HowardCenter
Howard Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, state-designated behavioral health provider in Chittenden County, Vermont delivering mental health, developmental disability, and substance use recovery services through clinics, three alternative schools, crisis hotlines, residential programs, and outreach across nine municipalities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1873
- HeadquartersBurlington, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What HowardCenter does
Howard Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, state-designated behavioral health provider headquartered in Burlington, Vermont, serving Chittenden County and adjacent counties. Founded in 1873 and employing 1,001-5,000 staff, the organization operates three integrated service lines: Mental Health Services (Mental Health Urgent Care walk-in clinic, outpatient counseling, residential programs, 24/7 First Call crisis hotline, peer support, and treatment courts), Developmental Services (autism spectrum programs, Project HIRE and Project SEARCH employment services, SUCCEED post-secondary program, group homes and transitional housing), and Substance Use & Recovery Services (Chittenden Clinic medication-assisted treatment, Safe Recovery harm reduction, outpatient counseling). Supporting infrastructure includes three alternative schools (Baird, Jean Garvin, Fay Honey Knopp Memorial), street and community outreach teams operating in nine municipalities, and telehealth delivery via secure audio/video connections.
The business model combines four revenue streams: (1) state designated-agency contracts with the Vermont Department of Mental Health and Department for Children and Families, (2) insurance reimbursement including Medicaid under a sliding scale for uninsured/underinsured clients, (3) individual donations and charitable contributions, and (4) program fees. Mental Health Urgent Care is free for an initial three-year funded period. Customers include individuals with mental health needs, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders across all ages, plus families, students in alternative schools, and homebound elders. Howard Center delivers services through eight physical locations, mobile outreach, school-based clinicians in every Chittenden County school, residential facilities, and telehealth.
The core technology stack is limited to a secure telehealth platform and standard care coordination tools. The organization holds designated provider status — a regulatory moat — and partners with UVM Medical Center, Community Health Centers, Pathways Vermont, Burlington Housing Authority, and Vermont Care Partners for service delivery, medical oversight, peer support, and housing. Recent strategic activity has been defensive: ACT 1 and the Bridge Program are suspended due to staffing shortages, and the Impaired Driver Rehabilitation Program and Northern Vermont Outpatient and Spoke Services are closing in 2025, offset partially by the launch of Mental Health Urgent Care.
HowardCenter firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HowardCenter
- Legal name
- Howard Center
- Website
- https://howardcenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1873
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Howard Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, state-designated behavioral health provider in Chittenden County, Vermont delivering mental health, developmental disability, and substance use recovery services through clinics, three alternative schools, crisis hotlines, residential programs, and outreach across nine municipalities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HowardCenter industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Behavioral Health Services
- NAICS
- Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Individual and Family Services (6241), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL), Crisis Stabilization Units & Psychiatric Emergency Services (HLAFACAH), Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)
Keywords
Where HowardCenter is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burlington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
HowardCenter business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Funding & Designated Agency Contracts: Howard Center is the state-designated provider for mental health and developmental disability services in Chittenden County, operating under contracts with Vermont state agencies including the Department of Mental Health and Department for Children and Families.
- Insurance Reimbursement: Services are billed to insurance providers including Medicaid. The organization accepts various insurance plans and uses a sliding scale based on individual financial situation for those who are uninsured or underinsured.
- Donations & Charitable Contributions: Individual donations support general operations and specific programs including Mental Health Urgent Care. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
- Program Fees: Some services charge fees based on a sliding scale determined by individual financial circumstances, ensuring accessibility for all community members regardless of ability to pay.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Sliding Scale Fees |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Mental Health Urgent Care - Free Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
HowardCenter product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HowardCenter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization delivering mental health, developmental disability, and substance use recovery services to residents of Chittenden County, Vermont. As the state-designated agency, it provides a continuum of care spanning crisis intervention (24/7 hotline, Mental Health Urgent Care walk-in clinic), outpatient counseling, residential programs, medication-assisted treatment, harm reduction, alternative schools, employment support, and housing services.
Product overview
HowardCenter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing mental health, developmental disability, and substance use recovery services in Chittenden County, Vermont. The organization operates as a multi-service human services agency with distinct program divisions: Mental Health Services (including Mental Health Urgent Care crisis walk-in clinic, outpatient counseling, and residential programs), Developmental Services (offering autism spectrum programs, employment services like Project HIRE and Project SEARCH, and SUCCEED college program), and Substance Use & Recovery (featuring the Chittenden Clinic medication-assisted treatment hub, Safe Recovery harm reduction program, and counseling services). Supporting infrastructure includes 24/7 First Call crisis hotline, community/street outreach teams, school-based education programs (Baird School, Jean Garvin School, Fay Honey Knopp School), housing supports, and specialized services for youth, adults, families, and elders. The organization serves as the designated provider for mental health and developmental disability services and preferred provider for substance use services in Chittenden County.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- First Call for Chittenden County: 24/7/365 crisis hotline and emergency services for anyone in Chittenden County experiencing a crisis
- Mental Health Urgent Care (MHUC)
- Chittenden Clinic
- Safe Recovery
- ACT 1
- The Bridge Program
- Baird School
- Jean Garvin School
- Fay Honey Knopp Memorial School
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,350 children in Chittenden County received support through educational programs
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use HowardCenter
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
HowardCenter technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
HowardCenter partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- University of Vermont Medical CentercoreUVM Medical Center provides space, funding, and support for the Mental Health Urgent Care program. The partnership enables Howard Center to operate MHUC at 1 South Prospect Street location with medical oversight and coordination with the hospital's emergency department.
- Community Health CenterscoreCommunity Health Centers provides onsite nursing, telehealth services, and follow-up medical care for Mental Health Urgent Care guests. This partnership ensures comprehensive medical assessment capabilities alongside mental health services.
- Pathways VermontcorePathways Vermont provides peer support services through the Mental Health Urgent Care program. Peer specialists with lived experience offer compassionate support and engagement for individuals in crisis.
- Vermont Care PartnerscoreVermont Care Partners collaborates with Howard Center as part of the Mental Health Urgent Care initiative, representing a network of Vermont's designated mental health and developmental services agencies.
- University of Vermont Medical CentercoreThe Chittenden Clinic coordinates with UVM Medical Center Emergency Department for related services. Safe Recovery provides same-day access to medication for opioid use disorder at the UVMMC Emergency Department as part of harm reduction approach.
- Burlington Housing AuthorityminorBurlington Housing Authority partners with Howard Center for the Avenue 7 transitional housing program, providing Section 8 housing vouchers that enable young adults with disabilities to lease individual residences in a supportive community.
- University of Vermont Medical CentercoreHoward Center collaborates with UVM Medical Center for Project SEARCH, a nationwide program that provides internships and career exploration for young adults with developmental disabilities, with workplace training occurring at the medical center.
- Vermont Department of Mental HealthcoreThe Department of Mental Health provides funding and regulatory oversight for designated mental health services, including Mental Health Urgent Care operations in Chittenden County.
- Spectrum Youth and Family ServicesminorCollaboration between Spectrum Youth and Family Services and the State of Vermont Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to operate the JOBS Program, providing employment and educational support for adolescents and young adults with mental health challenges.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
HowardCenter competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Northwestern Counseling & Support Services: Vermont designated mental health and developmental services agency serving Franklin and Grand Isle Counties — the two counties Howard Center is now exiting. Operates the same designated-agency model with crisis, outpatient, residential, and community-based programs.
- Washington County Mental Health Services: Vermont designated agency serving Washington County; offers the same combination of mental health, developmental, and substance use services through community-based programs. Closest analogue to Howard Center in scope and structure.
- Counseling Service of Addison County: Designated mental health and developmental services agency for Addison County, Vermont — a market where Howard Center provides Eldercare services. Operates the same designated-agency model with crisis, outpatient, and community programs.
- Northeast Kingdom Human Services: Vermont designated mental health agency covering Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans Counties. Offers a similar multi-service behavioral health continuum including crisis services, outpatient counseling, and developmental services.
- Lamoille County Mental Health Services: Designated mental health and developmental services agency for Lamoille County, Vermont. Runs a comparably structured crisis, outpatient, residential, and community-services portfolio to Howard Center.
- Rutland Mental Health Services: Designated agency serving Rutland County, Vermont. Provides the same combination of mental health, substance use, and developmental services in a community-based, designated-agency framework.
- Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont: Designated mental health, developmental, and substance use agency serving Windham County. Comparable size, scope, and rural/small-urban service footprint to Howard Center.
- United Counseling Service of Bennington County: Designated behavioral-health agency serving Bennington County, Vermont. Comparable multi-service nonprofit offering mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services under a designated-agency model.
- Clara Martin Center: Vermont designated mental health agency serving Orange County. Operates a similar continuum of outpatient, crisis, and community-based services as Howard Center within the same state regulatory framework.
Broad incumbents
- Aspire Health Alliance: Multi-service, nonprofit community behavioral health organization serving southeastern Massachusetts with mental health, developmental, and child/family services. Significantly larger scope and broader geography than Howard Center, but operates under a comparable mission-driven designated/community-services model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HowardCenter social profiles
Digital presenceHowardCenter financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HowardCenter leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
HowardCenter funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HowardCenter 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 HowardCenter
What does HowardCenter do?
HowardCenter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization delivering mental health, developmental disability, and substance use recovery services to residents of Chittenden County, Vermont. As the state-designated agency, it provides a continuum of care spanning crisis intervention (24/7 hotline, Mental Health Urgent Care walk-in clinic), outpatient counseling, residential programs, medication-assisted treatment, harm reduction, alternative schools, employment support, and housing services.
Is HowardCenter a public or private company?
HowardCenter is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was HowardCenter founded?
HowardCenter was founded in 1873. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is HowardCenter based?
HowardCenter is headquartered in Burlington, United States, in the North America region.
How does HowardCenter make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Funding & Designated Agency Contracts are the primary driver. The others are insurance Reimbursement, donations & Charitable Contributions and program Fees.
Who are HowardCenter's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Northwestern Counseling & Support Services, Washington County Mental Health Services, Counseling Service of Addison County, Northeast Kingdom Human Services, Lamoille County Mental Health Services, Rutland Mental Health Services, Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont, United Counseling Service of Bennington County and Clara Martin Center. Aspire Health Alliance is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does HowardCenter have an API?
No public API is recorded for HowardCenter.
What industry is HowardCenter in?
HowardCenter's product category is Behavioral Health Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFACAI, Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers, with a secondary code of HLAFACAL, Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services). Its NAICS code is 621420 and its SIC code is 8000.