DKA

What DKA does

DKA (DK Advocates), founded in 1983 in Tucson, Arizona by Dorothy "Dot" Kret, is a private nonprofit employment services organization that helps individuals with barriers to employment—including mental and physical disabilities, homelessness, criminal histories, limited education, substance abuse histories, and limited work experience—become employable and employed. The organization's service model follows the SAMHSA evidence-based supported employment best practice and delivers an integrated portfolio of job development, personalized skills classes (personal development, employability, computer skills), three-month paid work-adjustment internships, a free men's professional clothing closet (Dress for Success: Men's Wardrobe), and expert testimony services for employment and disability-related legal cases. Participant training is anchored at two DKA-owned operating subsidiaries—Pak Mail (a packing, crating, and shipping franchise) and Archive Advantage (digital conversion and archiving, established in 2000)—which function as both revenue-generating commercial operations and hands-on vocational worksites.

Services are provided free of charge to qualified participants and are funded primarily through Arizona Medicaid (AHCCCS) behavioral health contracts across four health plan partners (Arizona Complete Health, Banner Health, American Indian, United Healthcare), Arizona DES Vocational Rehabilitation referrals, and a small amount of commercial revenue from the subsidiary businesses. DKA holds AHCCCS Specialty Provider status, operates two Tucson offices, and is led by its founder. The organization maintains a referral-driven go-to-market motion, with participant acquisition concentrated through healthcare plan referrals, Vocational Rehabilitation, and community service partnerships (Hope Inc, CODAC, La Frontera, Wings for Women, YWCA), supplemented by direct outreach to local Tucson employers for candidate placement. DKA is bootstrapped with no disclosed venture or private equity funding, no patent portfolio, and no technology product beyond a Wix-hosted marketing website and an applicant tracking system for internal hiring.

Name

DKA

Legal name

DKA, Inc.

Website

https://dkajobs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DKA (DK Advocates) is a Tucson, Arizona-based nonprofit founded in 1983 that helps individuals with employment barriers—including disabilities, homelessness, and criminal histories—become employable through job training, skills classes, paid internships, and placement services funded by Arizona Medicaid and Vocational Rehabilitation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supported Employment Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Workforce Development & Training Grants (Public Health) (HLAJALAM)

Keywords

• Supported employment services
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Job training programs
• Behavioral health employment
• Workforce development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Healthcare Contracts: DKA operates as an AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System) Specialty Provider, providing employment services funded through behavioral health services contracts with state and federal healthcare programs.
2. Vocational Rehabilitation Contracts: Services funded through Arizona DES Vocational Rehabilitation for eligible participants seeking employment assistance.
3. Subsidiary Business Operations: DKA operates subsidiary businesses (Pak Mail franchise, Archive Advantage) that provide job skills training while generating revenue through commercial services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

DKA (DK Advocates) provides supported employment services to individuals with barriers to employment in Tucson and Pima County, Arizona. Its offerings include personalized job development, skills classes (personal development, employability, and computer skills), and paid three-month work adjustment internships at company-owned training worksites. Services are delivered under the SAMHSA evidence-based supported employment best practice model and are funded primarily through Arizona Medicaid (AHCCCS) and Vocational Rehabilitation contracts.

Product overview

DKA (DK Advocates) is an employment services organization offering a portfolio of programs designed to help individuals with barriers to employment become employable and employed. The core offerings include job development services, personal development classes, employability skills classes, computer skills classes, and paid 3-month job training internships at company-owned worksites (Archive Advantage for digital archiving, Pak Mail for packing/shipping, and in-office receptionist and janitorial training). Supporting services include a men's professional clothing closet (Dress for Success program), expert testimony for legal cases, and community resource navigation. Programs follow the SAMHSA evidence-based supported employment best practice model and are primarily funded through Arizona Medicaid (AHCCCS) and Vocational Rehabilitation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Job Development Services Employment assistance for AHCCCS and Vocational Rehabilitation participants including job search support, resume building, interview preparation, and job placement matching workers with long-term stable employment.
• Personal Development Class Two-week daily instructional program teaching strategies to manage everyday and unplanned stressors of life, improve self-management, and build resilience for employment success.
• Employability Skills Class One-on-one class helping individuals with decision-making to enhance success and enjoyment in the world of work, covering self-advocacy, communication, resume creation, and goal-setting.
• Computer Skills Class One-on-one personalized computer instruction covering basics, fundamentals, job-searching skills, Microsoft Office programs, and introduction to AI for job market competitiveness.
• Job Training Internships Three-month paid work adjustment internships providing hands-on training at real worksites (Archive Advantage, Pak Mail, receptionist, janitorial, merchandising) with job coach supervision.
• Dress for Success: Men's Wardrobe Free professional clothing closet providing men's work attire to male job seekers 18+ in Pima County, helping clients look professional for employment.
• Expert Testimony Services Legal and professional testimony for defense and plaintiff cases related to employment, disability, ADA accommodations, assistive technology, return-to-work issues, and loss of earning capacity.
• Archive Advantage DKA subsidiary offering commercial scanning, digitizing, and archiving of photos, documents, and various media formats for banks, medical offices, law enforcement, businesses, and individuals, while also serving as a computer skills training worksite for clients.
• Pak Mail DKA-owned Pak Mail franchise offering packing, crating, shipping, and freighting services in the Tucson metro area, including custom box creation, while serving as a job training worksite for clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free programs for qualified participants

Named customers5 records

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.

• Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHCCCS is the state Medicaid agency that provides funding for DKA's behavioral health employment services as an AHCCCS Specialty Provider.
• Arizona Complete HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHCCCS health plan partner providing healthcare coverage and directing members to DKA's employment services.
• Banner HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHCCCS health plan partner referring members to DKA's employment services programs.
• United HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth plan partner referring members needing employment assistance to DKA programs.
• Arizona DES Vocational RehabilitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing referrals and funding support for individuals with disabilities seeking employment services.
• Wings for WomenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for the Men's Community Clothing Closet accepting women's clothing donations on behalf of Wings for Women.
• YWCA Your Sister's ClosetminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner for free women's clothing services for job seekers in need.
• Eagles Wings of GraceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner for women's clothing resources through YWCA referral network.
• Hope IncminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization supporting people looking to become employable and employed.
• CODACminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity behavioral health partner providing substance abuse and recovery support services.
• La FronteraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity behavioral health partner offering integrated healthcare and employment services.
• Pak MailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDKA-owned Pak Mail franchise providing job training in packing, crating, shipping and freighting business.
• Archive AdvantagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDKA-owned subsidiary offering training in digital conversion and archiving of media, providing computer skills training opportunities for clients.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCt2Ekcg3ycI8C8nG-8PeqlA
• Facebookfacebook.com/DKAdvocates
• Instagraminstagram.com/dk_advocates
• Xx.com/D_K_Advocates
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dk-advocates

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 DKA