Penfield Children's Center

What Penfield Children's Center does

Penfield Children's Center is a Milwaukee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1967 (originally as the Via Marsi Montessori School for Exceptional Children) that provides integrated early childhood development services from pregnancy through age 5. Its service portfolio spans Head Start and Early Head Start center-based and in-home education (ages 4 weeks to 5 years), First Connections autism intervention, Birth to Three early intervention under a Milwaukee County contract, an outpatient Behavior Clinic using the proprietary Early Pathways treatment model, Growing Together group prenatal care across 12 high-risk ZIP codes, Respite Care for medically complex children, and therapy services (occupational, physical, speech). The organization also operates the Penfield Building Blocks parent resource platform (developed with Kohl's) and the Inclusive Play adaptive toy lending library, built in collaboration with Marquette University's Opus College of Engineering.

The organization serves 2,000+ children and families annually across four primary segments: low-income families qualifying for Head Start, children with developmental delays and disabilities, expecting mothers in high-risk Milwaukee ZIP codes, and children with complex medical needs. Revenue is generated through a mix of federal Head Start grants (a $2,429,423 award in 2024 serving 132 children), foundation grants (Kohl's, Catholic Community Foundation, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, United Way), individual donations and planned giving, county contracts (Milwaukee County Birth to Three), and tuition-based childcare for non-qualifying families.

Penfield is led by President and CEO Polina Makievsky, with a leadership team including a CFO and VPs of Programs, Partnerships and Investments, and Operations, and is governed by an independent board chaired by Donald Wilson of Invesco ETFs. The organization holds NAEYC accreditation, a 5-Star YoungStar rating, and certification as an Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Its go-to-market is community-led and referral-driven, relying on healthcare providers, county agencies, and 40+ community partners for enrollment, supplemented by signature fundraising events such as the annual 31st Croquet Ball and community-facing events including Safety Outpost.

Name

Penfield Children's Center

Legal name

Penfield Children's Center

Website

https://penfieldchildren.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Penfield Children's Center is a Milwaukee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1967 that provides integrated early childhood development services — Head Start education, autism intervention, Birth to Three therapy, mental health, prenatal care, and respite care — serving 2,000+ low-income and at-risk children and families annually from pregnancy through age 5.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Development Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Head Start & Publicly Funded Infant/Toddler Programs (EDACAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Infant/Early Childhood Consultation (0–5) (EDACAFAO), Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ), Infant-Focused Childcare Centers (EDACAAAF), Parenting Skills & Child Development Education (EDACALAA)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Developmental therapy services
• Early intervention programs
• Special care nursing
• Prenatal care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants - Head Start: Federal Head Start funding awarded annually to support early childhood programs serving children from low-income families. The 2024 award was $2,429,423 to serve 132 children in Milwaukee.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including Kohl's, Catholic Community Foundation, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, United Way, and others to support specific programs and operations.
3. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission, including planned giving and legacy gift programs.
4. Program Fees: Tuition-based childcare services for families not qualifying for Head Start funding, with sibling discounts and various payment methods accepted.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Penfield Children's Center provides integrated early childhood development services from pregnancy through age 5, including Head Start and Early Head Start education programs, Birth to Three early intervention, occupational/physical/speech therapy, outpatient mental health (Behavior Clinic), First Connections autism services, Respite Care for medically complex children, and Growing Together group prenatal care. Services are delivered at the Milwaukee campus, in-home, and via telehealth, supported by research-based treatment models developed in partnership with Marquette University.

Product overview

Penfield Children's Center is a Milwaukee-based child development organization offering an integrated portfolio of early childhood programs and services. The core offerings include Head Start and Early Head Start center-based and in-home education programs (ages 4 weeks to 5 years), First Connections autism services, Birth to Three early intervention, and a Behavior Clinic providing mental health therapy. The organization also operates Growing Together pregnancy care, Respite Care for medically complex children, and therapy services (OT, PT, Speech). Supporting programs include Penfield Building Blocks (parent resources), the Inclusive Play: Toys For All adaptive toy lending library, Early Pathways practitioner training, and community events such as the Croquet Match/Ball and Safety Outpost. These programs work together to provide comprehensive support from pregnancy through age five, serving children with and without developmental delays or disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Penfield Building Blocks: A resource platform providing comprehensive educational and developmental services to help children of all abilities reach their full potential, created in collaboration with Kohl's.

Products and services

• Head Start & Early Head Start Programs Center-based early childhood education programs for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers (ages 4 weeks to 5 years), providing school readiness programming at no cost to qualifying low-income families through Head Start funding.
• First Connections Autism Services In-home autism intervention program that teaches parents strategies to address the unique needs of their toddlers with autism, focusing on social interaction and language development for children 14 months to 6 years, using the Pathways Early Autism Intervention Model.
• Birth to Three Program Early intervention services for children birth to 3 years with developmental delays, providing therapy and special education to help children reach age-appropriate milestones under contract with Milwaukee County.
• Behavior Clinic (Mental Health Services) Outpatient mental health clinic providing in-home or telehealth therapy for children 6 years and younger and their caregivers, addressing behavioral, emotional concerns and trauma symptoms using the Early Pathways treatment model.
• Growing Together – Pregnancy Care Group pregnancy care program combining education, peer support, and medical care for pregnant women in Milwaukee, delivering prenatal and postpartum support across 12 high-risk ZIP codes in partnership with MySwaddle.
• Respite Care Nursing program providing holistic and inclusive medical care for children with complex medical needs (birth to 5 years), offering daily care Monday-Friday with specially trained nursing staff.
• Therapy Services (OT, PT, Speech) Early intervention occupational, physical, and speech therapy services provided in-home and at the center, addressing concerns and providing individualized support based on each child's needs.
• Inclusive Play: Toys For All Adaptive toy lending library providing modified toys with switch buttons to children with disabilities, developed in collaboration with Marquette University's Opus College of Engineering.
• Lead Prevention Program Lead poisoning prevention education and resources for families, providing information on testing, prevention strategies, and collaborative resources with healthcare partners.
• Early Pathways Training Program Certification program for mental health practitioners in the Early Pathways treatment model, providing training and consultation for implementing the treatment with children ages 0-6.
• In-Home Early Head Start Weekly 90-minute home visits from Penfield Home-Visitors for infants and toddlers (ages 4 weeks to 3 years), supporting developmental benchmarks and family engagement with two monthly socializations.
• In-Home Prenatal Support Weekly 90-minute in-home educational visits for expecting mothers, providing personalized prenatal education, resources, and connections to healthcare services.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MySwaddle (Holista Health)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2025Partnership between MySwaddle digital maternal health platform and Penfield Children's Center to enhance prenatal and postpartum support for pregnant women and families in Milwaukee. The Growing Together program delivers group prenatal care across 12 high-risk ZIP codes, achieving strong outcomes including 93% of participants beginning prenatal care before 13 weeks.
• Marquette UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing research partnership since the 1990s for Early Pathways treatment model development. Collaboration with Opus College of Engineering on Inclusive Play: Toys For All adaptive toy program. Students participate in annual build days modifying toys for children with disabilities.
• Pathways Early Autism InterventioncoreTechnology or IntegrationPenfield uses the Pathways Early Autism Intervention Model for First Connections Autism Services, a program teaching parents to address the unique needs of toddlers with autism.
• Milwaukee County Children, Youth, and Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContract provider for Milwaukee County Birth to Three Program serving children birth to 3 years with developmental delays. Referral partner through Milwaukee County Health & Human Services.
• Marquette University Opus College of EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering collaboration for Inclusive Play: Toys For All program. Electrical modifications made to traditional toys to work with large switch buttons for children with developmental delays. High school FIRST Robotics teams also participate in annual build days.
• Acelero LearningminorOthersEarly learning organization listed as community partner supporting early childhood development initiatives
• Near West Side PartnersminorOthersCommunity development organization listed as community partner serving children and families in the Near West Side of Milwaukee
• SAMHSAminorOthersSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - listed as supporting the Early Pathways program
• NCTSN (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)minorOthersNetwork supporting the Early Pathways treatment model for trauma-informed care in early childhood mental health

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United Cerebral Palsy: National nonprofit serving individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, with early intervention and therapy offerings comparable to Penfield's OT/PT/Speech and Inclusive Play programs.
• Easter Seals (national network): National nonprofit network providing integrated disability and early childhood services—a directly comparable mission to Penfield's combined developmental, therapy, and early education model.
• St. Francis Children's Center: Milwaukee-based nonprofit providing early childhood education and therapy services for children with developmental delays, operating an integrated service portfolio in the same city and serving a near-identical population.
• The Arc of the United States: National nonprofit supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through early intervention and family services, comparable to Penfield's Birth to Three and autism programs.
• Children's Home & Aid: Regional nonprofit delivering early childhood, family support, and child welfare services, comparable to Penfield's integrated pregnancy-through-age-5 service model.

Broad incumbents

• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: National for-profit provider of center-based early education and child care at vastly greater scale, offering overlapping services to Penfield's Head Start/early education program but as part of a commercial portfolio.
• KinderCare Learning Companies: Nation's largest provider of early childhood education with thousands of centers, operating in the same center-based early education category as Penfield's Head Start, but as a national commercial incumbent.
• Boys Town: National nonprofit providing child and family services including early intervention, behavioral health, and family support—adjacent in mission and a much larger-scale incumbent operating across multiple geographies.
• Goodwill Industries International: Massive nonprofit network delivering social services including child and family programs, comparable in operating model as a multi-region nonprofit funded by a mix of government, foundation, and commercial revenue.

Regional players

• Next Door Foundation: Milwaukee-based nonprofit providing early childhood education and family support in the same geography as Penfield, making it the closest direct local peer for Head Start and family services in Milwaukee.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PenfieldChildren
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61583513175681
• Instagraminstagram.com/penfieldbuildingblocks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Penfield Children's Center