A Second Chance

What A Second Chance does

A Second Chance, Inc. (ASCI) is a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit corporation founded in 1994 that delivers kinship care, foster care, behavioral health, and family support services. The organization operates as the only U.S. agency exclusively serving the entire kinship triad — child, kinship caregiver, and birth family — and has served approximately 31,000 children, 10,000 caregivers, and 30,000 birth parents since inception. Services span case management via the Point of Contact (POC) model, 24/7 Kinship Navigation and Kinship Emergency Response, kinship certification, clinical and behavioral health services, youth programming (Y.E.S. Summer Camp, Camp C.O.P.E.S., Boys II Men, LIL SIS), adoption/permanency support through Pennsylvania's SWAN network, and family-finding/family-group decision-making. Delivery occurs through offices in Pittsburgh (corporate), Philadelphia (regional), Penn Hills, and Concord, New Hampshire (launched November 2023).

The organization's core technology stack is not software-based; it consists of proprietary human-services curricula, assessments, and consulting frameworks, including SARKS (Standards for Assessing and Recognizing Kinship Strengths), the KSA-PV assessment, the KORE Model, and Kin2You Values Training. These tools encode 30+ years of practitioner and academic expertise and are commercialized through Kinship Insight Solutions, LLC, a consulting subsidiary that sells implementation support to other child welfare agencies. A Second Chance Charitable Foundation operates as an affiliated fundraising entity.

Revenue mechanics are anchored in government contracts with Allegheny County's Office of Children, Youth and Families (ACCYF) and Philadelphia's DHS/CUA, which generate referrals within days of child removal and pay a Pennsylvania Department of Human Services board rate of $21.00 per day per child to kinship caregivers, supported by ASCI's case management fees. Supplemental income streams include charitable donations and professional services/consulting fees from agencies purchasing ASCI's proprietary training and assessment products. ASCI employs 251–500 staff, has been CARF accredited since 1999, and the founder (Dr. Sharon McDaniel) was recognized as a Top 100 Disruptor.

Name

A Second Chance

Legal name

A Second Chance, Inc.

Website

https://asecondchance-kinship.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

A Second Chance, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit founded in 1994 delivering kinship care, foster care, and family support services exclusively to the kinship triad (child, caregiver, birth family) in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, funded primarily through government contracts with county child welfare agencies and supported by a proprietary consulting subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Referrals: ASCI receives referrals and funding from county children and youth services agencies including Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth and Families (ACCYF) and Philadelphia DHS/CUA. The agency provides case management, kinship navigation, certification, and support services under government contracts.
2. Foster Care Board Payments: ASCI pays support for all kinship children. The starting rate is $21.00 per day for each child in care, based on the rate established by the Department of Human Services. Board reimbursements are not considered taxable income to caregivers.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: ASCI accepts donations through its website to support programs and services for kinship families.
4. Consulting Services: ASCI provides consulting services using proprietary models (KORE, KSA-PV, Kin2You) to other child welfare agencies, helping implement kin-first culture and evidence-based programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

A Second Chance, Inc. is a nonprofit that provides kinship care services, placing children removed from birth homes with relatives or fictive kin while delivering case management, caregiver certification and training, emergency response, youth programming, and consulting to county agencies and other child welfare organizations. It exclusively serves the entire kinship triad — child, caregiver, and birth family — through programs such as Point of Contact (POC), Kinship Navigator, Kinship Emergency Response (KER), SARKS curriculum, and KORE/KSA-PV consulting tools.

Product overview

A Second Chance, Inc. (ASCI) is a nonprofit corporation established in 1994 that operates as a national leader in kinship care services, exclusively delivering services to the entire kinship triad (child, caregiver, and birth family). The organization offers a comprehensive suite of programs including core case management services (Point of Contact, Kinship Navigator, Kinship Emergency Response), specialized youth programs (Y.E.S. Summer Camp, Youth Engagement Services), training curricula (SARKS kinship care curriculum), and consulting services (KORE Model, Kinship Strengths Assessment, Kin2You Values Training). ASCI serves Pennsylvania regions including Pittsburgh and Philadelphia through various support services such as respite care, clinical services, support groups, family finding, and permanency planning, with a product portfolio spanning direct service delivery, professional training tools, and advisory consulting frameworks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fashion Forward Kinspire™: A program combining fashion and kinship care awareness, bridging kinship, foster care and community engagement.
• SARKS
• Point of Contact (POC)
• Kinship Navigator

Products and services

• Point of Contact (POC) Case Management ASCI's phased strategy casework model that identifies touch points needed to establish services and engagements for kinship families, taking families through a personal journey of empowerment to ensure child safety, maintain well-being, and plan for permanency while meeting federal, state, and local oversight requirements.
• Kinship Navigator A component of ASCI's Child and Family Services Department that provides county agencies with a mechanism to identify and screen appropriate kinship options for children in non-emergency, emergency, and congregate care situations, improving family member location, access, quality, and advocacy.
• Kinship Emergency Response (KER) A modified Point of Contact model for emergency situations where kinship caregivers need assistance stabilizing placement and licensing the family, addressing immediate needs of the child/youth, caregiver, and kinship home.
• SARKS (Standards for Assessing and Recognizing Kinship Strengths) Curriculum A comprehensive kinship foster care curriculum directed toward training and licensing kinship caregivers, founded on academic research and data relevant to kinship care, with sessions covering roles, loss, grief, trauma, child development, and permanency planning.
• KORE Model Consulting A proprietary consulting model offered through Kinship Insight Solutions, LLC for organizations seeking kinship care expertise, kin-first implementation guidance, and evidence-based programming support.
• Kinship Strengths Assessment – Professional Version (KSA-PV) A proprietary professional assessment tool used to evaluate kinship caregiver readiness and strengths in providing care, delivered through consulting services.
• Kin2You Values Training A values-based training program offered through ASCI's consulting services to strengthen kinship care practices at other child welfare agencies.
• Y.E.S. Summer Camp A free summer program for youth ages 10-14 involved with Allegheny County CYF, offering field trips, hands-on activities, games, and creative experiences with free breakfast and lunch.
• National Adoption Day Celebrations Annual celebrations held in both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia to honor kinship adoptive families on National Adoption Day, featuring family activities and recognition.
• Philadelphia Certification, SWAN, and Support Services Philadelphia office service line including foster care certification, CUA compliance, kinship emergency services, SWAN participation, specialized behavioral health, family finding, Family Group Decision-Making, crisis/rapid response meetings, youth transition meetings, and respite care.
• Pittsburgh Support Services (FACT, Aftercare, YES, Camp C.O.P.E.S., Boys II Men, LIL SIS, Support Groups, Free Legal Clinic, Kinship Closet, Community Garden) Pittsburgh office suite of support services including FACT, Aftercare, Youth Engagement Services, Camp C.O.P.E.S., Boys II Men, LIL SIS, support groups, free legal clinic, the Pittsburgh Kinship Closet, and the Community Garden.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of children reach reunification within the first year of service
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NAMI Keystone PennsylvaniaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026ASCI's CARES team attended NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania's Fifth Annual Black Mental Health Summit focused on strengthening relationships between youth and adults in the Black community.
• 100 Black Men of Western PennsylvaniaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Community organization recognized as a changemaker that is reshaping communities through vision, commitment, and lived experience. Featured in ASCI's Community Changemaker Spotlight series.
• Allegheny County Department of Human Services - Department of AgingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2023Launched a Grandfamilies stipend program from April 28 - June 30, 2023 that provided caregivers outside of formal kinship care with support and resources.
• Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth and Families (ACCYF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASCI works with ACCYF as the placing agency to support kinship families from case onset. The Kinship Navigator program supports ACCYF in determining kinship supports for families during non-emergency and emergency cases, and identifying kinship options for children in congregate care.
• Philadelphia DHS/CUAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASCI receives referrals from Philadelphia Department of Human Services/County Unified Area (CUA) for kinship care cases. Services include foster care licensure, case management, and support services.
• Propel Charter SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPropel Charter Schools sponsors ASCI's Y.E.S. Summer Camp, providing a free summer program for youth ages 10-14 involved with Allegheny County CYF.
• See ClearminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSee Clear is a 501c3 community and economic development corporation in McKeesport, PA that weaves arts and entrepreneurship for youth. ASCI partnered to explore the transformative influence of arts and entrepreneurship on kinship families.
• Girls, Inc. of Greater PittsburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in ASCI's Community Change Maker spotlight series. Girls Inc. provides programming that empowers girls to be strong, smart, and bold.
• Persad CenterminorOthersAffirming counseling center in Pennsylvania that helps LGBTQ+ people cope with social discrimination. Listed as a mental health resource for families during the holiday season.
• SWAN (Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASCI participates in SWAN, a statewide network that facilitates the adoption and permanency process for children in Pennsylvania's child welfare system.
• Black Administrators in Child Welfare (BACW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBACW partnered with ASCI to host the Sankofa Institute, a program that trains and certifies child welfare professionals. ASCI hosted the Capstone and Graduation Ceremonies for Sankofa Cohort #4.
• YWCA of Greater PittsburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerASCI participated in YWCA's Action Conversations About Race series, featuring a discussion on 'Racism as a Public Health Crisis' as part of public health crisis programming.
• Pennsylvania Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner that establishes foster care board rates ($21/day per child) and oversees child welfare services in Pennsylvania.
• Education Law CenterminorOthersPartner providing education advocacy resources. The Education Law Center's annual Back-to-School Guide is recommended for families, students, and child-serving professionals.
• Grandfamilies.orgminorOthersNational resource for grandfamilies (grandparents raising grandchildren). Listed as a COVID-19 resource for kinship families.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bethany Christian Services: National nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, and family preservation services. Directly comparable to ASCI as a multi-state child welfare agency offering kinship, foster, and case management services to government-referred clients.
• KidsPeace: Pennsylvania-headquartered nonprofit delivering foster care, residential treatment, and community-based programs for children and families. Overlaps with ASCI on PA-based foster/kinship services, government referrals, and youth programming.
• Pressley Ridge: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit providing foster care, residential, and community-based services for children and families. Directly comparable to ASCI on PA-based kinship/foster care delivery and government-contract-funded model.
• KVC Health Systems: Multi-state child welfare and behavioral health nonprofit offering foster care, family preservation, and case management. Comparable to ASCI in service mix and government-contract-driven revenue model, with broader geographic reach.
• Cornerstones of Care: Multi-service child welfare nonprofit offering foster care, adoption, and family preservation. Comparable to ASCI on kinship/foster services, proprietary curricula, and government-referral-driven delivery model.
• Children's Home Society of California: California nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, and kinship support services. Comparable to ASCI as a regional foster/kinship care provider operating under county-government contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Casey Family Programs: Large private operating foundation focused on child welfare systems change and direct services across many states. Comparable to ASCI as a kinship/foster care provider but operates at substantially larger scale and geographic scope.
• Boys Town: National child welfare and family services organization providing in-home family services, foster care, and behavioral health. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping kinship and foster care programming to government-referred families.

Regional players

• The Children's Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center: Pittsburgh-area nonprofit providing adoption, foster care, and pediatric specialty services. Regional peer to ASCI with overlapping foster/adoption services and similar referral channels from Allegheny County agencies.
• Child & Family Services of New Hampshire: New Hampshire-based nonprofit offering foster care, adoption, and family support services. Comparable to ASCI's newly-launched NH office on service line and state-government contracting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ASecondChanceInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-second-chance-inc
• Xx.com/ASCI_Kinship

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about A Second Chance