Youth Homes

What Youth Homes does

Youth Homes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1971 and headquartered in Missoula, Montana, providing residential and behavioral health services to youth ages 4 through 18+ who have experienced abuse, neglect, trauma, or substance abuse. The organization operates nine therapeutic group homes across Western Montana in Missoula, Kalispell, Helena, and Polson, and delivers emergency shelter placements, family counseling, transitional living services, and school-based mental health programming. Clinical staff hold LCSW and MSW credentials and deliver trauma-informed care under Council on Accreditation (COA) standards.

The business model is a hybrid of government-contracted fee-for-service and charitable fundraising. The majority of operating revenue comes from Medicaid reimbursements, state agency contracts (notably with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services), and federal pass-through grants. This is supplemented by individual donations, corporate giving, and special-event fundraising, including a record $200,000 raised in October 2025. Total annual operating budget is approximately $5 million. The organization is currently executing a $4 million capital campaign to fund the new Birnbaum Youth Home, scheduled to open in September 2026.

Strategic priorities over the past three years have included capacity consolidation (closure of the Attention Home in 2023), facility expansion (Birnbaum build-out), service-line diversification (The Cube @ 603 transitional housing partnership with Homeword; Youth Farm with Garden City Harvest), and continued geographic coverage of Western Montana. The organization's competitive position rests on its multi-decade regulatory relationships, licensed clinical workforce, and established brand trust in the regional youth welfare ecosystem.

Name

Youth Homes

Legal name

Youth Homes

Website

https://youthhomesmt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Youth Homes is a Missoula, Montana-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that operates nine therapeutic group homes across Western Montana, providing residential care, counseling, and emergency shelter services to youth ages 4-18+ experiencing abuse, neglect, trauma, or substance abuse.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Temporary Shelters (624221), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL)

Keywords

• Child welfare services
• Youth residential care
• Therapeutic group homes
• Crisis intervention services
• Foster care support

Headquarters

HQ city

Missoula

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fees for Services - Medicaid Reimbursements: Youth Homes receives revenue from fees for services including Medicaid reimbursements for therapeutic and healthcare services provided to youth in their care.
2. Charitable Gifts and Donations: Individual and corporate donations, including one-time gifts, monthly giving (Times 12 members), in-kind donations, and planned gifts of stock, real estate, and bequests. Montana state tax credits available for endowment gifts.
3. Public Grants and Contracts: Funding from government sources including Department of Public Health and Human Services grants, foster care reimbursements, and Youth Court payments for shelter placements. The Birnbaum Youth Home received a $750,000 grant from the Montana Department of Public and Human Services.
4. Targeted Case Management: Revenue from targeted case management services as part of the Birnbaum Youth Home's sustainable funding model, pulling in money from multiple revenue sources including Medicaid reimbursement.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Youth Homes is a nonprofit child welfare organization that operates emergency shelters, therapeutic group homes, and family support services for children and teens in Western Montana who have experienced abuse, neglect, emotional trauma, or substance use. Its continuum of care includes crisis shelters, residential group homes for children and adolescents, outpatient counseling, school-based mental health, in-home family support, and transitional living services for youth aging out of foster care.

Product overview

Youth Homes is a nonprofit organization providing an integrated portfolio of shelter, therapeutic group home, and family support services for youth in Western Montana. The core offerings include emergency and crisis shelters (Birnbaum Youth Home opening September 2026, Flathead Youth Home), therapeutic group homes for children and teens (Sunrise Children's Home, Partnership for Children for ages 4-12; Dennis Radtke Home for Boys, Susan Talbot Boys Home, Susan Talbot Home for Girls for ages 12-17; Tom Roy Youth Guidance Home for teens aging out of foster care), and family support services through the Dan Fox Family Care Program (home support services, counseling, school-based mental health, Transitional Living Services). Specialized programs include the Youth Farm employment program and The Cube @ 603 affordable housing partnership. The organization operates nine group homes across Missoula, Kalispell, Helena, and Polson, serving approximately 150 youth and families daily.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Flathead Youth Home: Satellite program providing short-term shelter and long-term group care for youth ages 10-18 in Kalispell, Montana.
• Dan Fox Family Care Program
• Youth Farm

Products and services

• Birnbaum Youth Home Therapeutic crisis shelter for youth aged 10-17 in Western Montana. Stays range from 24 hours up to 90 days and provide safety, stability, and healing for youth who would otherwise end up in emergency rooms, jail cells, psychiatric units, or social workers' offices. Named after former executive director Geoff Birnbaum.
• Sunrise Children's Home Therapeutic home for children aged 4-12 in Missoula who have experienced early childhood trauma including abuse, neglect, exposure to family violence, multiple moves away from birth families, or periods of homelessness. Located at 3233 S 3rd St W, Missoula, MT.
• Tom Roy Youth Guidance Home Long-term therapeutic group home for older teens ages 16-17 aging out of foster care. Provides training and support to transition successfully into adulthood and exit child protective services, youth court, or correctional services. Located at 2824 W Central Ave, Missoula, MT.
• Dennis Radtke Home for Boys Six-bed therapeutic group home serving boys ages 12-17 with serious emotional disturbances and conduct issues. Located at 3218 Helena Drive, Missoula, MT.
• Susan Talbot Boys Home Six-bed intensive therapeutic group home serving boys aged 12-17 with serious emotional and family issues. Located at 2105 42nd Street, Missoula, MT.
• Susan Talbot Home for Girls Six-bed therapeutic group home serving girls aged 12-17 with serious emotional disturbances resulting from trauma. Located at 815 Tower Street, Missoula, MT.
• Flathead Youth Home Eight-bed home in Kalispell, Montana offering both short-term shelter care for immediate safety and crisis intervention, and longer-term group care for emotionally-disturbed youth ages 10-18 who cannot be served in their own homes or substitute families. Operated under the trade name Youth Homes of the Flathead.
• Partnership for Children Therapeutic program for children ages 4-12 who have lived without consistent care or faced significant trauma. Uses a relational developmental treatment model in which healing occurs through healthy, trusting relationships with adults.
• Dan Fox Family Care Program Family support services including in-home therapy and coaching, child and family outpatient counseling, school-based mental health services (Lowell Elementary School), and program locations in Missoula, Helena, and Polson.
• Transitional Living Services (TLS) / Chafee Program Federally known as the Chafee Program, supports young people ages 14-21 aging out of foster care to transition into adulthood. Provides housing assistance, life skills training, employment support, and educational completion support. Services offered in Missoula, Polson, and Flathead communities.
• Youth Farm Summer employment program for teenagers aging out of foster care, operated in partnership with Garden City Harvest. Provides meaningful work opportunities to help youth develop job skills, social skills, positive behaviors, and personal responsibility through operating a small farm business in Missoula.
• The Cube @ 603 Housing project developed by Homeword in partnership with the John D. and Katherine T. MacArthur Foundation's Just Home program. Provides stable housing for transition-age youth participating in Youth Homes' Transitional Living Services program, located at 603 Elliot Street.

Quantifiable outcome

• 44% reduction in youth incidents with 0 incidents in the most serious safety categories
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Headwaters FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026Headwaters Foundation Confluence Center hosts the Youth Homes Annual Meeting celebrating accomplishments of the past fiscal year and looking ahead to FY2027 goals. The event features a message from CEO Amy Schaer and special guest Karissa Trujillo from Homeword.
• Run Wild MissoulacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 June 2026Youth Homes has partnered with the Missoula Marathon through its Run for Kids team for 19 consecutive years. The partnership raises funds for children facing abuse, neglect, and emotional trauma. This year's efforts support the Birnbaum Youth Home therapeutic crisis shelter. Each team member commits to raising at least $500, with the organization aiming to raise $100,000 from the event.
• Montana Natural History CenterminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 June 2026Montana Natural History Center partners with Youth Homes as part of the Run 4 Kids team, helping make the Missoula Marathon event unforgettable for runners and youth participants alike.
• Garden City HarvestcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Youth Farm is a creative collaboration between Youth Homes and Garden City Harvest, offering meaningful summer employment opportunities for teenagers aging out of foster care. Through a safe and supportive program, youth develop job skills, build positive behaviors, take personal responsibility, and learn physical, social, and entrepreneurial skills to operate a small farm business.
• HomewordcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026The Cube @ 603, developed by Homeword in partnership with the John D. and Katherine T. MacArthur Foundation's Just Home program, provides stable housing for transition-age youth in Youth Homes' Transitional Living Services program. The Cube offers a supportive environment to help youth achieve stability and independence as they transition into adulthood. Youth Homes is also exploring further housing projects with Homeword following a report on youth homelessness.
• Western CiderminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026Western Cider hosts the Grateful Glass Fundraiser in June, donating $1 from every glass sold on every Tuesday to Youth Homes. All funds raised go towards the Birnbaum Youth Home therapeutic crisis shelter project.
• Missoula Rotary ClubsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2026Missoula Rotary volunteers organize cleanups of the Missoula Marathon route connecting Run Wild Missoula, Rotary's Epic Day of Service, and shared mission to support youth at risk. Rotary clubs support Sunrise Youth Homes and Watson's Children Shelter, helping take kids out for fun activities and making physical improvements to facilities.
• Missoula Community FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 April 2026Youth Homes participates in Missoula Gives & Bitterroot Gives, an initiative of the Missoula Community Foundation. This 26-hour celebration connects generous community members with causes they care about, with over 200 organizations participating and a goal of raising $1.5 million.
• The Idleman GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 April 2026The Idleman Group co-hosts the Great Hoppening Easter event at Somers Mansion, featuring an Easter egg hunt with thousands of treasure-filled eggs, raffle prizes, food, and live music. All proceeds support the Flathead Youth Home.
• Peak Health and Wellness (The Peak)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025The Peak hosts annual Giving Trees at their Blue Mountain, Tennis, Pickleball, and Downtown facilities where members select gift tags for youth in Youth Homes care. Since 2014, The Peak has become Youth Homes' largest source of holiday gifts, with members giving 355 individual gifts including high-quality items and gift cards.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Boys Town: National nonprofit operating residential group homes, behavioral health services, and family support for at-risk youth. Much larger scale and broader geographic reach, but overlapping model in residential youth care, in-home family services, and trauma treatment.
• KVC Health Systems: National nonprofit providing in-home family services, foster care, adoption, and residential treatment for children and youth across multiple states. Closely parallels Youth Homes' mix of foster/adoption, family preservation, and residential care, at much larger scale.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: One of the largest U.S. nonprofits providing behavioral health, residential treatment, and foster care for children and adolescents with emotional and developmental needs. Comparable therapeutic group home model at significantly larger scale and multi-state footprint.

Direct peers

• Pressley Ridge: Nonprofit organization providing residential treatment, group homes, foster care, and family services for children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional challenges. Directly comparable service mix and trauma-informed treatment approach.
• Florence Crittenton Services: Nonprofit organization providing residential, family, and pregnancy/parenting support services for at-risk adolescent girls and young women. Comparable residential group care model with wraparound therapeutic and family support services.
• Boys Hope Girls Hope: National nonprofit providing residential homes, education support, and mentoring for youth in need of safe and stable living environments. Comparable residential youth housing model with wraparound educational and developmental support.
• National Youth Advocate Program: National nonprofit providing community-based services, foster care, residential treatment, and family preservation for at-risk youth. Comparable model with strong overlap in therapeutic group care, foster/adoption, and transitional living services.
• Watson Children's Shelter: Emergency children's shelter in Missoula, Montana serving abused, neglected, and homeless youth with residential care. Same city as Youth Homes and a direct functional peer in providing youth crisis shelter services in Western Montana.
• Morrison Child and Family Services: Oregon-based nonprofit providing residential treatment, foster care, adoption, and family support services for children, youth, and families. Comparable mix of therapeutic residential care, foster/adoption, and family preservation services in a Pacific Northwest/Northern Rockies context.
• Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch: Montana-based nonprofit providing residential treatment, group homes, and behavioral health services for at-risk youth. Closest geographic and service-line comparable to Youth Homes, operating therapeutic group care for children and adolescents across Montana.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/youthhomes

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Homes