The Kennedy Forum
The Kennedy Forum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 by former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy that drives mental health and substance use disorder parity enforcement through policy advocacy, the Mental Health Parity Index data tool, and multi-stakeholder coalitions serving state and federal policymakers, insurers, and employers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersNew Jersey, Trinidad & Tobago
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Kennedy Forum does
The Kennedy Forum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2013 by former U.S. Representative Patrick J. Kennedy, the author of the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. The organization is dedicated to ensuring full implementation of parity law and expanding mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) coverage across all insurance types, including commercial plans, Medicaid, Medicare, and Tricare. Its stakeholder base spans state and federal policymakers, the four largest U.S. commercial health insurers (Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare), employers, and a coalition of 90+ advocacy organizations convened under the Alignment for Progress movement.
The Kennedy Forum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Kennedy Forum
- Legal name
- The Kennedy Forum
- Website
- https://thekennedyforum.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Kennedy Forum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 by former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy that drives mental health and substance use disorder parity enforcement through policy advocacy, the Mental Health Parity Index data tool, and multi-stakeholder coalitions serving state and federal policymakers, insurers, and employers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Kennedy Forum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mental Health Advocacy and Policy
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Health, Health Promotion & Behavior Change (SBCC) (BPADAIAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Global Health Research, Clinical Trials & Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) (HLAJAOAM), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)
Keywords
Where The Kennedy Forum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Jersey
- HQ country
- Trinidad & Tobago
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Kennedy Forum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
The Kennedy Forum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Kennedy Forum is a nonprofit mental health advocacy organization that drives full implementation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. It delivers policy advocacy, multi-stakeholder convening, and a portfolio of free public tools and data products (including the Mental Health Parity Index, ParityRegistry.org, ParityTrack.org, and a SUD care mobile app) to identify and address disparities in mental health and substance use disorder coverage.
Product overview
The Kennedy Forum operates as a mental health advocacy organization offering a portfolio of tools, platforms, and initiatives rather than a unified software product. The core flagship tool is the Mental Health Parity Index, a data analytics platform providing real-time commercial insurance coverage analysis. Supporting this are consumer-facing platforms including ParityRegistry.org (complaint filing), ParityTrack.org (legislative tracking), and Don't Deny Me (patient education). The Alignment for Progress initiative serves as the overarching strategic movement tying together the organization's 90-90-90 goals for 2033, while the National Strategy provides policy recommendations. Additional offerings include Mental Health for US (policy education) and Profiles in Mental Health Courage (awareness building).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Alignment for Progress: A strategic initiative and movement to foster collaborative action and facilitate a national dialogue on mental health and substance use.
- Mental Health Parity Index
- Don't Deny Me
- The Commitment Project
Products and services
- Mental Health Parity Index A data analytics tool that provides real-time commercial insurance data on mental health and substance use disorder coverage, analyzing in-network access disparities and payment levels between mental health/SUD treatment and physical health care across the nation's four largest commercial insurers. Intended for state policymakers, federal regulators, advocates, employers, and media.
- ParityRegistry.org A consumer-facing platform where individuals can learn to file appeals and register complaints against health plans for wrongful denials of mental health and addiction treatment coverage under the Federal Parity Law.
- ParityTrack.org A tracking platform where policymakers, consumers, and media can monitor legislative, regulatory, and legal parity activities across all 50 states and at the federal level.
- Don't Deny Me A patient education platform that educates consumers about their rights under the Federal Parity Law and provides downloadable materials for use in patient and provider settings.
- SUD Care Mobile App A mobile application designed to help individuals locate appropriate substance use disorder (SUD) care as part of the Alignment for Progress movement.
- National Strategy for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders A comprehensive policy blueprint developed as part of Alignment for Progress to address systemic barriers in U.S. mental health and substance use prevention, care, and recovery, featuring curated policy recommendations.
- Profiles in Mental Health Courage A book portraying the dramatic journeys of a diverse group of Americans who have struggled with mental illness and addiction, highlighting bravery and resilience.
Quantifiable outcome
- Mental Health Parity Index found disparities in 43 states and 70% of US counties for in-network mental health/SUD care access
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Kennedy Forum
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Kennedy Forum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Kennedy Forum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Third HorizoncoreCollaborated in the development and launch of the Mental Health Parity Index, providing strategic support for this first real-time commercial insurance data tool on mental health and SUD coverage.
- American Medical AssociationcoreCollaborated on the Mental Health Parity Index as advisor, contributing medical expertise to the analysis of mental health and SUD coverage across commercial insurers.
- American Psychological FoundationcorePartnered in the development of the Mental Health Parity Index, providing psychological expertise and foundation support for parity analysis.
- Ballmer GroupcoreCollaborated on the Mental Health Parity Index as a funding and strategic partner supporting the parity data initiative.
- Parity Implementation CoalitioncorePartner organization working alongside The Kennedy Forum to develop consensus on issues and policies for parity implementation.
- Treatment Research InstitutecorePartner organization collaborating on parity implementation policies and consensus-building for mental health and SUD treatment reforms.
- National Business Group on HealthcorePartner organization engaged in developing consensus on parity policies and employer-focused mental health initiatives.
- American Hospital AssociationcoreServed as advisor on the Mental Health Parity Index, providing hospital and healthcare system perspective on parity compliance analysis.
- Mental Health AmericacorePartnered with The Kennedy Forum on advocacy efforts including congressional parity hearings and the Mental Health for US initiative.
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)coreJoint advocacy partner on parity enforcement, congressional hearings, and the Mental Health for US coalition.
- Steinberg InstitutecoreCo-sponsored California mental health parity bills (SB 855 and SB 854) with The Kennedy Forum.
- Mental Health for UScore90-member nonpartisan educational coalition created to elevate mental health and addiction in 2020 election policy conversations. Co-chaired by Patrick J. Kennedy and former Senator Gordon Smith.
- Well Being TrustcoreCollaborated on the 'Healing the Nation' report providing federal policy framework and recommendations for mental health and SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery.
- Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP)corePartnered on 'Health in Mind' guide outlining philanthropic recommendations for aligning financial investments with mental health and addiction needs.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Kennedy Forum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Steinberg Institute: Steinberg Institute is a California-focused mental health policy advocacy organization that co-sponsored SB 855 and SB 854 parity legislation with the Kennedy Forum. Directly comparable as a state-level parity advocacy peer with similar legislative and policy reform tactics.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): NAMI is the largest grassroots mental health advocacy organization in the U.S., focused on support, education, and policy advocacy including parity enforcement. The Kennedy Forum is explicitly a coalition partner with NAMI on parity hearings and Mental Health for US, making it a directly comparable peer in advocacy and coalition-driven reform.
- National Council for Mental Wellbeing: National Council is a trade association representing mental health and substance use treatment providers, focused on parity, workforce, and access policy. Comparable as a peer advocating for behavioral health access and parity enforcement from the provider ecosystem side.
- Mental Health America (MHA): One of the nation's oldest mental health advocacy nonprofits, MHA focuses on public education, screening, and policy advocacy around mental health parity and access. Directly comparable as a national advocacy organization with overlapping parity, screening, and policy priorities relative to the Kennedy Forum.
- Well Being Trust: Well Being Trust is a national foundation focused on mental health and SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery policy. Directly comparable as a peer that collaborated with the Kennedy Forum on the 'Healing the Nation' federal policy framework, operating in the same parity and SUD advocacy space.
- Parity Implementation Coalition: A multi-stakeholder coalition specifically focused on Mental Health Parity Act implementation, of which the Kennedy Forum is a core partner. Directly comparable as a peer working on the same parity compliance, enforcement, and consensus-building agenda.
Broad incumbents
- American Psychiatric Association Foundation: The APA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the American Psychiatric Association, supporting mental health advocacy and workforce programs. Comparable as a broader-incumbent peer operating in mental health policy, advocacy, and public education with overlapping parity and access priorities.
Emerging players
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: AFSP is the largest nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention through research, education, and advocacy. Comparable as a mental health advocacy peer with partial overlap on policy and prevention priorities relevant to the Kennedy Forum's behavioral health mission.
- Treatment Research Institute (TRI) / PRO-A: TRI/Addiction Policy Forum focuses on evidence-based SUD treatment and policy reform. Comparable as an SUD-focused advocacy peer collaborating with the Kennedy Forum on parity implementation policies for substance use disorder treatment.
Others
- Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP): CHIP at the University of Pennsylvania provides philanthropic advisory and research on high-impact giving, and partnered with the Kennedy Forum on the 'Health in Mind' philanthropy guide. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem player supporting the funding infrastructure for mental health and addiction nonprofits.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Kennedy Forum social profiles
Digital presenceThe Kennedy Forum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Kennedy Forum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The Kennedy Forum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Kennedy Forum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Kennedy Forum
What does The Kennedy Forum do?
The Kennedy Forum is a nonprofit mental health advocacy organization that drives full implementation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. It delivers policy advocacy, multi-stakeholder convening, and a portfolio of free public tools and data products (including the Mental Health Parity Index, ParityRegistry.org, ParityTrack.org, and a SUD care mobile app) to identify and address disparities in mental health and substance use disorder coverage.
Is The Kennedy Forum a public or private company?
The Kennedy Forum is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Kennedy Forum founded?
The Kennedy Forum was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Kennedy Forum based?
The Kennedy Forum is headquartered in New Jersey, Trinidad & Tobago, in the Latin America region.
Who are The Kennedy Forum's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Steinberg Institute, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Mental Health America (MHA), Well Being Trust and Parity Implementation Coalition. American Psychiatric Association Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Treatment Research Institute (TRI) / PRO-A. Center for High Impact Philanthropy (CHIP) is listed as an others.
Does The Kennedy Forum have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Kennedy Forum.
What industry is The Kennedy Forum in?
The Kennedy Forum's product category is Mental Health Advocacy and Policy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAIAL, Community Health, Health Promotion & Behavior Change (SBCC), with a secondary code of HLAJAOAM, Global Health Research, Clinical Trials & Product Development Partnerships (PDPs). Its NAICS code is 8133.