HMEA

What HMEA does

HMEA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit human services organization established in 1961 and headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts. In July 2024, HMEA merged with Advocates, another comprehensive human services organization, forming a combined entity that serves more than 40,000 individuals and families across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The merged organization delivers services to individuals and families impacted by autism, brain injury, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and behavioral health needs under a stated person-centered service philosophy, with between 501 and 1,000 employees drawn from across the two legacy organizations.

The post-merger service portfolio is organized into six categories: Mental Health (addiction recovery, counseling and psychiatry, mobile crisis intervention, residential services, deaf services, NeuroStar therapy, open dialogue, peer support, pharmacy services, youth and family counseling), Developmental (adult family care, day and employment services, person-centered services, Prader-Willi syndrome services, residential services, shared living), Brain Injury, Family Support (elder services, family support centers, respite), Autism Support (autism day services, ABA services for children), and Addiction Recovery and Community Justice. Two specialized programs are operated as ongoing subsidiaries: TechACCESS of Rhode Island, which provides assistive technology services, and The Darnell School, which provides educational services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Service delivery occurs through in-person clinics (notably Marlborough and Worcester counseling clinics), online referral intake, and 24-hour phone-based crisis support.

The business model is reimbursement-driven rather than direct-pay: service fees are covered by insurance, Medicaid, or other public funding mechanisms typical of U.S. human services providers. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The organization reaches clients through in-person service locations, phone-based intake and crisis channels, and an online referral portal, and relies on a distributed network of clinical, direct-support, and administrative staff across the Massachusetts-Rhode Island footprint.

Name

HMEA

Legal name

HMEA

Website

https://hmea.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

HMEA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit human services organization that, through its July 2024 merger with Advocates, serves more than 40,000 individuals and families impacted by autism, brain injury, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and behavioral health needs across Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Services for Individuals with Disabilities

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

ABA Therapy Providers (Home-Based) (EDAKAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Autism (ASD) Support Childcare (HSAAAIAA), Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ), OT Evaluations, Assessments & IEP/504 Planning Support (EDAKAFAM)

Keywords

• Autism services
• Developmental disability support
• Applied behavior analysis
• Behavioral health services
• Brain injury rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Franklin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

HMEA delivers a comprehensive suite of human services for individuals and families impacted by autism, brain injury, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Core services include Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Adult Family Care, day habilitation, employment services, residential programs, Shared Living arrangements, outpatient counseling, mobile crisis intervention, community crisis stabilization, community justice programming, and integrated care management. Following the July 2024 merger with Advocates, services are delivered across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, supported by specialized programs such as TechACCESS of Rhode Island (assistive technology) and The Darnell School (specialized education).

Product overview

HMEA is a human services organization that merged with Advocates in July 2024. Together, the combined organization offers a comprehensive suite of services for individuals and families impacted by autism, brain injury, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. The portfolio includes behavioral health services (outpatient counseling, residential programs, mobile crisis intervention, community crisis stabilization, community justice programming, and integrated care management) as well as developmental services (ABA services, Adult Family Care, day habilitation, employment services, residential services, Shared Living). The organization also operates specialized programs including TechACCESS of Rhode Island (assistive technology services) and The Darnell School (educational services).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ABA Services for Children Applied Behavior Analysis services provided for children, part of the comprehensive autism support offerings for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
• Adult Family Care Support services for adults with developmental needs living with family caregivers, part of the family support and developmental services portfolio.
• Day & Employment Services Day habilitation and employment support services for individuals with developmental disabilities, supporting skill development and community employment.
• Family and Caregiver Supports Comprehensive support services for families and caregivers of individuals with disabilities, including respite options and caregiver support.
• Residential Services Residential program services providing housing and support for individuals with developmental or mental health needs.
• Shared Living Shared living arrangements connecting individuals with disabilities to supportive caregivers in community settings.
• TechACCESS of Rhode Island Technology access services for individuals with disabilities in Rhode Island, providing assistive technology and support.
• The Darnell School Educational services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Outpatient Counseling Outpatient behavioral health services including counseling and psychiatry for individuals and families seeking mental health support.
• Mobile Crisis Intervention Emergency mental health response services that provide immediate support in community settings for individuals experiencing mental health crises.
• Community Crisis Stabilization Services providing immediate support and stabilization for individuals experiencing mental health crises.
• Community Justice Programming Justice-involved individuals services including jail diversion and community support programs.
• Integrated Care Management Coordinated care management services integrating physical and behavioral health services for individuals with complex needs.
• Developmental Services Comprehensive services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities including person-centered supports.
• Autism Services Specialized services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder including day services, ABA therapy, and family support.
• Brain Injury Services Rehabilitation and support services for individuals with acquired brain injuries.
• Mental Health Services Comprehensive mental health services including addiction recovery, counseling, and psychiatric care.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AdvocatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024In July 2024, HMEA and Advocates merged to combine their shared focus on providing compassionate, high-quality services for individuals and families impacted by autism, brain injury, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. The merger enabled expanded geographic reach (now serving Massachusetts and Rhode Island) and a broader portfolio of services including ABA services, Adult Family Care, day habilitation, employment services, residential services, Shared Living, and behavioral health services.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Vinfen: Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing community-based mental health, IDD, and behavioral health services. Strongly comparable to HMEA/Advocates in geography, mission, and service categories, but with primary emphasis on behavioral health.
• The Arc of Massachusetts: State chapter of The Arc, advocating for and providing family support, case management, and disability services across Massachusetts. Comparable regional focus on IDD population but with different service mix than HMEA.
• Riverside Community Care: Massachusetts-based nonprofit delivering mental health, developmental, and brain injury services with residential and outpatient programs. Operates in HMEA's same geography with overlapping IDD and behavioral health offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Bayada Home Health Care: National provider of home health, pediatric, and adult home-care services for clients with complex medical and developmental needs. Comparable overlap with HMEA's home- and community-based support lines.
• BrightSpring Health Services: Public company providing home- and community-based health services including behavioral health, IDD, and pharmacy. Comparable to HMEA's HCBS-heavy delivery model, though operating at much larger scale.
• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): One of the largest US providers of home- and community-based services, including ABA, Shared Living, day habilitation, and IDD residential programs. Comparable to HMEA's full IDD service mix but at far greater national scale.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit federation delivering disability and autism services, including early intervention, ABA, vocational, and residential supports. Overlaps with HMEA's autism, employment, and family support offerings at a broader national scale.

Direct peers

• May Institute: National nonprofit providing ABA, autism, brain injury, and IDD services across multiple states. Comparable to HMEA in mission, population served, and full-lifecycle service model including residential and day programs.
• Melmark: Nonprofit serving children and adults with autism, IDD, and behavioral health needs through residential, day, and educational programs. Operates schools and clinical services similar to HMEA's Darnell School and ABA portfolio.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large nonprofit operating residential, day, educational, and ABA-based services for individuals with autism, IDD, and behavioral health challenges — directly overlapping HMEA's continuum of care across multiple states.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hmeatweets
• Facebookfacebook.com/HMEAInc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 HMEA