River Oak Center for Children

What River Oak Center for Children does

River Oak Center for Children is a Sacramento, California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1966, originally as a residential treatment program, that has evolved into a community-based behavioral health provider serving children and youth ages 0-21 (up to 26 for the Juvenile Justice Diversion and Treatment Program) across Sacramento County. The organization serves more than 1,100 children daily, with 90% of families being Medi-Cal eligible. Headquartered at 5445 Laurel Hills Drive, the agency operates with 51-100 employees under an independent Board of Directors and is led by CEO Laurie Clothier (in role since September 2010).

Service delivery operates through six core programs—Flexible Integrated Treatment (FIT), Juvenile Justice Diversion and Treatment Program (JJDTP), Wraparound, Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS), Early Head Start Home Education, and Birth & Beyond Family Resource Center—supplemented by an extensive portfolio of evidence-based practice modalities including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Aggression Replacement Training, Coping Cat, The Incredible Years, Motivational Interviewing, Parents as Teachers, The Seven Challenges, and the Transition to Independence Process. Supporting services include psychiatry, psychology, peer family/youth advocacy, and skills training. Programs are delivered in-person at the Sacramento (Laurel Hills) and Elk Grove offices, via telehealth on Zoom, and through community-based settings including school sites (in partnership with the Sacramento City Unified School District) and family homes.

Revenue is generated primarily through Sacramento County Department of Behavioral Health Services Medi-Cal reimbursements, Sacramento County Probation Department contracts (Wraparound and JJDTP), First 5 Sacramento Commission funding (Early Head Start), SETA Head Start and SCUSD contracts, with supplementary funding from private donations processed through a NeonCRM donation portal including United Way giving campaigns and the Big Day of Giving. The organization has held continuous Joint Commission (JCAHO) accreditation since 2003, with re-accreditations in 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, and 2025, and is a United Way Certified Agency Partner.

Name

River Oak Center for Children

Legal name

River Oak Center for Children

Website

https://riveroak.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

River Oak Center for Children is a Sacramento-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1966 that delivers evidence-based behavioral health services to children and youth (ages 0-21) across Sacramento County, serving more than 1,100 individuals daily with 90% Medi-Cal eligibility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

School-Based Mental & Behavioral Health Services (EDAJAIAB), Family Engagement & Caregiver Support Programs (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAK), Family & Parenting Education (Family Literacy, Parenting Skills) (EDAAAFAF)

Keywords

• Children behavioral health
• Youth mental health services
• Family resource center
• Juvenile justice diversion
• Early childhood intervention

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Program Reimbursement: River Oak receives reimbursement through agreements with Sacramento County Department of Behavioral Health Services for mental health services provided to Medi-Cal eligible children and youth. Services are billed through county behavioral health for children ages birth to 21.
2. County Probation Department Contracts: Revenue from Sacramento County Probation Department for juvenile justice diversion and treatment programs including Wraparound and JJDTP services.
3. First 5 Sacramento Commission: Funding from First 5 Sacramento Commission for early childhood programs including Early Head Start Home Education Program.
4. Private Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts charitable donations through online portals, mail-in donation forms, United Way giving campaigns, employer matching, third-party fundraisers, and in-kind contributions. The Helping Hands Fund provides emergency support not covered by government resources.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

River Oak Center for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit behavioral health organization delivering a comprehensive array of community-based mental health, therapeutic, and family support services to children and youth (birth through age 21, up to 26 for JJDTP) throughout Sacramento County. Core offerings include Flexible Integrated Treatment (FIT), Wraparound, Juvenile Justice Diversion and Treatment Program (JJDTP), Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS), Early Head Start home visitation, and the Birth & Beyond Family Resource Center, supplemented by evidence-based therapy modalities (TF-CBT, DBT, PCIT, ART, TIP, Coping Cat, Motivational Interviewing, etc.), psychiatry, psychology, peer advocacy, and skills training delivered in-office, via telehealth, and in community/school settings.

Product overview

River Oak Center for Children operates as a nonprofit behavioral health organization offering a portfolio of clinical programs and evidence-based therapeutic practices. The core programs include Flexible Integrated Treatment (FIT) for flexible, needs-based mental health services; the Juvenile Justice Diversion and Treatment Program (JJDTP) for justice-involved youth; Wraparound for children with complex needs; Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) for short-term crisis intervention; Early Head Start for infant/toddler development; and Birth & Beyond Family Resource Center for family support. These programs are delivered through various practice modalities including Trauma-Focused CBT, DBT, PCIT, The Incredible Years, Aggression Replacement Training, Coping Cat, Motivational Interviewing, and The Seven Challenges, supplemented by psychiatry, psychology, peer advocacy, and skills training services. The organization primarily serves children and youth ages 0-21 (up to 26 for JJDTP) in Sacramento County through community-based, telehealth, and office-based settings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flexible Integrated Treatment (FIT) A collaborative care planning program for children and youth ages 0-21 that provides flexible, needs-based mental health services including telehealth delivery, specialty therapeutic practices, and wraparound-style coordination tailored to the changing needs of each child and family.
• Juvenile Justice Diversion and Treatment Program (JJDTP) A Full-Service Partnership for youth involved with or at risk of involvement with the juvenile justice system (up to age 26) that provides comprehensive mental health services, intensive community-based treatment, and family support to help youth remain in their homes, schools, and communities.
• Wraparound (High-Fidelity Wraparound) A family-centered care planning approach that 'wraps' individualized services around children and youth with complex needs who are at risk of losing their current placement or are returning from residential care, delivered in four phases following ten High-Fidelity Wraparound principles.
• Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) An intensive 3-4 month program providing immediate assistance for children and youth needing behavior stabilization, with skills developed in close coordination with caregivers to replace high-risk behaviors.
• Early Head Start Home Education Program A home-based program for children birth to 3 years and pregnant women that improves cognitive, language, and social-emotional development through weekly home visits, delivered in partnership with the First 5 Sacramento Commission and SETA Head Start.
• Birth & Beyond Family Resource Center

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sacramento County Department of Behavioral Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll of River Oak's programs and services are provided in collaboration with the Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services Division of Behavioral Health Services. River Oak contracts with behavioral health services for children and youth ages birth to 21 years across Greater Sacramento area. This is the primary funding and partnership relationship for most programs.
• First 5 Sacramento CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst 5 Sacramento Commission works to improve the lives of Sacramento County's youngest children and their families through implementation of the California Children and Families Act (Proposition 10). Funds the Early Head Start Home Education Program at River Oak.
• Sacramento County Child Protective Services (CPS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRiver Oak is a contracted partner with CPS. CPS provides referrals to many of River Oak's programs for children and families involved with child welfare services.
• Sacramento County Probation DepartmentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRiver Oak works with Probation through Wraparound and Juvenile Justice Diversion and Treatment Program for children engaged in the Juvenile Justice System. Provides mental health services and supports to youth and their families.
• SETA (Sacramento Employment Training Agency) Head StartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSETA is a joint powers agency of the City and County of Sacramento. Its Head Start program improves lives of low-income children by providing comprehensive child development services that are family-focused including education, health, nutrition, and mental health.
• CalWorks Sacramento CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalWorks is Sacramento County's welfare-to-work program. River Oak collaborates with CalWorks to meet child and family resource needs at the Family Resource Center.
• Department of Human AssistanceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThis Sacramento County department assists with food stamps and eligibility. River Oak refers families to this agency to meet their needs for assistance.
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWIC is Sacramento County's food assistance program for pregnant women and children. River Oak refers and receives referrals from this program.
• Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiver Oak collaborates with SCUSD to provide behavioral health services at school sites and within the child or youth's community. Schools serve as access points for children who may not be ready or able to succeed due to behavioral, emotional, developmental or behavioral health challenges.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pacific Clinics: One of California's largest behavioral health nonprofits, serving children, youth, and families with wraparound, outpatient, and juvenile justice services — comparable in scope, evidence-based practice portfolio, and county-contract funding model.
• Seneca Family of Agencies: California-based nonprofit providing Wraparound, Intensive Services, and community-based behavioral health for children and youth involved in child welfare and juvenile justice — directly comparable programs and acuity mix.
• Fred Finch Youth & Family Services: California nonprofit offering evidence-based behavioral health, Wraparound, and transition-age youth services, with a comparable mix of community-based and treatment programs for Medi-Cal-eligible youth.
• Hillsides: California nonprofit providing Wraparound, residential, and community-based behavioral health services for children and families involved in child welfare and juvenile justice — overlapping programs and county-contract funding model.
• Aspiranet: California nonprofit with Wraparound, behavioral health, and early childhood programs for children and families, including juvenile justice and child welfare contracting — directly comparable service mix and county-contract orientation.
• Uplift Family Services: California nonprofit providing outpatient behavioral health, Wraparound, school-based services, and early intervention for children and youth — highly comparable to River Oak's program portfolio and county contract structure.

Regional players

• WellSpace Health: Sacramento-based community health organization delivering behavioral health, pediatrics, and family services in the same county — a local peer competing for overlapping Medi-Cal populations and county contracts.
• The Effort: Sacramento-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, primary care, and social services to Medi-Cal populations — operates in the same county with overlapping child, youth, and family service lines.
• ChildNet Youth and Family Services: Southern California nonprofit providing Wraparound, behavioral health, and juvenile justice services for children and families — comparable program model though geographically separate from Sacramento County.
• South Bay Community Services: San Diego-area nonprofit offering Wraparound, behavioral health, and family resource center services — comparable community-based behavioral health model in a different California region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 River Oak Center for Children