JAFCO

What JAFCO does

JAFCO (Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options, legal name Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1992 in Sunrise, Florida, by Ronald D. Simon to address the unmet need of Jewish children removed from homes due to abuse or neglect who were losing their cultural and religious identity in the state foster care system. The organization operates four core programmatic divisions: JAFCO Children's Village (emergency shelter, six group homes, foster care, adoption, family preservation, and Multi-Systemic Therapy); JAFCO Children's Ability Center (enrichment, respite, Camp Kehilla, and family support for children birth to age 22 with developmental disabilities); Eagles' Haven Wellness Center (trauma support for the Parkland/Coral Springs community); and JAFCO FamilyMatters (crisis and family support services in Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey). The Illuminate Event Venue, a 10,000+ sq.ft. facility hosting up to 300 guests, operates as a social enterprise with revenue directed to the Children's Ability Center.

JAFCO's service delivery model is fully human-led and human-delivered; technology is not a material component of the operating stack. The organization is funded through a diversified mix of individual donations (including $1,800/year multi-year membership commitments via Godparent Circle and Circle of Hope), event fundraising (galas, luncheons, tournaments, card parties), government contracts (Florida Department of Children and Families, ChildNet, Area Agency on Aging of Broward, Florida Department of Elder Affairs), institutional giving from three Jewish federations (Miami, Broward, Palm Beach), corporate sponsors, and earned income from Illuminate venue rentals. Distribution is direct at facilities in Sunrise FL (headquarters campus and Ability Center), Coral Springs FL (Eagles' Haven), and King of Prussia PA (FamilyMatters regional HQ), with clients reached through state/court referrals, school referrals, community self-referrals, and a network of seven regional volunteer chapters across South Florida.

In 2024 JAFCO served 4,148 children and families across its four sites, with a 99.4% high school graduation rate for Village children and post-graduation support extending to age 24. The organization holds CARF accreditation and a 4-Star Charity Navigator rating, and is led by CEO Justin Kohlhagen, PsyD, following the 2024 retirement of Sarah Franco. Headcount is reported at 101-250 employees with operations spanning Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and occasional placements reaching children from Canada and Israel.

Name

JAFCO

Legal name

Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options

Website

https://jafco.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

JAFCO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1992 that provides emergency shelter, foster care, adoption, developmental disability services, and trauma support to children and families across South Florida and Greater Philadelphia, operating four programmatic divisions and an event venue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare and Family Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (624410), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Respite Care for Families of Children with Disabilities (HSAAAIAL), Mental Health & Emotional/Trauma-Informed Childcare (anxiety, PTSD) (HSAAAIAI), Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF), Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC)

Keywords

• Child welfare services
• Foster care adoption
• Developmental disability support
• Trauma counseling services
• Family preservation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sunrise

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Contributions: JAFCO generates revenue primarily through individual donations, memorial gifts, tribute cards, and planned giving from donors. The organization operates various giving programs including Godparent Circle ($1,800/year), Circle of Hope ($1,800/year), Business Circle, Legacy Circle, and general donations.
2. Event Fundraising: JAFCO hosts numerous annual events including galas, luncheons, golf tournaments, poker tournaments, and card parties to raise funds. Events include the Starlight Gala, Mother's Day Luncheon, Chanukah Miracles Luncheon, In My Shoes Luncheon, and Comedy for a Cause.
3. Illuminate Venue Revenue: The Illuminate Event Venue generates revenue by hosting weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, birthdays, anniversaries, and corporate events. All venue revenue supports the JAFCO Children's Ability Center programs.
4. Government Contracts and Grants: JAFCO receives funding from government sources including Florida Department of Children and Families, Area Agency on Aging of Broward, and Department of Elder Affairs for various programs including Senior Caregiver Program.
5. Membership Programs: JAFCO offers membership programs where donors become members with annual contributions, directly impacting children at JAFCO's four sites.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

JAFCO (Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides child welfare services including emergency shelter, group homes, foster care, adoption, and family preservation for abused and neglected children. The organization also operates the Children's Ability Center, offering respite care and enrichment for families raising children with developmental disabilities, and Eagles' Haven Wellness Center, providing trauma support to communities affected by mass shootings.

Product overview

JAFCO (Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of child welfare and family support services. The organization operates through four main programmatic divisions: JAFCO Children's Village (providing emergency shelter, group homes, foster care, adoption, and family preservation for abused/neglected children); JAFCO Children's Ability Center (offering enrichment, resources, and respite for families raising children with developmental disabilities); Eagles' Haven Wellness Center (delivering trauma support and mental health services, particularly for mass shooting survivors); and JAFCO FamilyMatters (providing crisis support services in the Greater Philadelphia area). Additionally, the Illuminate Event Venue operates as a social enterprise where event proceeds fund the Ability Center. Together, these programs served 4,148 children and families in 2024 across multiple locations in South Florida and Pennsylvania.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JAFCO Children's Village: Emergency shelter and six group homes providing safety to children who have experienced abuse or neglect, along with foster care, adoption, and family preservation programs. Located on 5.6 acres in Sunrise, FL.
• JAFCO Children's Ability Center
• Eagles' Haven Wellness Center
• JAFCO FamilyMatters
• Illuminate Event Venue

Products and services

• JAFCO Children's Village A comprehensive child welfare campus providing emergency shelter, six group homes, foster care, adoption, and family preservation services for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. The village serves as the only center of its kind in the Jewish community nationwide.
• JAFCO Children's Ability Center A state-of-the-art center providing family enrichment, resources, and respite care for families raising children with developmental disabilities (birth to age 22), including Autism, Intellectual Disability, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, and Prader Willi.
• Eagles' Haven Wellness Center A trauma support wellness center opened in March 2019 following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, providing free yoga, art classes, meditation, dance, crisis support, case management, and support groups for students, parents, and teachers.
• JAFCO FamilyMatters Support services for children and families facing crisis, trauma, or overwhelming challenges in the Greater Philadelphia area, offering barrier-free intensive support for mental health issues, divorce, custody issues, and special needs caregiving.
• Illuminate Event Venue A 10,000+ sq.ft. event venue for weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, celebrations, and fundraisers for up to 300 guests, with all revenue supporting the JAFCO Children's Ability Center.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.4% of children at the Village graduate high school, all with access to college education without debt
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities (CARF)coreOthersAccreditation body that provides CARF accreditation demonstrating JAFCO meets highest standards of care and best practices in child welfare.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Easter Seals: National nonprofit providing services for children and adults with developmental disabilities including respite, therapy, and enrichment. Direct comparable for JAFCO's Children's Ability Center programming.
• Children's Home Society of Florida: Florida statewide child welfare nonprofit providing adoption, foster care, and family preservation services. Direct geographic peer competing for the same state contracts and donor pool in JAFCO's primary market.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: National nonprofit operating residential group homes, behavioral health, and developmental disability services across multiple states. Closely comparable operating model for JAFCO's Village and Ability Center programs.
• KVC Health Systems: National child welfare and behavioral health nonprofit operating foster care, adoption, and in-home family services. Comparable in scope of child welfare programming and reliance on state child welfare contracts.
• The Arc: National nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy, family support, and direct services. Closely comparable to JAFCO's Ability Center mission and family-strengthening work.
• Ohel Children's Home and Family Services: Jewish social services organization providing foster care, developmental disability services, and family support across the New York area. Direct comparable in combining Jewish-cultural programming with disabilities and child welfare services.
• JCCA (Jewish Child Care Association): New York-based Jewish child welfare agency offering residential treatment, foster care, adoption, and family services. Most direct peer given the shared Jewish-identity mission and comparable continuum-of-care model.
• Boys Town: Iconic child welfare nonprofit providing residential group homes, foster care, in-home family services, and crisis support. Operates a similar integrated campus-to-satellite model across multiple states.

Regional players

• Jewish Family Services of Greater Philadelphia: Regional Jewish social services agency providing counseling, case management, and senior services in JAFCO's FamilyMatters territory. Geographic overlap in Greater Philadelphia and similar Jewish-community funding sources.

Others

• ChildNet (Broward and Palm Beach): Community-based care lead agency for Broward and Palm Beach counties that both funds and oversees JAFCO's child welfare services. Closely linked ecosystem participant and indirect competitor for state contracts in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@jafcodevelopment4822
• Facebookfacebook.com/jafco1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jafco-jewish-adoption-and-foster-care-options
• Instagraminstagram.com/jafco_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

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 JAFCO