Highfields

What Highfields does

Highfields, Inc. is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit human services agency founded in 1962, providing a continuum of residential, community-based, and educational services for at-risk children, youth, and families across 10+ mid-Michigan counties. The organization operates 17 distinct programs organized under three pillars: Residential Treatment (a campus-based program for boys ages 12-17 on a 140-acre campus in Onondaga), Community Services (12 programs including family preservation, family reunification, multisystemic therapy, autism case management, home-based infant mental health, and youth violence prevention), and Educational Programs (Reaching Higher after-school enrichment in 9 schools, Ingham Academy alternative high school, and Horizon evening reporting center for court-adjudicated youth). In 2024, Highfields served 3,717 individuals across these programs with a staff of 240+.

The organization's clinical foundation rests on evidence-based practices including Trauma Informed Care, Anger Replacement Training (ART), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Multisystemic Therapy (MST), and the EQUIP Program. Service delivery occurs across six physical locations (Onondaga residential campus plus community offices in Lansing, Jackson, Brighton, Howell, and Hillsdale) and through in-home and school-based delivery models, with 24/7 crisis availability for active cases. Highfields holds full Council on Accreditation (COA) accreditation (achieved July 2019, renewed 2023) and PREA certification, and operates under longstanding contracts with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Ingham County Circuit Court, and LifeWays Community Mental Health.

Highfields' revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit structure with three streams: government contracts for clinical and social services delivery (the contracted backbone), foundation grants for capital projects and specific programs (Dart Foundation, Granger Foundation, Jackson National Life Insurance, John George Jr. Student Loan Fund, and others), and individual/corporate donations plus annual fundraising events (Strengthening Families Breakfast, Golf Outing). Services are delivered at no cost to eligible families referred through government agencies or community partners. Dart Foundation alone has provided over $1 million in cumulative grants since 2018. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by President/CEO Brian Philson, who is in his 20th year with Highfields. There is no parent company, no equity ownership, and no PE/VC backing.

Name

Highfields

Legal name

Highfields, Inc.

Website

https://highfields.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Highfields is a 63-year-old Michigan nonprofit providing residential treatment, community-based services, and educational programs to at-risk children, youth, and families across 10+ mid-Michigan counties through 17 evidence-based programs, funded via government contracts, foundation grants, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Residential Special Education Programs (EDAKAAAH), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Residential treatment services
• Family preservation programs
• Community mental health
• Youth social services
• Alternative education

Headquarters

HQ city

Onondaga

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts: Highfields receives government funding through contracts with Department of Health and Human Services, courts, and community mental health authorities for providing social services programs
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising event proceeds including the annual Strengthening Families Breakfast and Golf Outing
3. Foundation Grants: Grants from charitable foundations including Dart Foundation, Granger Foundation, Jackson National Life Insurance Company, and others supporting specific programs and capital projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Highfields is a nonprofit human services agency delivering residential treatment, community-based family services, and educational programs for at-risk children, youth, and families across 10 Michigan counties. Its 17 programs span a 140-acre residential campus for boys ages 12-17, in-home counseling, family preservation and reunification, autism case management, multisystemic therapy, infant mental health, after-school enrichment, and alternative education for court-involved youth. Services are provided at no cost to eligible families referred through government agencies, courts, schools, and community mental health authorities.

Product overview

Highfields is a multipurpose human services agency founded in 1962 that provides 17 unique programs organized under three core categories: Residential Treatment (campus-based program for boys ages 12-17), Community Services (12 community-based programs including family preservation, reunification, mental health counseling, and autism case management), and Educational Programs (alternative high school, after-school programs, and evening reporting). The organization serves 10 Michigan counties and touches the lives of over 5,000 individuals each year with over 240 staff. Programs range from infant mental health services to adolescent residential treatment, all focused on helping children, youth, and families become more responsible for their own lives and strengthen relationships with others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Treatment Program Campus-based residential treatment program on 140 acres in rural Ingham County for boys ages 12-17 from across Michigan, featuring two residential houses, on-site school, gymnasium, experiential education course, music studio, hiking trails, and athletic fields.
• Community Services Twelve community-based programs serving individuals and families from prenatal support through adolescence, delivered through strength-based, goal-driven, customized interventions across mid-Michigan.
• Educational Programs Educational services including alternative high school, after-school programs, and evening reporting center for court-adjudicated youth, built on evidence-based curricula.
• Family Reunification Program (FRP) Four-month program helping children adjust back into their family home from foster care, providing approximately 3 hours weekly of team support with 24/7 availability throughout the service period.
• Multisystemic Therapy (MST) Evidence-based practice for children ages 12-17 experiencing multiple problems, engaging the systems in a child's life (parents, teachers, peers, neighbors, religious leaders) to help them make better decisions.
• Families Together Building Solutions (FTBS) Home-based program helping families create solutions to prevent out-of-home placement, with a counselor meeting with families in their home for at least three hours weekly.
• Ingham Academy
• Reaching Higher
• Home-Based 0-3 (Infant Mental Health)
• Autism Case Management Targeted case management services for children ages 18 months-17 years diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder through Michigan's Autism Benefit, helping families navigate available services.
• Youth and Family Alternatives to Violence (YFA) Program for families with children ages 11-17 promoting safety and minimizing risk of violence through non-violent problem-solving methods, consisting of weekly home-based counseling and a 26-week violence prevention curriculum.
• Wraparound A facilitated process building a support system for families in need, with a facilitator helping identify strengths, resources, and goals to create a Family Plan and Family Team.
• Family Preservation Program Home-based counseling service for children and family members aged 4-17 coping with mental health disorders, providing 2-4 hours weekly in the family home with 24/7 crisis availability.
• Mindfulness and Meditation Program
• Horizon (Evening Reporting Program)

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,717 total individuals served in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Ingham County Circuit CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Ingham Academy alternative high school program for court-involved youth. Provides referral pathway and judicial support for students.
• Peckham IndustriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Ingham Academy alternative education program providing vocational training and employment opportunities for court-involved youth
• Ingham Intermediate School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing teachers and educational oversight for Ingham Academy alternative high school program
• Department of Health and Human Services (Michigan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government referral partner for community services programs including Family Preservation, Reunification, and In-Home Services across multiple counties
• LifeWays Community Mental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity mental health authority partner for Home-Based Counseling and Autism Case Management services in Jackson and Hillsdale counties
• Ingham County CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCourt partner for Horizon evening reporting program and Youth and Family Alternatives to Violence program

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Boys Town: National nonprofit providing residential treatment, in-home services, and community-based programs for at-risk youth. Operates a flagship residential campus plus geographically dispersed programs — directly comparable operating model at much larger scale.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: National nonprofit operator of residential special education programs, behavioral health services, and community-based programs for vulnerable youth and families. Strong overlap with Highfields' residential and MST/CBT service mix.

Regional players

• Ele's Place: Michigan-based nonprofit providing grief support and behavioral health services for children and families across multiple locations. Comparable in mission and regional Michigan footprint, though narrower in service mix.
• Lutheran Social Services of Michigan: Michigan-based faith-affiliated nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, refugee services, senior services, and behavioral health. Overlaps with Highfields in family preservation and government-contract-funded child welfare services.

Direct peers

• Starr Commonwealth: Michigan-based nonprofit providing residential, community-based, and educational services for at-risk youth with evidence-based practice models. Operates a campus plus statewide programming with government contract and donor funding similar to Highfields.
• National Youth Advocate Program: Ohio-based nonprofit providing community-based services, foster care, behavioral health, and Multisystemic Therapy programs for at-risk youth and families across multiple states. Operates similar evidence-based MST model with government contracts.
• KVC Behavioral HealthCare: Multi-state nonprofit providing child welfare, family preservation, behavioral health, and residential treatment services. Comparable mix of in-home, residential, and community programming funded through government contracts.
• Bethany Christian Services: Grand Rapids-headquartered nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, family preservation, and refugee services across the U.S. Comparable in combining residential/community services with government contracting and faith-based donor support.
• Child and Family Services of Michigan: Michigan-based nonprofit providing residential treatment, foster care, adoption, and community-based counseling for children and families. Comparable operating model, geography, and funding mix.
• The Children's Center of Wayne County: Michigan-based child welfare and behavioral health nonprofit offering residential, community mental health, autism, and family preservation services. Closely comparable in mission scope and Michigan DHHS contract orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/highfieldsinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/highfields.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/highfields-inc-
• Instagraminstagram.com/highfieldsinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Highfields