Rite of Passage

What Rite of Passage does

Rite of Passage is a Nevada-domiciled, privately held nonprofit organization founded in 1984 by psychiatric technician Dave Maguire after observing that youth placed at Napa State Hospital did not respond to institutional care models. The organization operates a continuum of trauma-responsive youth services spanning community-based wraparound supports, accredited charter and day schools, behavioral health therapies, and short- and long-term residential programs for at-risk and systems-involved youth. It delivers care through 70+ programs operating in 18 states, serving more than 7,000 youth and families annually, with a portfolio of specialized program brands including Canyon State Academy, Lava Heights Academy, Pearl Haven, Sierra Sage Treatment Center, Oak Grove Academy, and The Embracing Project.

The company's clinical platform is its proprietary Integrated Care Model, a trauma-responsive framework that combines evidence-based therapeutic modalities (Aggression Replacement Training, Multi-Systemic Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, Seeking Safety, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR, Trust-Based Relational Intervention) with educational programming and positive youth development. The Aim For Change curriculum, co-developed with the University of Cincinnati, represents a research-backed gun violence prevention intervention for youth ages 11-17 at moderate-to-high risk. Vocational pathways are integrated through partnerships with WozU, OSHA, the American Red Cross, and the National Restaurant Association. The organization maintains PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) compliance infrastructure as a federally regulated service provider.

Revenue is generated primarily through government contracts with state and county juvenile justice agencies, child welfare departments, and educational authorities, supplemented by donations through the Passageway Scholarship Foundation. Pricing is not consumer-facing and is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market motion is community- and partnership-led, relying on referrals from county officials, placing agencies, state juvenile justice systems, and child welfare agencies, with services delivered directly through ROP-operated facilities rather than through distribution intermediaries.

Name

Rite of Passage

Legal name

Rite of Passage

Website

https://riteofpassage.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Rite of Passage is a Nevada-based nonprofit founded in 1984 that operates 70+ trauma-responsive residential, educational, behavioral health, and community-based programs across 18 states, serving more than 7,000 at-risk and systems-involved youth and families annually through government contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth residential treatment and social services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Juvenile Justice Education Programs (Detention & Correctional Education) (EDAJAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Court/Community School Programs (Diversion, Probation-Linked, Community Day Schools) (EDAJAEAI), Therapeutic & Behavioral Health School Programs (Day Treatment) (EDAJAEAE), Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ), Reentry, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programs (Education, Vocational, Case Management) (BPAKANAH)

Keywords

• Youth residential services
• Trauma-responsive care
• Juvenile justice programs
• Behavioral health services
• Charter school education

Headquarters

HQ city

Minden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts & Public Funding: ROP receives funding through contracts with state and county juvenile justice agencies, child welfare departments, and educational authorities to operate residential programs, charter schools, and community-based services for at-risk youth.
2. Passageway Scholarship Foundation: Scholarship funding provided to Rite of Passage graduates for college, vocational programs, and trade schools, funded largely by dedicated staff and community donations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Rite of Passage operates a continuum of evidence-based, trauma-responsive programs for at-risk and systems-involved youth, spanning community-based services, accredited charter and day schools, behavioral health therapy, and short- and long-term specialized residential treatment. Services are contracted through state and county juvenile justice and child welfare agencies across 18 U.S. states, with supplementary scholarship support provided through the Passageway Scholarship Foundation. Named residential programs include Canyon State Academy, Sierra Sage Treatment Center, Lava Heights Academy, Oak Grove Academy, Pearl Haven, and The Embracing Project, all delivered under the proprietary Trauma-Responsive Integrated Care Model.

Product overview

Rite of Passage offers a continuum of evidence-based, trauma-responsive programs and services for vulnerable youth. The core offerings span four main service categories: Community-Based Services (early intervention, wraparound supports, family preservation, youth advocacy, prevention, and reunification), Education Services (accredited charter and day schools with Career and Technical Education), Behavioral Health (individualized mental health therapies including trauma, crisis intervention, and substance abuse treatment), and Specialized Residential Programs (short- and long-term residential care). Supporting offerings include the Passageway Scholarship Foundation providing post-program educational scholarships, and the Aim For Change gun violence prevention curriculum developed with the University of Cincinnati. The portfolio also includes named residential programs such as Canyon State Academy (vocational training focus), Sierra Sage Treatment Center, Lava Heights Academy (expressive therapies), Oak Grove Academy (equine therapy), Pearl Haven (culturally-focused treatment), and The Embracing Project (trafficking survivor services).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community-Based Services
• Education Services
• Behavioral Health Services
• Specialized Residential Programs
• Aim For Change Curriculum
• Canyon State Academy
• Sierra Sage Treatment Center
• Lava Heights Academy
• Oak Grove Academy
• Pearl Haven
• The Embracing Project (TEP)
• Passageway Scholarship Foundation

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and minor.

• Southwest Shakespeare Company (SSC)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with Southwest Shakespeare Company through a National Endowment for the Arts grant administered by Arts Midwest provides a six-to-twelve week performative arts program. Youth participate in exploring language and theater, integrating arts into therapeutic programming at ROP programs.
• University of CincinnaticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative development of the Aim For Change curriculum, an evidence-based violence prevention program targeting youth ages 11-17 at moderate to high risk for gun violence, delinquency, and gang involvement. Partnership creates research-backed intervention addressing the 46% increase in firearm death rate among children from 2019-2022.
• Canyon State Academy Vocational PartnersnotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnerships with local businesses and industries providing internships, apprenticeships, and job placements for students. Includes on-campus vocational operations like QC Junction Cafe, Repurposed Thrift Boutique, and barbershop where students gain certifications while learning customer service and retail skills.
• Certification Programs (WozU, OSHA, American Red Cross, National Restaurant Association)notableTechnology or IntegrationPartnerships with leading certification programs offering Career and Technical Education opportunities matching local and national hiring trends in technology, construction, nursing, and culinary arts industries.
• Project 150minorOthersLas Vegas-based community organization providing free support and services to homeless youth, mentioned as a resource for addressing underlying risk factors for trafficking and exploitation in Nevada.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sequel Youth and Family Services: National provider of residential treatment, behavioral health, and community-based services for at-risk and juvenile-justice-involved youth. Closely comparable to ROP in mission, service mix (residential + behavioral health), and government-contract-funded model.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: One of the largest nonprofit operators of residential and community programs for children, adolescents, and adults with emotional, behavioral, and cognitive differences. Overlaps directly with ROP in trauma-informed residential and behavioral health for at-risk youth.
• Youth Villages: Nonprofit serving emotionally and behaviorally challenged children through residential treatment, family services, and intensive in-home programs. Directly comparable to ROP in continuum-of-care model and government-contract dependency.
• KVC Health Systems: Nonprofit child welfare and behavioral health provider operating residential treatment, in-home family services, and community-based programs across multiple states. Closely comparable in mission, funding model, and multi-state residential footprint.
• Becket Family of Services: National nonprofit operating residential and community-based programs for children and youth in crisis, including juvenile justice and behavioral health services. Highly comparable service mix and contracting model to Rite of Passage.
• National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP): National nonprofit providing community-based, foster care, behavioral health, and residential services to at-risk youth and families. Comparable in mission, multi-state reach, and contract-driven revenue model.
• Maryville Academy: Nonprofit providing residential treatment, child welfare, and behavioral health services for abused, neglected, and at-risk youth in Illinois and beyond. Comparable residential treatment and case-management service profile.

Broad incumbents

• The MENTOR Network (Sevita): Large diversified provider of home- and community-based services for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and behavioral health needs. Overlaps with ROP in foster care and behavioral services for youth but operates at much larger scale across broader populations.
• Boys Town: National nonprofit providing residential care, family services, and behavioral health for at-risk children and families since 1917. Comparable in mission and youth-residential service mix, with longer brand history and broader community programs.

Emerging players

• Children of the Night: Specialty nonprofit providing residential shelter and treatment for commercially sexually exploited youth. Overlaps specifically with ROP's The Embracing Project and Pearl Haven programs in trafficking survivor services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/roprams
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rite-of-passage
• Instagraminstagram.com/riteofpassage.1984
• Xx.com/Rop_Rite_Now

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries10 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 Rite of Passage