What Children's Home Association of Illinois does

Children's Home Association of Illinois (CHAIL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization founded in 1865 and headquartered in Peoria, Illinois. The organization delivers an integrated continuum of child welfare and behavioral health services across five operating divisions: Behavioral Health, Education, Foster Care, Prevention, and Residential. Programs include the Academy for Autism (AFA, using the evidence-based STAR Autism Program based on Applied Behavior Analysis), Kiefer School for students with behavioral and educational challenges, the Youth Farm residential treatment facility acquired in 2007, Scott's Prairie (a 76+ acre therapeutic farm donated in 2004 by former Caterpillar CEO Bob Gilmore), and the Community Trauma Team relaunched in 2025 in partnership with the Peoria City/County Health Department. CHAIL also operates the Pathways to Success program as the designated Care Coordination Service Organization (CCSO) for seven Central Illinois counties, delivering Medicaid-funded wraparound care for youth with complex behavioral health needs.

Revenue mechanics are characteristic of a contracted-services nonprofit: more than half of funding flows from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), with the remainder composed of state grants (including MIECHV home visiting), local grants, and private donations. Services are delivered at no cost to clients; fundraising channels include an annual Cattle Auction (57-year history, $286,000 raised in the most recent reported year), the 'A Light in Every Window' holiday campaign ($123,000+ in 2024), and general community solicitation. The organization employs 251-500 staff across its Central Illinois service region, with documented leadership transitions including President and CEO Scurry Miller (2022, from Austin, Texas) and Chief Clinical Officer Curt Mower (2023, from Colorado). CHAIL participates in joint compliance arrangements under HIPAA via the Illinois Health Practice Alliance and holds Healthy Families America accreditation for its Good Beginnings home-visiting program.

Distribution is direct-to-client through CHAIL facilities, client homes, schools, and community settings, with referrals originating primarily from DCFS, public school districts, healthcare providers, and self-referrals. The technology footprint is human-delivered clinical methodology (evidence-based therapeutic and educational protocols, trauma-informed care, wraparound coordination) rather than software platforms. The organization is currently celebrating its 160th anniversary, is recognized as one of the largest employers in the Peoria community, and reports contract diversification across multiple Illinois state systems alongside the dominant DCFS relationship.

Name

Children's Home Association of Illinois

Legal name

Children's Home Association of Illinois

Website

https://chail.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1865

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Children's Home Association of Illinois is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1865 in Peoria, Illinois, delivering foster care, behavioral health, autism education, residential treatment, and prevention services to at-risk children and families across Central Illinois through five integrated service divisions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare and Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Family Advocacy, Parent Training & Support Services (EDAJAKAK), Family Engagement & Caregiver Support Programs (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAK)

Keywords

• Child welfare services
• Foster care programs
• Behavioral health therapy
• Autism special education
• Family preservation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Peoria

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (DCFS): More than half of funding comes from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for foster care, residential services, and related programs.
2. Government Grants: State grants including Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program funding, and other state-administered grants.
3. Private Donations and Grants: Local grants and private donations from individuals, businesses, and community organizations. Annual Cattle Auction fundraiser raised $286,000. 'A Light in Every Window' campaign raised over $123,000.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Children's Home Association of Illinois is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit child welfare organization that provides a continuum of services to at-risk children, youth, and families in Central Illinois. Core offerings span five divisions: Behavioral Health (therapy, mobile crisis response, school-based therapy, care coordination), Education (Academy for Autism and Kiefer School), Foster Care (Intact Family Services, Youth Services, foster parent network), Prevention (Family Connects, Good Beginnings home visiting, perinatal support), and Residential (Youth Farm residential treatment, Supervised Independent Living). Services are provided at no cost to clients and funded primarily through Illinois DCFS contracts, state grants, and private donations.

Product overview

Children's Home Association of Illinois (CHAIL) is a nonprofit social services organization offering an integrated portfolio of programs and services across five core divisions: Behavioral Health, Education, Foster Care, Prevention, and Residential. The organization provides specialized therapeutic services (music therapy, art therapy, trauma-informed care), educational programs (Academy for Autism using the STAR Autism Program, Kiefer School), foster care and family support services, residential treatment facilities (including Youth Farm and Scott's Prairie therapeutic farm), and prevention programs (Family Connects, Good Beginnings). Additional specialized offerings include the Community Trauma Team, Pathways to Success care coordination, and Youth Services. The services are designed to support at-risk youth and families, with programs ranging from early intervention and prevention through residential care and transitional living support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Academy for Autism (AFA): Non-public special education program designed to meet the needs of students whose emotional, behavioral, and educational challenges require more resources than what's available in a public school setting. Uses the evidence-based STAR Autism Program.
• Kiefer School
• Youth Farm
• Scott's Prairie
• Good Beginnings
• Family Connects
• Pathways to Success
• Community Trauma Team (CTT)

Products and services

• Behavioral Health Services Core division providing specialized therapy, counseling, and mental health support for children and families, including Caregiver Connections, Family-Based Intervention, Family Support Programs, Intensive Placement Stabilization, Mobile Crisis Response, Pathways to Success, School-Based Therapy, and Tri-County Child & Adolescent Services.
• Education Services Core division delivering specialized education and behavioral health supports for children on the autism spectrum and students with emotional and behavioral challenges, through Academy for Autism and Kiefer School.
• Foster Care Services Core division providing foster care services including foster parent recruitment, support, and training, plus Intact Family Services and Youth Services.
• Prevention Services Core division offering early intervention and family support programs including Family Connects, Good Beginnings, igrow Coordinated Intake, and Perinatal Connects.
• Residential Services Core division providing 24/7 care and support for children whose home is no longer a safe environment, including the Supervised Independent Living Program and Youth Farm residential treatment facility.
• Community Trauma Team (CTT) Program providing trauma-informed mental health and emotional support in the aftermath of community crises across Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Putnam, Stark, and Marshall counties. Team members are trained in CPR, First Aid, Psychological First Aid, FEMA IS 100 & 700, and Sensory Inclusive Certification through Kulture City.
• Pathways to Success Care coordination and wraparound service for Medicaid-enrolled children under age 21 with complex behavioral health needs, serving as the Care Coordination Service Organization (CCSO) for Central Illinois across seven counties.
• Academy for Autism (AFA) Non-public special education program for students whose emotional, behavioral, and educational challenges require more resources than public schools provide, using the evidence-based STAR Autism Program.
• Kiefer School Special education school for students requiring additional structure, individualized attention, and advocacy to thrive academically.
• Youth Farm Residential Treatment Facility Residential treatment facility offering temporary placement for youth in the custody of the state, providing healing through a farmstead environment with cottage housing, a lodge, fire pit area, hiking trails, and fishing pond.
• Scott's Prairie Therapeutic Farm 76+ acre therapeutic farm property featuring a garden, greenhouse, orchard, lodge, farmhouse, fire pit area, hiking trails, fishing pond, and pavilion, used for youth therapy, conservation work, gardening, and recreational activities.
• Good Beginnings Home Visiting Program Prenatal and postpartum home visiting program accredited through Healthy Families America, providing support to qualifying first-time and second-time moms in Peoria and Tazewell Counties.
• Family Connects Postpartum Program Free postpartum home visiting program and support group for expecting and new mothers, with community-based doulas providing labor support, education, and postpartum care, available to any family giving birth in Peoria County.
• Supervised Independent Living Program Residential program preparing older youth in care for independent living through supervised transitional housing.
• Youth Services (Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services) Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services (CCBYS) providing round-the-clock care to youth aged 11-17 and their families, including crisis intervention, counseling, and case management.
• Music Therapy Evidence-based utilization of music interventions to help youth develop and accomplish therapeutic goals, using drum circles and other music-based approaches to process emotions and heal from trauma.
• Art Therapy Creative and expressive therapeutic modality used by trained art therapists to support individuals in expressing feelings, emotions, and their true selves through various art forms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 56% of Academy for Autism students needed IEP amendment due to achieving IEP goals for two consecutive quarters
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Peoria City/County Health DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership to operate the Community Trauma Team (CTT), which provides trauma-informed mental health support in the aftermath of community crises. The CTT serves all community members in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Putnam, Stark, and Marshall Counties.
• United WaycoreOthersUnited Way logo appears on CHAIL website indicating partnership or funding relationship. United Way organizations often provide funding and volunteer support to human services nonprofits.
• Banner Elementary SchoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner that raises funds throughout the year and delivers donations (busloads of gifts) to Children's Home for holiday support programs.
• Russell's Cycling and FitnessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business that refurbishes bicycles year-round and donates them to Children's Home for holiday gifts. Delivers bikes with big red bows to Children's Home locations.
• Storyteller StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVideo production company from Springfield, Illinois contracted to produce recruitment and promotional videos for CHAIL to help with staffing recruitment efforts and inspire community engagement.
• Illinois Health Practice Alliance, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHAIL participates in the IPA Network established by Illinois Health Practice Alliance, LLC. Through this, CHAIL participates in joint quality assurance activities and shares financial risk with other Participating Covered Entities as part of an Organized Health Care Arrangement (OHCA) under HIPAA Privacy Rule.
• Healthy Families AmericacoreOthersCHAIL's Good Beginnings program is accredited through Healthy Families America, a signature home-visiting program of Prevent Child Abuse America. This provides standardized program guidelines and quality assurance.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Children's Home & Aid (now Brightpoint): Illinois-based nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, early childhood, and family support services across the state. Directly comparable to CHAIL as a similarly aged child welfare nonprofit serving DCFS-referred populations, though operating at significantly larger geographic scale.
• Lutheran Social Services of Illinois: Faith-based nonprofit delivering foster care, behavioral health, and senior services throughout Illinois. Comparable service mix including residential, prevention, and community-based programs with similar DCFS contracting model.
• Maryville Academy: Chicago-area nonprofit operating residential treatment, foster care, and family services for at-risk youth in Illinois. Comparable residential and behavioral health continuum, though more urban-focused than CHAIL's Central Illinois footprint.
• Lawrence Hall: Chicago-based nonprofit providing residential treatment, special education, and foster care for youth in Illinois. Directly comparable clinical and educational service mix to CHAIL's Youth Farm and Academy for Autism programs.

Regional players

• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria: Regional social services nonprofit operating across Central Illinois counties overlapping CHAIL's service area. Comparable family support, counseling, and community-based programs in the same geographic market.

Broad incumbents

• Youth Villages: National nonprofit operating residential treatment, in-home counseling, and intensive family services across multiple states. Comparable evidence-based intervention model with significantly larger geographic footprint than CHAIL.
• KidsPeace: National nonprofit operating residential treatment facilities, special education schools, and community-based mental health programs. Comparable continuum-of-care service model with an established autism and behavioral health specialty.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large national nonprofit providing behavioral health, intellectual/developmental disabilities services, and residential programs. Comparable autism and IDD service offerings operating at much larger national scale.
• Pressley Ridge: National nonprofit providing residential treatment, special education, and family services for at-risk youth. Comparable service continuum and evidence-based program model with multi-state operations.
• KVC Health Systems: National nonprofit operating foster care, behavioral health, and in-home family services across multiple states. Comparable service mix with focus on community-based interventions and CCSO-equivalent care coordination contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/childrenshomeil
• Facebookfacebook.com/the-childrens-home-association-of-illinois-99191103445

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Children's Home Association of Illinois