Child Focus
Child Focus is a Cincinnati-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing integrated early learning, behavioral health, foster care, and family support services to roughly 20,000 individuals annually across 22 Ohio counties through Head Start programs, outpatient therapy, crisis services, and workforce development, funded primarily by government grants, Medicaid, and county mental health boards.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersCincinnati, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Child Focus does
Child Focus is a Cincinnati-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization that delivers integrated early learning, behavioral health, foster care, and family support services across 22 central and southern Ohio counties. Operating since at least the 1990s and recognized as a leader in Ohio for early childhood mental health, the organization serves roughly 20,000 individuals annually through 153 community locations, including Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms, outpatient therapy, psychiatric and psychological evaluations, substance use services, a 24/7 crisis hotline, mobile crisis response, juvenile court-linked programs, foster care and adoption, and the PEEP workforce development initiative. The portfolio is delivered via in-house professional staff at offices in Cincinnati (Aicholtz Road and Madisonville), Mt. Orab, and embedded school- and pediatric-based sites, with evidence-based modalities such as TF-CBT, DBT, PCIT, Incredible Years, and the Nurturing Parent program.
The organization holds CARF accreditation (since 2005), OMHAS certification, and federal Head Start grantee status, and is funded through a mix of federal grants (Office of Head Start/ACF, pandemic-era relief funds), state agency contracts (OMHAS, TANF), county mental health and recovery boards (Clermont, Brown), Medicaid and private insurance billings, United Way, and individual/corporate donations. Services to eligible families are largely free or sliding-fee-scale, with no proprietary technology platform; service delivery relies on standard HIPAA-compliant case management and electronic health record systems. Leadership includes CEO Pamela Lindeman, Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Laura Stith, CFO Tammy Brewer, VP/CAO Susan Graham, and Director of Crisis Services Anne M. Wise.
Child Focus acquires clients primarily through institutional referrals from schools, pediatricians, county children's protective services, juvenile court, and hospital systems, supplemented by community outreach, events, organic social media, and its own website. Recent strategic moves include scaling to 24/7 mobile crisis operations in 2021, opening a Behavioral Health Urgent Care in Mt. Orab in 2026, relocating and expanding its Hamilton County office in Madisonville, and being selected as one of twelve Ohio providers for statewide Mobile Response and Stabilization Services.
Child Focus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Child Focus
- Legal name
- Child Focus, Inc.
- Website
- https://child-focus.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Child Focus is a Cincinnati-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing integrated early learning, behavioral health, foster care, and family support services to roughly 20,000 individuals annually across 22 Ohio counties through Head Start programs, outpatient therapy, crisis services, and workforce development, funded primarily by government grants, Medicaid, and county mental health boards.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Child Focus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Social Services (Early Childhood Education, Behavioral Health, and Foster Care)
- NAICS
- Child Care Services (6244), Child Care Services (624410), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Developmental Screening & Assessment (0–5) (EDACAFAA), Center-Based Toddler Care (18–36 months) (EDACAGAB), Mental Health & Infant/Early Childhood Consultation (0–5) (EDACAFAO)
Keywords
Where Child Focus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cincinnati
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Child Focus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government Grants and Contracts: Child Focus is funded primarily through federal grants (Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families), state funds (Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services, TANF), and contracts with county mental health boards (Clermont County Mental Health & Recovery Board, Brown County Mental Health & Addiction Services Board). This represents the core funding model for nonprofit social services.
- Insurance and Medicaid: Services are billed to Medicaid, private insurance, and managed care organizations for eligible behavioral health services. The organization also operates on a sliding fee scale based on income for families that do not have insurance coverage.
- United Way and Donations: Child Focus receives funding from United Way campaigns and individual/corporate donations. The PEEP (Parent Education & Employment Program) is specifically funded by United Way and TANF.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Head Start/Early Head Start - No-cost early learning for income-eligible families |
| Subscription | Monthly | Behavioral Health Services - Sliding scale fees based on income |
| Subscription | Monthly | Day Treatment Program - Medicaid/Insurance/Self-Pay |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Child Focus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Child Focus is a nonprofit social services agency that delivers Head Start and Early Head Start early learning programs for children birth to age five, comprehensive behavioral health services (individual, family, and group therapy, psychiatry, case management, crisis intervention), foster care and adoption, and parent enrichment and workforce development programs. Services are provided at no cost or on a sliding fee scale to income-eligible children, families, and adults across 22 counties in central and southern Ohio.
Product overview
Child Focus is a non-profit social services organization operating as a unified service delivery model (not a technology platform) that provides early learning, behavioral health, foster care, and family support services across central and southern Cincinnati and surrounding Ohio counties. The core offerings include Head Start and Early Head Start educational programs for children birth to 5 years, comprehensive mental health and behavioral health services including individual/family/group therapy, psychiatric services, case management, and crisis intervention, as well as foster care, adoption, and parent enrichment support. Specialized programs include Early Childhood Day Treatment, Day Treatment (Wasserman), Genesis School, Juvenile Court Services, Crisis Response Team, and Parent Education & Employment Program (PEEP). All services are designed to strengthen families and support child development through evidence-based practices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Head Start
- Early Head Start
- Before & After School Programs
- Individual & Family Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Psychiatry & Psychology
- Case Management
- Prevention & Consultation
- Early Childhood Day Treatment (ECDT)
- Wasserman Day Treatment
- Genesis School
- Crisis Response Team
- 24/7 Crisis Hotline and Mobile Crisis Services
- Last Chance Driving Program
- Juvenile Court Services
- Foster Care and Adoption Services
- Parent Enrichment Program
- Parent Education & Employment Program (PEEP)
Companies that use Child Focus
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Child Focus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Child Focus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- ProximusminorChild Focus partnered with Proximus to develop educational resources for the Mobile Kids service, a safe smartphone experience for children. Child Focus contributed content expertise on child safety and digital wellbeing for the Kids Protection Pack featuring Norton Family parental controls.
- Clermont County Educational Service CentercoreCo-lead partner with Child Focus in operating the Clermont County Crisis Response Team (CCCRT), which provides crisis support to schools, businesses, and communities.
- Clermont County Sheriff's OfficecorePartner in the Last Chance Driving Program providing driving education to teenage drivers who received tickets for reckless driving or moving violations.
- Clermont County Juvenile CourtcoreLong-standing partnership providing coordinated behavioral health services for youth involved in the Juvenile Justice system. Includes intensive home-based programs, detention center services, and evidence-based family therapy programs.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Child Focus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- St. Joseph Orphanage / Brighton Center: Greater Cincinnati nonprofit providing child welfare, behavioral health, and family stability services. Comparable in operating social-services programming with similar county/state contract revenue model.
- Pressley Ridge: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit operating community-based behavioral health and child welfare programs across multiple states including Ohio. Comparable service mix of foster care, residential, and evidence-based family therapy for high-need youth.
- Lighthouse Youth Services: Cincinnati-based nonprofit serving children, youth, and families through behavioral health, foster care, and residential programs. Direct peer in the same regional service footprint with comparable integrated behavioral health/foster care model.
- Beech Acres Parenting Center: Cincinnati nonprofit delivering parenting education, mental health, and youth support services. Directly comparable in targeting central Ohio families with therapeutic and educational programming under one organizational umbrella.
- KVC Health Systems: Large Mid-Atlantic/Midwest nonprofit child welfare and behavioral health agency. Operates integrated foster care, in-home family services, and mental health programs statewide—same multi-state contracting model with public systems that Child Focus uses in Ohio.
- Family Service of Greater Cincinnati: Multi-service Cincinnati social services nonprofit providing counseling, case management, and youth programs. Overlaps with Child Focus on behavioral health, foster care, and family support across the same Hamilton County catchment.
- Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services: Hamilton County behavioral health provider offering outpatient, case management, and crisis services. Overlaps with Child Focus' behavioral health division in adult and child therapy, Medicaid billing, and county contract work.
Broad incumbents
- Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): Large national provider of home and community-based behavioral health and foster care services. Comparable in operating integrated human services across multiple states, with larger scale and diversified service lines than Child Focus.
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center: Major regional pediatric hospital system with extensive behavioral health and developmental pediatrics. A broader incumbent that absorbs more complex clinical cases but competes for similar referral streams and Medicaid funding.
Regional players
- Hamilton County Educational Service Center: Regional education service agency co-leading the Clermont County Crisis Response Team with Child Focus. Adjacent in school-based mental health delivery and referral partnership model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Child Focus social profiles
Digital presenceChild Focus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Child Focus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Child Focus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Child Focus M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Child Focus
What does Child Focus do?
Child Focus is a nonprofit social services agency that delivers Head Start and Early Head Start early learning programs for children birth to age five, comprehensive behavioral health services (individual, family, and group therapy, psychiatry, case management, crisis intervention), foster care and adoption, and parent enrichment and workforce development programs. Services are provided at no cost or on a sliding fee scale to income-eligible children, families, and adults across 22 counties in central and southern Ohio.
Is Child Focus a public or private company?
Child Focus is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Child Focus founded?
Child Focus was founded in 1977. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Child Focus based?
Child Focus is headquartered in Cincinnati, United States, in the North America region.
How does Child Focus make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Grants and Contracts are the primary driver. The others are insurance and Medicaid and united Way and Donations.
Who are Child Focus's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are St. Joseph Orphanage / Brighton Center, Pressley Ridge, Lighthouse Youth Services, Beech Acres Parenting Center, KVC Health Systems, Family Service of Greater Cincinnati and Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services. Broad incumbents are Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network) and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Hamilton County Educational Service Center is listed as a regional player.
Does Child Focus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Child Focus.
What industry is Child Focus in?
Child Focus's product category is Nonprofit Social Services (Early Childhood Education, Behavioral Health, and Foster Care). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACAFAG, Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction, with a secondary code of EDACAFAA, Developmental Screening & Assessment (0–5). Its NAICS code is 6244 and its SIC code is 8351.