivered at elementary school locations. Supporting programs include the HEELS for HEALS shoe donation program, mobile clinic services, and insurance outreach assistance. The organization also conducts fundraising through STARS Dancing for HEALS and Pars Fore A Purpose events, and offers planned giving through the Dr. Charles Hall Legacy Society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HEELS for HEALS: Shoe drive program initiated in 2005 that provides new athletic shoes to children who visit the clinics for yearly well-child checkups
• STARS Dancing for HEALS
• Pars Fore A Purpose
• Dr. Charles Hall Legacy Society
• Supplies/Kits for Kids

Products and services

• Medical Services School-based primary medical care providing well-child check-ups, immunizations, acute care for illness and injury, lab work, sample medications and prescriptions, education and management of chronic diseases (asthma, diabetes), sports physicals, on-site specialist care, and collaborative referral to other specialists for children at partner elementary schools in Huntsville and Madison County.
• Dental Services Comprehensive pediatric dental care delivered at school-based dental clinics, including comprehensive exam and cleaning every 6 months, X-rays, fluoride and sealants, one-on-one dental hygiene education, dental hygiene kits, restorative work (extractions, crowns, fillings), orthodontic evaluations, and dental screenings for eligible children.
• Optometry Services Complete vision and eye health examinations for children at school-based optometry clinics, including full eye exam, acuity testing, ocular pressure checks, visual field test, screening for eye disease such as pink eye and corneal abrasions, referral to outside specialists as needed, and prescription for glasses if needed.
• Mobile Medical & Dental Clinic State-of-the-art mobile clinic that travels to various schools, rural parts of Madison County, and lower-income neighborhoods to deliver well-child physicals, immunizations, acute visits, dental screening, cleanings, and sealants to children in poverty throughout Madison County, Alabama.
• Social Services Family support services for HEALS patients and their families, including locating community resources for food, clothing, shelter and household necessities, chronic disease education, and assistance with health insurance applications (Medicaid, AllKids).

Quantifiable outcome

• School-based health centers reduce student absenteeism by providing accessible care during school hours
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Tyler Mann Injury LawminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 December 2025Law firm that completed the 'Soles for the Season' campaign raising $6,000 and distributing nearly 400 pairs of new shoes to children through HEALS, Inc.
• Graces of Gurley and Gurley CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Community partners who provided dedication and generosity to open the HEALS dental clinic at Madison County Elementary in Gurley, Alabama in 2017.
• Huntsville City SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Major partner school system hosting HEALS medical, dental, and optometry clinics at multiple elementary schools (Martin Luther King Jr., Morris, Sonnie Hereford). Schools provide facility space for clinics.
• Madison County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Partner school system hosting HEALS medical and dental clinics at Madison Cross Roads Elementary and Madison County Elementary.
• Kid One TransportationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransportation resource partner offering transportation to children and expectant mothers to healthcare services.
• The Community Free Dental ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for dental services in the Huntsville community.
• Huntsville Hospital Community Health InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare partner providing specialist referrals and community health support.
• LifeSouth Community Blood CentersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlood center partner providing blood donation services and resources.
• Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber partner supporting business community engagement with HEALS.
• WAAY 31 TVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal television station; media sponsor for STARS event.
• Mental Health Center of Madison CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health services referral partner.
• Reach Out and Read-AlabamaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiteracy program partner providing reading resources.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves21 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Children's Health Fund: National nonprofit that provides healthcare to children in underserved communities via mobile clinics and fixed sites in schools and shelters. Highly comparable to HEALS in mission, mobile-clinic distribution model, and pediatric focus on uninsured/underinsured children.
• The L.A. Trust for Children's Health: California-based nonprofit operating school-based health and wellness programs in Los Angeles Unified School District schools. Directly comparable to HEALS in school-embedded primary care model and pediatric underserved focus.
• America's ToothFairy: National Children's Oral Health Foundation: National nonprofit focused on children's oral health access for underserved communities. Comparable to HEALS' dental program which became 'a model for new clinics across the country'.
• Smile Programs (Smile America Partners): Operates mobile school-based dental programs providing preventive and restorative dental care to children at schools nationwide. Directly comparable to HEALS' dental service line and mobile clinic delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• School-Based Health Alliance: National membership and advocacy organization supporting the school-based health center (SBHC) movement. While not a direct operator, it represents the broader SBHC category in which HEALS operates and shapes funding/regulatory tailwinds.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Large-scale nonprofit improving children's health and well-being via family-centered programs. While their model is housing/access-focused, they are a comparable scale nonprofit in the children's health space with diversified donation-based funding.
• Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures: Colgate-Palmolive's global mobile dental screening and education program reaching underserved children at schools. Comparable to HEALS' mobile dental offering and oral-health-education mission.

Regional players

• Adventist HealthCare: Regional health system that operates community-based and school-linked health programs for underserved populations. Comparable mission of expanding access to primary care for low-income families, though at broader geographic and service scope.

Emerging players

• Nurse-Family Partnership: National nonprofit providing nurse-led home visiting to underserved families with young children. Comparable target population (low-income families with children) and outcomes framework, though different delivery model (home visits vs. school clinics).
• Healthy Schools Campaign: National nonprofit advocating for healthy school environments and school-based health services. Comparable mission of expanding school-based health access, though operating more as an advocacy/advisory body than a direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/healsclinics

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 HEALS