Youth In Need

What Youth In Need does

Youth In Need is a nonprofit child and family services agency founded in 1974 and headquartered in St. Charles, Missouri. The organization delivers a continuum of programs across four core service lines: Early Learning Programs (Head Start, Early Head Start, and childcare partnerships for children birth to age 5), Counseling (community-based and school-based individual, family, and group therapy), Youth Programs (Safe Place, Street Outreach, Transitional Living, and Emergency Shelter serving youth experiencing homelessness or crisis), and Foster Care & Adoption delivered through the Children's Permanency Partnership consortium with Epworth and FamilyForward. Services are provided at no cost to beneficiaries and reached nearly 10,000 children, youth, and families annually across the St. Louis region.

The operating model is a fee-for-service-free nonprofit, funded through a mix of restricted government grants (Community and Children's Resource Board of St. Charles County, St. Louis County Children's Services Fund, St. Louis City Mental Health Board), United Way allocations, foundation grants, individual donations (including planned giving vehicles such as charitable gift annuities and trusts), corporate sponsorships, and special-event fundraising. The 2026 Celebration of Youth gala raised more than $500,000 and Golfing for Youth raised $150,000 in 2024, illustrating the event-driven component. Distribution is multi-channel: fixed program sites, school-based counselor placements, mobile street outreach, and a 902-site Safe Place satellite network embedded with national brands (Starbucks, Schnucks).

The organization operates as the largest Safe Place provider in the country, maintains COA accreditation, and received the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency in 2024. Technology footprint is limited to standard SaaS (Blackbaud, MailChimp, Survey Monkey, Microsoft Forms) and no proprietary platform or AI capabilities are disclosed. In February 2025 Youth In Need absorbed University City Children's Center (UCCC), expanding its early-childhood footprint; the combined entity employs 251-500 staff under CEO Pat Holterman-Hommes.

Name

Youth In Need

Legal name

Youth In Need

Website

https://youthinneed.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Youth In Need is a nonprofit child and family services agency founded in 1974 that delivers early learning, counseling, youth crisis intervention, and foster care services to nearly 10,000 vulnerable children, teens, and families annually across the St. Louis region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child and Family Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Temporary Shelters (624221), Educational Support Services (611710), Child Care Services (62441)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Child welfare services
• Youth homelessness support
• Early childhood education
• Foster care services
• Family counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Charles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time gifts, recurring gifts, stock donations, and planned giving vehicles including bequests, charitable gift annuities, life estate arrangements, life insurance gifts, charitable trusts, and endowment opportunities.
2. Corporate Sponsorships & Partnerships: Corporate partners sponsor events, participate in programs like Children's Partnership Program, and provide in-kind donations. Children's Partners range from $1,500 to $15,000 sponsorship levels.
3. Foundation & Government Grants: Funded by Community and Children's Resource Board of St. Charles County, St. Louis County Children's Services Fund, St. Louis City Mental Health Board, United Way of Greater St. Louis, Missouri Head Start Association, and various private foundations.
4. Annual Events: Revenue generated through ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations from major events including Celebration of Youth gala, Golfing for Youth tournament, Bingo Night, and Step-Up and Sleep-Out.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Youth In Need is a nonprofit child and family services agency providing a comprehensive continuum of social services across the St. Louis region. Core offerings include early childhood education programs (Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Learning Programs for children birth to age 5), individual/family/group counseling delivered in community and school settings, a continuum of programs for youth experiencing homelessness or crisis (Safe Place, Street Outreach, Emergency Shelter, Transitional Living), and foster care and adoption case management via the Children's Permanency Partnership consortium.

Product overview

Youth In Need is a nonprofit child and family services agency offering a portfolio of social service programs rather than a technology product. The organization's services are organized into four core program areas: Early Learning Programs (including Head Start, Early Head Start, and childcare partnerships for children birth to 5), Counseling (individual, family, and group counseling with community-based and school-based options), Youth Programs (a continuum of crisis and homelessness services including Safe Place, Street Outreach, Transitional Living Program, and Emergency Shelter), and Foster Care & Adoption (case management as part of the Children's Permanency Partnership). The University City Children's Center operates as an acquired brand within the early learning portfolio. These programs work together to build positive futures for children, teens, and families in the St. Louis region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Safe Place: A national youth crisis intervention program providing teens with immediate help and safety, with over 500 stationary sites and mobile locations in eastern Missouri.
• Head Start and Early Head Start
• Children's Permanency Partnership (CPP)

Products and services

• Early Learning Programs Comprehensive infant and child development services for children ages birth to 5, including Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Learning Programs, along with parent support and childcare partnerships with community-based centers.
• Counseling Services Individual, family, and group counseling for children, youth, and families experiencing challenges, conflict, or crisis, delivered through community-based and school-based modalities.
• Youth Programs (Continuum for Homeless and At-Risk Youth) A continuum of programs addressing the needs of youth in crisis or experiencing homelessness, including Safe Place immediate-help sites, Street Outreach, Transitional Living Program, and Emergency Shelter services.
• Foster Care & Adoption Services Foster care case management and adoption services delivered through the Children's Permanency Partnership consortium, helping children find safe, stable, and permanent homes.
• Safe Place A national youth outreach and prevention program providing teens in crisis with immediate help and safety, partnering licensed local agencies with trained businesses to deliver 24/7 assistance.
• Street Outreach Homeless outreach services that engage with at-risk youth experiencing homelessness to provide immediate crisis response, resources, and connections to shelter and support services.
• Transitional Living Program Housing and life skills programs supporting youth transitioning out of foster care or homelessness, helping them achieve self-sufficiency through educational and employment goals.
• Emergency Shelter Immediate shelter services for youth experiencing homelessness, providing safe housing along with support services to address immediate needs.
• Community-Based Counseling Counseling services provided in community settings for children, youth, and families experiencing challenges, conflict, or crisis.
• School-Based Counseling

Quantifiable outcome

• 96.7 percent of CPP youth did not re-enter care with the Children's Division
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• University City Children's Center (UCCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 February 2024UCCC officially became part of Youth In Need in February 2025, combining early childhood programs to leverage best practices from both organizations and advance early childhood education in the St. Louis region.
• LUME InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership for early childhood education programs, working together on early learning initiatives and facility improvements.
• Epworth Children & Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Children's Permanency Partnership (CPP) consortium providing foster care case management and adoption services for the St. Louis region. Together they serve more than 6,500 children in foster care.
• FamilyForwardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Children's Permanency Partnership (CPP) consortium providing foster care case management and adoption services for the St. Louis region.
• National Safe Place NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with the National Safe Place Network, operating Safe Place program since 2006 with 523 stationary sites and 379 mobile sites in eastern Missouri. Safe Place has provided teens in crisis with immediate help and safety for more than 40 years.
• National Network for Youth (NN4Y)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with the National Network for Youth, participating in annual NN4Y Summit on Youth Homelessness.
• United Way of Greater St. LouiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor funder and community partner supporting Youth In Need's programs through annual fundraising campaigns and direct service funding.
• DRN | MVTRAC | SCMmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for the annual Golfing for Youth benefit tournament, supporting fundraising efforts for youth programs.
• ATB TechnologiesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner honored at Celebration of Youth 2026 for efforts to build stronger communities for children and families. ATB Technologies was the 2026 Corporate Partner honoree.
• White CastleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner running 'Round Up' campaign for Youth In Need, contributing ongoing support to youth programs.
• StarbucksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSafe Place location partner providing immediate help sites for youth in crisis as part of the Safe Place network.
• Schnucks MarketsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSafe Place location partner providing immediate help sites for youth in crisis as part of the Safe Place network.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Lutheran Services in America: Large national network of Lutheran social service organizations delivering child welfare, behavioral health, and youth services across many states. Comparable service categories (foster care, counseling, youth housing) at much broader geographic scale; useful benchmark for multi-state service-line expansion strategy.
• Covenant House: Large national nonprofit operating shelter, housing, and supportive services for youth experiencing homelessness and trafficking across multiple U.S. cities. Comparable services in emergency shelter, transitional living, and street outreach, with the same youth homelessness customer segment at meaningfully larger scale.

Direct peers

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri: Eastern Missouri affiliate of a national youth mentoring nonprofit serving at-risk youth with similar funding mix (United Way, foundations, individual donors). Comparable mission, scale, and regional footprint, with overlapping school and community referral partners.
• LUME Institute: St. Louis-based early childhood education nonprofit and Youth In Need joint programming partner on early learning initiatives and facility improvements. Directly comparable Head Start/Early Head Start and early-childhood development services in the same region.
• Epworth Children & Family Services: Epworth is Youth In Need's partner in the Children's Permanency Partnership foster care consortium serving the same St. Louis region with overlapping case management, counseling, and youth residential services. Same customer base, same funding environment, same regulatory regime.
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis: Regional youth development nonprofit serving at-risk children and teens with after-school, teen, and athletic programming in the same St. Louis region. Comparable donor and volunteer ecosystem, with overlapping donor and school-district partner networks.
• Marygrove: Marygrove is a St. Louis-area nonprofit providing residential, educational, and mental health services to children and youth, including a residential treatment program for at-risk youth and Wraparound services. Directly comparable mission, geography, and customer base.
• FamilyForward: FamilyForward is the third CPP consortium partner alongside Epworth and Youth In Need, providing foster care, adoption, and family stabilization services in the St. Louis region. Compares directly on service mix, customer segments, and referral networks.

Others

• United Way of Greater St. Louis: Youth In Need's major institutional funder and community partner in fundraising campaigns; United Way operates a similar donor-coordination function at scale across the St. Louis region. Comparison useful from a funder/ecosystem perspective rather than direct service delivery.
• National Safe Place Network: National franchising and network body for the Safe Place youth crisis program that Youth In Need operates as its largest regional licensee. Strong ecosystem and capability tie, not a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/YouthInNeed
• Facebookfacebook.com/YouthInNeed1974
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youth-in-need

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Youth In Need