Hathaway-Sycamores

What Hathaway-Sycamores does

Sycamores is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit behavioral health and child welfare organization headquartered in Pasadena, California, founded in 1902 as Hathaway Children & Family Services and rebranded to Sycamores in July 2021. The organization operates 10 service locations across Los Angeles County and mobile crisis outreach teams extending into Riverside County, serving over 37,000 vulnerable children, youth, and families annually. Core programs span residential treatment at the El Nido campus, outpatient behavioral health, school-based mental health services delivered in over 30 public schools, homeless and housing support, family resource centers, mobile crisis outreach, Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports under California's CalAIM initiative, and a Transitional Living Program for transition-age youth aging out of foster care. New service lines include a Children's Crisis Stabilization Unit and Children's Psychiatric Health Facility under construction at El Nido (funded in part by BHCIP) and a Maternal/Child Health Program at the Palmdale Family Resource Center funded by UniHealth Foundation.

The organization's technology footprint is limited and operational rather than differentiating: a HIPAA-compliant online referral portal (apps.sycamores.org/referral) for mental health service enrollment and participation in Los Angeles County Health Information Exchanges for care coordination. The Hathaway Center for Excellence operates as an in-house research and training arm. Technology is not a primary differentiator; the organization competes on clinical expertise, geographic reach, and integrated service delivery rather than platform capabilities.

Sycamores generates revenue through a hybrid nonprofit model combining Medi-Cal billing for clinical services, government contracts (primarily with the LA County Department of Mental Health), foundation grants (UniHealth Foundation, Rose Hills Foundation, L.L. Foundation, Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts), individual and corporate donations, matching-gift programs (Jessie Ball duPont Fund 4:1 match, Crawford Family Foundation 1:1 match), and annual fundraising events including the Celebrating Children Gala which raised over $400,000 in 2026. The organization's operating budget is $68 million. Services are provided at no cost to clients or through government insurance, with private insurance accepted for select programs (CYBHI). The organization employs 501-1,000 staff and is governed by an independent Board of Directors; Debra Manners has served as President and CEO since 1987.

Name

Hathaway-Sycamores

Legal name

Sycamores

Website

https://sycamores.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Sycamores (formerly Hathaway-Sycamores) is a Pasadena-based nonprofit, founded in 1902, providing behavioral health, residential treatment, housing support, and child welfare services to over 37,000 vulnerable children, youth, and families annually across Los Angeles County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Health and Child Welfare Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Behavioral health services
• Child welfare programs
• Residential treatment
• School-based mental health
• Crisis intervention

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Medi-Cal/Insurance Billing: Sycamores generates revenue through Medi-Cal billing for mental health services, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health contracts, and other government-funded healthcare programs. The organization accepts Medi-Cal insurance for outpatient mental health, school-based, and CYBHI programs.
2. Foundation Grants: Sycamores receives grants from foundations such as UniHealth Foundation ($240,000 two-year grant for Maternal/Child Health Program), Rose Hills Foundation, L.L. Foundation, and others to fund specific programs and innovations.
3. Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization raises funds through direct donations, matching programs (Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Crawford Family Foundation), corporate gifts, stock donations, planned giving, and event-based fundraising including an annual gala.
4. Annual Events and Fundraising: Major annual fundraising events including the Celebrating Children Gala (raised over $400,000 in 2026), holiday giving programs, and community events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sycamores provides behavioral health, child welfare, and community support services to vulnerable children, youth, and families in Southern California, including outpatient mental health counseling, residential treatment at the El Nido campus, transitional living programs for former foster youth, school-based mental health, mobile crisis outreach, family resource centers, housing support, and Enhanced Care Management under California's CalAIM initiative. Services are funded through Medi-Cal billing, LA County Department of Mental Health contracts, foundation grants, and charitable donations.

Product overview

Sycamores is a nonprofit behavioral health and child welfare organization serving Southern California since 1902. The organization operates as a unified service provider with multiple interconnected programs rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core services include Behavioral Health Services (outpatient mental health counseling and psychiatric care), Residential Services (foster care and group homes at the El Nido campus), Homeless and Housing Support, Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams, Education-Based/School-Based Mental Health services, Family Resource Centers, Transitional Living Programs for former foster youth, and ECM/CS Programs (Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports under CalAIM). The Hathaway Center for Excellence provides research and training infrastructure. New programs include Children's Crisis Stabilization Unit and Children's Psychiatric Health Facility at the El Nido campus, and a Maternal/Child Health Program at the Palmdale location. The organization rebranded from Hathaway-Sycamores to Sycamores in July 2021.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Behavioral Health Services Mental health counseling and psychiatric services provided to individuals, families, and youth experiencing emotional, psychological, or behavioral challenges.
• Residential Services 24-hour care facilities including the El Nido campus providing shelter, therapeutic support, and life skills development for children and youth in foster care.
• Homeless and Housing Support Services supporting individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including housing placement assistance and supportive housing programs.
• Family Resource Center Community-based hub offering support services, resources, and programs for families including parenting classes, support groups, and connections to community services.
• Mobile Crisis Outreach Team Unarmed behavioral health crisis response teams that provide in-person intervention to individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises in the community across Los Angeles and Riverside Counties.
• Education Based Services / School-Based Mental Health Mental health services delivered directly in over 30 public schools throughout Los Angeles County, providing counseling, support, and interventions for students.
• ECM and CS Programs (Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports) Care coordination services helping vulnerable individuals navigate and access healthcare, social services, and community resources under California's CalAIM initiative.
• Hathaway Center for Excellence Research and training division focused on advancing mental health practices through evidence-based research, professional development, and workforce training programs.
• Transitional Living Program Independent living support for young adults aging out of foster care, including housing assistance, life skills training, educational support, and career development.
• Children's Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) A crisis stabilization program providing around-the-clock behavioral health services for children and adolescents experiencing urgent mental health needs; part of new Children's Crisis Programs at the El Nido campus.
• Children's Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF) A psychiatric facility providing inpatient mental health care for children and teens in a safe, age-appropriate, home-like environment; part of Children's Crisis Programs.
• Maternal/Child Health Program Prenatal and postnatal support services at the Palmdale Family Resource Center, including birth preparation, nutrition classes, lactation support, infant massage, Baby Signs, and peer support for pregnant and parenting families.

Named customers7 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

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Wolf ConnectionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering the Wolf Academy youth empowerment program where youth ages 10-16 connect with rescued wolves through virtual lessons and in-person sanctuary visits, learning life skills including leadership, teamwork, resilience, and self-awareness.
• Los Altos AuxiliaryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteer support group that raises funds and provides experiential opportunities for youth at Sycamores' El Nido campus, including organizing activities like ocean fishing trips for foster youth.
• Pasadena Tournament of RosesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership including wellness support for Royal Court, tree planting events, and collaborative community engagement activities.
• Assistance League of ArcadiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided 50 Baby Shower Backpacks containing essential items for expectant mothers served by Sycamores.
• Health Information Exchanges (HIE)coreTechnology or IntegrationParticipates in Los Angeles County Health Information Exchanges along with LA County Departments of Health, Public Health, and Mental Health to share client health information for treatment coordination purposes.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Five Acres: LA County nonprofit providing residential treatment, mental health, and child welfare services for at-risk children and families — comparable residential and behavioral health service lines and same Medi-Cal/county contracting environment.
• Penny Lane Centers: LA County nonprofit offering foster care, mental health, transitional housing, and wraparound services for children and transition-age youth — comparable in foster care, TAY/transitional living, and county-funded behavioral health services.
• Hillsides: Pasadena-based nonprofit serving children and youth with residential, mental health, and wraparound services — same city and overlapping programs (foster care, residential, behavioral health), making it a close geographic and service peer.
• Para Los Niños: LA-based nonprofit providing mental health, education, and family support services to underserved children and families — directly comparable in school-linked mental health, child welfare, and family resource center offerings.
• Aspiranet: California statewide nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, behavioral health, and residential services to children and families — directly comparable in foster care, residential treatment, and county-contract-funded service mix.
• Pacific Clinics: One of California's largest nonprofit behavioral health providers, serving children, youth, and adults across LA County and statewide with mental health, SUD, and housing services — directly comparable to Sycamores in mission, Medi-Cal contract base, and county-level delivery model.
• Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services: LA-based nonprofit providing mental health, suicide prevention, and crisis services including school-based programs and a Suicide Prevention Center — comparable child/youth behavioral health and crisis portfolio to Sycamores in the same geography.

Emerging players

• Childhelp: National nonprofit focused on child abuse prevention, treatment, and advocacy, with residential and community programs including in Southern California — partial overlap with Sycamores' foster care, residential, and trauma services for vulnerable children.

Others

• National Council for Mental Wellbeing: Industry/membership association for community behavioral health organizations; Debra Manners served on its CEO Council. Represents the broader trade ecosystem Sycamores participates in rather than a direct service competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Hospital Los Angeles: Major pediatric academic medical center operating a Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Institute. Comparable only at the children's behavioral health level; broader hospital operator with overlapping inpatient psychiatry and outpatient mental health services in the same LA market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HathawaySycamores
• Facebookfacebook.com/HathawaySycamores
• Instagraminstagram.com/sycamoresabetterlife
• Xx.com/HathSyc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Hathaway-Sycamores