Child Guidance & Family Solutions

What Child Guidance & Family Solutions does

Child Guidance & Family Solutions (CGFS) is a private, nonprofit behavioral health provider headquartered in Akron, Ohio, delivering mental and behavioral health services to children, teens, adults, and families across Summit County. Founded in 1939/1940 (per firmographic data), the organization operates four clinical offices in Akron, Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, and Green, and extends its reach through school-based, home-based, and telehealth delivery channels. Its core service lines include counseling and therapy, psychiatry and medication management, 24/7 crisis intervention, and telehealth; specialty programs comprise the Intensive Home-Based Treatment (IHBT) and Integrated Co-Occurring Treatment (ICT) — for which CGFS operates the first such team in Ohio — the FIRST program for first-episode psychosis, the CHR-p clinical high-risk program, and Project THRIVE for the local refugee community. Prevention and school-based offerings include Incredible Years®, TAPS, BRIC, LifeSkills®, and Too Good for Violence/Drugs. CGFS holds Joint Commission accreditation and serves 9,000+ individuals annually through 100+ mental health professionals.

The organization's underlying technology stack centers on a video-based telehealth platform accessible statewide in Ohio, an AI-augmented clinical documentation system intended to reduce therapist administrative load, and a 24/7 crisis telephone line. Interpreter services extend access in Spanish, Nepali, and other languages. Business model revenue is blended: insurance reimbursement from Medicaid Managed Care plans (Buckeye, Molina, United Health Care Community Plan, Aetna Ohio Rise) and roughly 15 commercial carriers, EAPs, grants from public and private foundations (including $850K from the State of Ohio, ~$195K from Ohio Medicaid, ~$90K from Akron and Barberton Community Foundations in 2024), and donations. Early childhood mental health consultations are offered free to Summit County residents (up to three per family), funded by grants. Go-to-market is multi-modal: direct consumer scheduling via phone and web, school and community partner referrals, county agency (Summit ADM Board) referrals, and embedded clinicians within school districts.

Name

Child Guidance & Family Solutions

Legal name

Child Guidance & Family Solutions

Website

https://cgfs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Child Guidance & Family Solutions is a nonprofit behavioral health provider in Summit County, Ohio, delivering mental health services to children, teens, adults, and families across four clinical offices, schools, homes, and telehealth.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental and Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Infant/Early Childhood Consultation (0–5) (EDACAFAO), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

Keywords

• Mental health services
• Behavioral health care
• Child and family counseling
• Psychiatric services
• Community mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Akron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Reimbursement - Medicaid/Managed Care: Services billed to Medicaid Managed Care Organizations including Buckeye, Molina, United Health Care Community Plan, Aetna Ohio Rise
2. Insurance Reimbursement - Commercial Insurance: Services billed to commercial insurance plans including Aetna, Aultcare, Anthem BC/BS, Cigna BH, Humana, Magellan, Med Mutual, MHN, SummaCare, Tricare East, and others
3. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): Services covered through employer-sponsored EAP programs
4. Grant-Funded Services: Free early childhood mental health consultations funded through grants (up to 3 consultations per family free to Summit County residents)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Child Guidance & Family Solutions provides mental and behavioral health services including individual, group, and family therapy; psychiatry and medication management; crisis intervention; intensive home-based treatment; and school-based prevention programs. Services are delivered through four clinical offices, schools, homes, telehealth, and community settings across Summit County, Ohio, serving children, teens, adults, and families.

Product overview

Child Guidance & Family Solutions offers a comprehensive suite of mental and behavioral health services for children, teens, adults, and families in Ohio. The core clinical services include Counseling and Therapy, Psychiatry and Medication Services, Telehealth, and Crisis Intervention. These are delivered alongside specialty programs such as Intensive Home-based Treatment (IHBT)/Integrated Co-Occurring Treatment (ICT), the FIRST program for first-episode psychosis, and the CHR-p clinical high-risk program. Prevention services include Incredible Years® (IY®), Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding (TAPS), Individual Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, and Building Resilience in Children (BRIC). School-based prevention programs include LifeSkills® and Too Good for Violence/Too Good for Drugs. Services are provided at four office locations (Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Green, Barberton), in schools, in homes, via telehealth, and in the community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Counseling and Therapy Individual, group, and family therapy services provided by qualified therapists for children, teens, adults, and families facing difficulties with relationships, transitions, emotions, and actions. Includes mental health assessments, substance use assessments, and support for LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Psychiatry and Medication Services Board-certified psychiatrists and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry providing thorough psychiatric assessments and comprehensive treatment plans for depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, sleep problems, and unusual experiences.
• Telehealth Virtual mental and behavioral health care delivered via smartphone, computer, or tablet using internet or phone access, enabling children, teens, and adults to meet with CGFS clinicians online for convenient access to care in Ohio.
• Intensive Home-Based Treatment (IHBT) / Integrated Co-Occurring Treatment (ICT) Coordinated program for Summit County youth with severe emotional problems and/or substance use concerns. Services provided in the youth's home, school, and community with 3-5 hours per week of family-focused, strength-based treatment lasting 3-6 months. CGFS operates the only ICT team in Summit County.
• FIRST Program Program for individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis, providing quick diagnosis and treatment including psychiatric care, individual counseling, family psychoeducation, and supported employment/education services.
• CHR-p (Clinical High-Risk for Psychosis) Program Coordinated specialty care program designed to identify people ages 10-25 who may be at risk for psychosis, offering early support and treatment including psychotherapy, psychiatry, and TBS services.
• Refugee Services / Project THRIVE Trauma-informed services for the refugee community in Summit County using the Project THRIVE model (Together for Healing, Resilience, Inclusion, Voices, and Empowerment) with culturally sensitive care and community outreach, in partnership with Boston Children's Hospital.
• Crisis Intervention Services 24/7 mental health crisis telephone line and intervention services by therapists and psychiatrists for situations where an individual's mental or emotional condition results in imminent danger to themselves or others.
• Incredible Years (IY) Award-winning parent, teacher, and child social skills training program for children from birth to 8 years designed to help toddlers and preschoolers develop prosocial behaviors and address early onset conduct problems. CGFS is a licensed provider.
• Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding (TAPS) Classroom support program for teachers, families, and children through on-site modeling, professional development, and parent interactions to build resiliency and social/emotional skills for school readiness, impacting kindergarten readiness for children in Greater Akron.
• Building Resilience in Children (BRIC) School-age consultation program focusing on building Conscious Discipline centered learning environments to enhance social/emotional learning, self-regulation, discipline, and classroom management.
• Individual Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Free consultation service for parents of children aged one month to 3 years old provided by trained Early Childhood Consultants via phone, Zoom, or in person to assess needs and link families to appropriate services. Up to 3 free consultations per family for Summit County residents.
• LifeSkills Substance use prevention education for grades 6-12 targeting social and psychological factors to reduce risks of alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse, and violence. Meets Ohio House Bill 123 requirements.
• Too Good for Violence and Too Good for Drugs

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 9,000+ individuals annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 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

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• County of Summit ADM BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty agency overseeing mental health and addiction services; key strategic partner in providing community mental health services
• Akron Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare partner for pediatric mental health services and crisis intervention referrals
• Case Western Reserve UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with State of Ohio's Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center of Excellence for IHBT program training, technical assistance, and evaluation
• Summit County Schools and Childcare CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with schools, childcare centers, and preschools throughout Summit County for school-based mental health services and prevention programs
• Kent State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner supporting training and professional development
• NEOMEDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical education partner for psychiatric training and workforce development
• The University of AkronmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for professional training and development
• Boston Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Project THRIVE model with Trauma and Community Resilience Center for refugee services
• Incredible Years, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensed provider of evidence-based Incredible Years parent, teacher, and child social skills training programs
• Portage Path Behavioral HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for psychiatric emergency services and crisis intervention

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Portage Path Behavioral Health: Akron-based community mental health provider serving Summit County with outpatient, crisis, and psychiatric services. Directly comparable to CGFS in mission, geography, payer mix, and client base, and is an explicit operational partner for psychiatric emergencies.
• Bellefaire JCB: One of the largest child and family behavioral health agencies in NE Ohio, offering residential, outpatient, school-based, and home-based services. Directly comparable to CGFS across the full continuum of youth mental health services, with a broader geographic reach.
• Applewood Centers: Cleveland-based nonprofit providing mental health, substance use, and community-based services to children, teens, and families. Closely comparable service mix, payer profile, and school- and home-based delivery model to CGFS.
• Ravenwood Health: Geauga County-based community mental health agency serving Northeast Ohio with outpatient, school-based, and crisis services. Comparable nonprofit community mental health model with similar funding mix.
• OhioGuidestone: Statewide Ohio nonprofit providing behavioral health, substance use, and family services with strong school-linked and early childhood programs. Comparable in service breadth and the use of evidence-based prevention curricula.
• Compass Family & Community Services: Warren/NE Ohio nonprofit offering youth residential, outpatient behavioral health, and community-based services. Comparable in target population (children, adolescents, families) and community mental health funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Akron Children's Hospital: Major pediatric health system serving the same Northeast Ohio market. Overlaps with CGFS on pediatric mental health and is an explicit referral partner, but operates a much broader medical portfolio beyond behavioral health.
• Cleveland Clinic Children's: Regional pediatric tertiary-care system with embedded behavioral health services. Comparable pediatric psychiatric offering, but at substantially larger scale and as part of a broad academic medical center.
• Nationwide Children's Hospital: Columbus-based pediatric health system with a large behavioral health program. Comparable pediatric psychiatry and crisis services, though it operates regionally rather than locally in Summit County.

Regional players

• The Village Network: Ohio-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, foster care, and community-based services across multiple regions. Comparable service lines (counseling, school-linked, residential) but with broader Ohio coverage rather than Summit County focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CGFSolutions
• Facebookfacebook.com/childguidancefamilysolutions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/childguidancefamilysolutions
• Instagraminstagram.com/childguidance_familysolutions?igsh=MW9pdTJ6Y2FrOXVucw%3D%3D
• Xx.com/CGFS_Akron

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Child Guidance & Family Solutions