Home Of Guiding Hands

What Home Of Guiding Hands does

Home of Guiding Hands (HGH) is a California nonprofit organization, founded in 1961 as the Lutheran Association for Retarded Children and renamed in 1986, that operates as a regional Center for Persons with developmental disabilities provider in San Diego and Imperial Counties. It delivers a comprehensive continuum of care to over 4,600-5,000+ infants, children, adolescents, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities each year, spanning residential services in 27 community-based group homes, Adult Family Home placements, Independent Living Skills training, Tailored Day programming, Respite, Transportation (fleet of 70 vehicles), Financial Management Services for the Self-Determination Program, Infant Development Assessments, Early Childhood Development, Life Planning workshops, and Counseling Services that include a VR therapy component.

The organization employs 800+ staff (with some references to 900+) across office, remote, and group-home settings, supported by a 25,000-square-foot resource center in El Cajon and a regional office in El Centro. Revenue is generated primarily through government-reimbursement channels — the San Diego Regional Center (SDRC) authorizes the majority of services, with funding drawn from Social Security, Medi-Cal, Regional Center allocations, and federal pass-throughs via SANDAG subject to Title VI compliance. Additional revenue is generated through private-pay counseling ($110/hour), Family Home Provider stipends of $5,153-$8,394 per month, and a diversified fundraising program (Cares Club monthly giving, Hands of Hope corporate partnerships at $2,500+/year, annual galas, golf tournaments, pub crawls, and the Cause Shop retail partnership). The underlying technology stack is human-delivered service delivery rather than software; the only digitally-mediated product is the VR-based counseling tool.

HGH is an independent nonprofit (no parent company, no PE backing) governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Sam McGovern, led by President & CEO Edward Hershey (appointed September 1, 2021), with a leadership team including COO Falon Leszczynski, Interim CFO Nathan Kloster, and Chief Program Officer Liane Wilson. The organization is licensed through the California Department of Public Health, the Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing, and is engaged in state-level advocacy through ARCA, the Lanterman Coalition, CDSA, and CDSI, where senior executives hold board seats. The most recent material strategic moves are the 2011 assumption of two early-intervention and transportation entities, the early-2000s deinstitutionalization from a 14-acre Lakeside campus to 27 community homes, and the 2021 CEO transition.

Name

Home Of Guiding Hands

Legal name

Home of Guiding Hands

Website

https://guidinghands.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Home of Guiding Hands is a California nonprofit, founded in 1961, providing residential, day-program, early-intervention, transportation, counseling, and financial-management services to more than 4,600 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities annually across San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Residential care services
• Early childhood intervention
• Independent living skills
• Respite care services

Headquarters

HQ city

El Cajon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Services are authorized and funded by the Regional Center. Funding comes from Social Security, Medi-Cal, and Regional Center funding. The organization receives federal funding through SANDAG and is subject to Title VI requirements.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization raises funds through various channels including annual galas, golf tournaments, pub crawls, Cares Club monthly giving program, Hands of Hope corporate partnerships, Cause Shop retail partnerships, and direct donations.
3. Private Pay and Self-Determination Funds: Counseling services are offered at $110 per hour for private pay. Financial Management Services support Self-Determination Program participants. Adult Family Home providers receive stipends that can include private pay options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Home of Guiding Hands provides a comprehensive continuum of disability support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across San Diego and Imperial Counties. Services include 24-hour residential care in 27 community-based group homes, early intervention and infant development assessments, independent living skills training, tailored day programs, respite care, transportation, counseling (including VR therapy), life planning workshops, adult family home placements, and financial management services for Self-Determination Program participants.

Product overview

Home of Guiding Hands provides a comprehensive continuum of disability support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across San Diego and Imperial Counties. The organization operates 27 residential group homes and offers 11 distinct service programs including Residential Services, Adult Family Home, Independent Living Skills, Tailored Day Program, Financial Management Services, Infant Development Assessments, Early Childhood Development, Life Planning, Respite, Transportation, and Counseling Services. Services are coordinated through the San Diego Regional Center and serve over 4,600 individuals annually ranging from infants to seniors. The organization primarily serves clients of San Diego Regional Center, San Gabriel Regional Center, and Alta Regional Center for certain programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Services Twenty-four-hour care and supervision in community-based group homes throughout East San Diego County, supporting individuals with diverse mobility needs including ambulatory and non-ambulatory residents.
• Adult Family Home (AFHA)

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaching more than 5,000 individuals with disabilities each year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• San Diego Regional Center (SDRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partnership for client referrals. HGH partners with SDRC to receive client referrals and can also accept potential clients directly. SDRC service coordinators authorize services through HGH.
• California Department of Developmental Services (DDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing services to people with disabilities in San Diego. HGH is subject to DDS regulations and participates in DDS appeals processes.
• California Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency maintaining health and safety for those with disabilities. HGH's care settings are licensed through California Dept of Public Health.
• California Department of Social ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency ensuring people with disabilities are safe and working with the right services. HGH's community care facilities are licensed through this department.
• Merlin's Magic WandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal children's charity providing magical experiences for children facing challenges of illness, disability, or adversity. Provided tickets for HGH clients to visit LEGOLAND California.
• ARCA (Association of Regional Center Agencies)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocating for California's regional centers and the people they serve. HGH participates in advocacy efforts through this organization.
• The Lanterman CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnified voice fighting to uphold the promise of the Lanterman Act. HGH supports advocacy efforts through this coalition.
• CDSA (California Disability Services Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresenting service providers who deliver vital supports to people with disabilities statewide. HGH's CEO serves on the California Disability Services Association board.
• Foundation for Developmental Disabilities (FDD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit foundation supporting developmental disability services. COO Falon Leszczynski sits on the FDD board.
• California Disabilities Services Institute (CDSI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting disability services training and development. COO Falon Leszczynski currently chairs the CDSI board. CEO Edward Hershey serves on the board.
• San Diego Housing CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of San Diego agency. COO previously served as Special Programs Manager, playing pivotal role in planning and overseeing the Homelessness Response Center.
• California Disability Services InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Edward Hershey serves on the board of this organization and is a graduate of the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities.
• Special Needs Trust FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting special needs trusts. CPO Liane Wilson serves as a board member.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PathPoint: California-based nonprofit serving people with developmental disabilities through employment, residential, and community living programs. Operates across multiple CA counties and competes with HGH in similar service categories.
• Life Steps Foundation: California-based nonprofit providing residential, supported living, day services, and in-home support to individuals with developmental disabilities. Comparable in service model and regional center contracting across multiple CA counties.
• St. Madeleine Sophie's Center: El Cajon-based nonprofit providing adult day programs, employment services, and residential support for adults with developmental disabilities. A direct local peer sharing HGH's San Diego Regional Center referral base and similar service categories.
• Momentum WORK, Inc. California nonprofit offering residential, day, employment, and behavioral health services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable operational scale and program mix to HGH.
• The Arc of San Diego: A San Diego-based nonprofit providing residential, employment, day, and behavioral services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Operates in the same San Diego Regional Center ecosystem as HGH and competes directly for referrals and contracts.
• Community Interface Services: Southern California nonprofit providing supported living, behavioral services, and day programs for adults with developmental disabilities. Direct operational overlap in residential and community-based services.
• Easterseals Southern California: One of the largest disability and IDD service providers in Southern California, offering residential, day, therapeutic, and early intervention services across a multi-county footprint. Directly comparable in mission, service mix, and Regional Center contracting model to HGH.
• UCP of San Diego County (now Exceptional Lives / UCP affiliate): Provides residential, therapy, and early intervention services to children and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities in the San Diego region. Directly overlaps HGH's therapeutic, residential, and early childhood service lines.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of California: Statewide chapter of The Arc advocating for and providing services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in California. A broader advocacy and service umbrella organization that overlaps with HGH's mission and government-relations footprint.
• Easterseals California State Office / Affiliates: National nonprofit network providing disability and IDD services at scale across many U.S. markets. Functions as a broad incumbent with overlapping service capabilities but operates as a federated organization rather than a single local provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HomeofGuidingHands
• Facebookfacebook.com/HomeofGuidingHands
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/home-of-guiding-hands
• Instagraminstagram.com/homeofguidinghands
• Xx.com/guidinghands_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Home Of Guiding Hands