Center for Social Dynamics

What Center for Social Dynamics does

Center for Social Dynamics (CSD) is a multi-state provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and related developmental services for children and families affected by autism spectrum disorder and other developmental conditions. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Alameda, California, CSD operates 20+ physical centers across California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Georgia, with 501-1000 employees delivering services in-home, in-center, in schools, and virtually. The company's service portfolio spans core ABA therapy, diagnostic evaluations, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, social skills groups, counseling, parent and family education, and specialized programs such as Adventure Club and seasonal camps.

CSD has built a proprietary technology stack around its clinical model, including the CSD Global Community virtual therapy platform (with VR-integrated immersive programming), the CSD Connect suite of HIPAA-compliant scheduling applications, and the CSD Starship Caregiver App for home-based skill reinforcement and behavior data tracking. The company has pursued an active roll-up strategy, completing six acquisitions between 2020 and 2026 (Rocky Mountain ABA, Behavior Development Center, Ed Support Services, JF Behavioral Services, South Sound Behavior Therapy, and Behavior Change Institute) and securing consecutive private equity sponsorships from NMS Capital in 2019 and Goldman Sachs Alternatives in 2024. It maintains in-network relationships with 75+ payors including Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, TRICARE, Humana, Aetna, Molina, and multiple state Medicaid programs, with insurance verification and authorization handled internally to reduce family-side friction.

The business model is insurance-billed, recurring clinical-services revenue, with services covered under commercial, Medicaid, and TRICARE plans and families responsible for standard copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. CSD differentiates through its Neurodiversity Advisory Board, IRB-approved research capability, validated clinical outcomes (including a published 883-children study and 95%+ caregiver-reported progress rates), exclusive employee education benefits (Dreams Come TRUE partnerships with Stryer and Capella universities), and a multidisciplinary, multicultural, family-centric care approach across multiple delivery modalities.

Name

Center for Social Dynamics

Legal name

Center for Social Dynamics

Website

https://csdautismservices.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Center for Social Dynamics is a multi-state ABA therapy provider serving children and families with autism and developmental conditions across 7+ U.S. states via in-home, center-based, school, and virtual delivery, backed by Goldman Sachs Alternatives and operating a proprietary technology platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism and Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Behavioral Support (School-Based ABA/PBIS) (EDAKAKAE)

Keywords

• Applied behavior analysis
• Autism therapy services
• Developmental disability care
• Behavioral health services
• ABA therapy providers

Headquarters

HQ city

Alameda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices20 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. ABA Therapy Services: CSD generates revenue through providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy services to children and families diagnosed with autism and other developmental conditions. Services are delivered in-home, in-center, at school, and virtually. Revenue is primarily billed to insurance providers including Medicaid, commercial insurers, and TRICARE based on authorized therapy hours.
2. Diagnostic Evaluations: CSD provides diagnostic evaluations for children and adolescents suspected of having autism spectrum disorder. This generates revenue through assessment fees billed to insurance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Center for Social Dynamics (CSD) provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy and related behavioral health services to children and families diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental conditions. Services are delivered across in-home, center-based, school-based, and virtual settings, supported by proprietary digital platforms including the CSD Global Community virtual therapy platform, CSD Connect scheduling apps, and the CSD Starship Caregiver App. Additional offerings include diagnostic evaluations, speech and occupational therapy, social skills groups, Adventure Club, and parent/family education.

Product overview

Center for Social Dynamics (CSD) offers a comprehensive portfolio of autism and behavioral health services built around Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. The core offering consists of multiple service delivery models (in-home, center-based, virtual, school, and camp services) alongside technology products: CSD Global Community (digital/virtual ABA platform), CSD Connect (scheduling apps for families and clinicians), and CSD Starship Caregiver App (mobile platform for caregivers). CSD also operates acquired ABA providers (Rocky Mountain ABA, Behavior Development Center, Ed Support Services, JF Behavioral Services, South Sound Behavior Therapy, Behavior Change Institute) and provides supporting programs like Adventure Club, Career Compass career development, Dreams Come TRUE tuition benefit, and a Neurodiversity Advisory Board. Services span diagnostic evaluations, ABA therapy, speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, social skills groups, and counseling across multiple U.S. states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CSD Starship Caregiver App: HIPAA-compliant mobile platform designed to help caregivers of children receiving ABA therapy reinforce skills at home, track behavior data, and stay connected with clinical teams between sessions.
• CSD Global Community
• CSD Connect
• Caregiver Corner
• Neurodiversity Advisory Board

Products and services

• CSD Global Community Digital ABA therapy platform providing virtual, interactive, and personalized therapy services across the United States, offering immersive virtual programming for children with autism.
• CSD Connect Trio of HIPAA-compliant scheduling apps for Behavior Specialists and Caregivers enabling real-time scheduling, session modifications, and instant notifications for consistent care delivery.
• CSD Starship Caregiver App HIPAA-compliant mobile application helping caregivers of children receiving ABA therapy reinforce skills at home, track behavior data, and stay connected with clinical teams between sessions.
• In-Home ABA Therapy Applied Behavior Analysis therapy delivered in the client's home environment, providing therapy within natural routines for skill development. Available across all service regions as the primary service delivery model.
• Center-Based ABA Therapy ABA therapy provided at CSD's 20+ physical centers offering a safe and inclusive space for reinforcing positive changes and skill development, with Saturday hours for make-up sessions.
• Virtual ABA Services Telehealth-based ABA therapy services using secure video sessions and immersive digital tools, providing real-time interaction with licensed clinicians. 72% of clients are suited for partial or full virtual programs.
• School-Based ABA Services ABA therapy support in academic and social settings to build communication and adaptive skills in school environments, partnering with educational institutions for classroom support and IEP-aligned services.
• Diagnostic Evaluations Autism spectrum disorder diagnostic evaluations for children and adolescents suspected of having autism, delivered with a 7-day average time to begin assessment versus 6-month industry waitlists.
• Adventure Club Themed social activities combining ABA therapy with recreational experiences, fostering friendship development and social skills through group activities. The program improved make-up rates by 45%.
• Camp Services Special needs camps offering enriching experiences for children and teens through personalized activities and expert care.
• Social Skills Groups Small group sessions where clients practice social skills with peers of similar age, from young children to adults.
• Parent & Family Education Training and education programs teaching caregivers how to best support family members with special needs and implement interventions.
• Parent-Led Support Training for caregivers to provide interventions to their child with ongoing professional support throughout the process.
• Speech & Language Therapy
• Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy services available at select locations for developing fine motor, sensory processing, and daily living skills.
• Counseling Services Individual, group, and family counseling services available at select locations.
• Early Intervention Services Services for children from birth to three years old focusing on developmental support and early skill building.

Quantifiable outcome

• 17% faster goal progress through CSD's hybrid Breakthrough ABA model
• +6 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Stryer UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive education partnership where Stryer University provides 100% tuition coverage for select degree programs for CSD employees through the Dreams Come TRUE program. Available to team members after 90 days who work at least 25 hours weekly with good standing.
• Capella UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive education partnership where Capella University provides 100% tuition coverage for select degree programs for CSD employees through the Dreams Come TRUE program. Includes over 70 degree programs at associate, bachelor's, master's, and graduate certificate levels.
• Cigna (Evernorth)majorOthersCigna provides coverage for ABA therapy services for CSD clients including applied behavior analysis, diagnostic evaluations, and therapy in multiple settings. CSD submits authorizations and manages paperwork with Cigna on behalf of families.
• UnitedHealthcare / OptummajorOthersUnitedHealthcare covers ABA therapy services for CSD clients across multiple plan types. CSD handles authorization and billing processes with UHC.
• TRICAREmajorOthersTRICARE provides military health benefits covering ABA therapy services for CSD clients including children of service members and veterans.
• CareSourcemajorOthersCareSource Medicaid plan covering ABA therapy services in states including Georgia. CSD partners with CareSource for Medicaid-funded autism services.
• 75+ Insurance ProvidersmajorOthersCSD partners with over 75 insurance providers including commercial insurers, Medicaid plans, and government payors across California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Georgia to provide in-network ABA therapy services.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• LEARN Behavioral: National ABA therapy provider with center-based and in-home services across 13+ states, backed by a PE sponsor. Directly comparable to CSD in service mix, geographic strategy, and payor network depth.
• Centria Healthcare: PE-owned (Audax) national provider of ABA therapy and other home- and center-based services for children with autism. Closely comparable to CSD in multi-state scale, payor mix, and acquisition-driven growth strategy.
• Hopebridge: Multi-state ABA and pediatric therapy provider offering center-based and home-based services for children with autism. Closely comparable in service model, target population, and outcome-focused positioning.
• Kadiant: Multi-state ABA therapy provider serving children and adolescents with autism across the western U.S. Comparable to CSD in regional California/West Coast focus, clinical model, and payor mix.
• BlueSprig Pediatrics: One of the largest U.S. ABA therapy providers operating across 15+ states with a similar mix of in-home, center-based, and telehealth delivery. Comparable in scale, payor relationships, and multi-acquisition roll-up history.
• Trumpet Behavioral Health: National ABA therapy provider acquired by Centria (then re-merged) with comparable service lines, in-home and center-based delivery, and payor relationships across multiple states.
• Catalyst Behavioral Sciences (formerly ACES ABA): Multi-state ABA provider with comprehensive in-home, center-based, school, and telehealth services. Direct comparable in service breadth, clinical approach, and payor relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Magellan Health / Evernorth Behavioral Health: Large managed-care and behavioral health organization (Cigna-affiliated) that administers ABA benefits and operates provider networks. A broad incumbent/partner relevant to CSD given its in-network relationship with Cigna and the broader payor-provider dynamic.
• CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disorders): One of the largest U.S. autism services organizations, now part of the Helpers Brands/360° Behavioral Health platform. A broad incumbent with overlapping ABA services, school-based programs, and payor contracting.

Emerging players

• Children's Specialized ABA: Emerging ABA therapy provider affiliated with a children's hospital system, offering clinical-grade services with strong evidence-based positioning. Comparable to CSD's clinical-quality narrative and payor mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CSDautism
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnSDEIIfplj2iIbINQKNUPw
• Facebookfacebook.com/centerforsocialdynamics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-social-dynamics
• Instagraminstagram.com/csdautismservices

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A3 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Center for Social Dynamics