McNabb Center
McNabb Center is a Knoxville, Tennessee-based nonprofit providing mental health, substance use, social, and victim services across 27 East Tennessee counties, serving 52,000+ clients annually through 23 outpatient centers, crisis facilities, and housing programs, funded primarily through TennCare and state/federal grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1948
- HeadquartersKnoxville, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What McNabb Center does
The McNabb Center, founded in 1948 in Knoxville, Tennessee, is the region's largest nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, social, and victim services. The organization operates a full continuum of care spanning four core service lines: Mental Health Care (including adult and children's crisis services, outpatient care, integrated health, Tennessee Health Link care coordination, therapeutic preschool, and privately funded military services), Substance Use Treatment (residential, detoxification, intensive outpatient, Medication Assisted Therapy, and recovery/peer support), Social Services (therapeutic foster care and adoption, supervised visitation, behavioral modification, Healthy Families home visitation, Project NOW/Opportunity Passport, Safe Place, and the Jail to Work program), and Victim Services (domestic violence, sexual assault through SACET, runaway youth, and youth emergency shelter). The organization serves approximately 52,792 children and adults annually across 27 East Tennessee counties through 23 outpatient mental health centers, 432 housing units, crisis hotlines, walk-in facilities, and a Mobile Mental Health Clinic serving rural counties.
The business model is reimbursement-driven and government-anchored. Primary revenue flows through TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid) for covered mental health, substance use, and social services, supplemented by federal grants from SAMHSA, state funding from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Tennessee Department of Children's Services, county government appropriations (Knox, Blount, Claiborne, Hamblen), private foundation grants (Helen Ross McNabb Foundation, Trinity Health Foundation, Haslam Family Foundation, Clayton Family Foundation), United Way, and commercial insurance. Sliding-scale fees and self-pay options apply for uninsured clients, while military services are provided at no charge. Go-to-market is community-led and referral-driven: clients enter through TennCare, healthcare providers, schools, child welfare systems, courts, or self-referral via the main crisis hotline (1-800-255-9711). Distribution includes physical clinic locations, 24/7 walk-in facilities (EmPATH, Family Walk-in Center), mobile clinics, residential programs, crisis hotlines, and partnerships with East Tennessee Children's Hospital, University of Tennessee Medical Center, and River Valley Health. Technology footprint is modest: the Center uses AI-assisted documentation and care coordination tools but does not maintain a public-facing developer API, and product differentiation is operational (first-in-state programs such as Elevate Recovery High School, Family Walk-In Center, Children's Crisis Stabilization Unit, and the EmPATH Unit) rather than technology-led. CARF International accreditation, HIPAA compliance, and 42 CFR Part 2 compliance provide the regulatory foundation for operations.
McNabb Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- McNabb Center
- Legal name
- HELEN ROSS MCNABB CENTER, INC.
- Website
- https://mcnabbcenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1948
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- McNabb Center is a Knoxville, Tennessee-based nonprofit providing mental health, substance use, social, and victim services across 27 East Tennessee counties, serving 52,000+ clients annually through 23 outpatient centers, crisis facilities, and housing programs, funded primarily through TennCare and state/federal grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
McNabb Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Behavioral Health and Social Services
- NAICS
- Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142)
- SIC
- Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outpatient Mental Health Clinics & Counseling Centers (HLAFACAA)
Keywords
Where McNabb Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Knoxville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices13 records
Markets served
McNabb Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Contracts and TennCare: Primary revenue stream through TennCare (Tennessee's Medicaid program) payments for covered mental health, substance use, and social services. Also receives funding from Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
- Federal Grants: Funding from federal agencies including SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) for specific programs and initiatives.
- Foundation and Donor Contributions: Private foundation grants (Trinity Health Foundation, Haslam Family Foundation, Clayton Family Foundation, etc.) and individual donations through the Helen Ross McNabb Foundation.
- United Way: United Way funding partnerships supporting community health and social service programs.
- Commercial Insurance: Accepts numerous commercial insurance options in addition to TennCare for outpatient and other services.
- Client Fees and Self-Pay: Sliding scale and self-pay options for services, with Good Faith Estimates available for uninsured clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Per appointment | Insurance-based services (TennCare and commercial) |
| Other | Other | Military Services - No cost to veterans and families |
| Freemium | Other | Free community services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
McNabb Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The McNabb Center is a nonprofit behavioral health organization providing a full continuum of mental health care, substance use treatment, social services, and victim services to children, adolescents, adults, and families across 27 counties in East Tennessee. Services are delivered through outpatient clinics, crisis stabilization units, walk-in crisis facilities (EmPATH, Family Walk-in Center), residential treatment, mobile clinics, and specialized programs such as the Elevate Recovery High School and the Blount County Transition Campus. The Center served more than 52,000 people in 2025 and operates with approximately 1,300 staff and CARF International accreditation.
Product overview
The McNabb Center is a nonprofit behavioral health organization offering a comprehensive continuum of mental health, substance use, social services, and victim services across East Tennessee. The organization operates multiple distinct service lines: Mental Health Care Services (including adult and children's crisis units, outpatient care, the EmPATH emergency psychiatric unit, and military services); Substance Use Treatment (spanning residential, detoxification, intensive outpatient, and Medication Assisted Therapy programs); Social Services (therapeutic foster care, supervised visitation, behavioral modification, home visitation through Healthy Families, and the Project NOW Opportunity Passport); and Victim Services (domestic violence, sexual assault crisis response through SACET, and youth emergency shelter). Notable specialized programs include Elevate Recovery High School (Tennessee's only public recovery-based high school), the Blount County Transition Campus (for re-entry from incarceration), Jail to Work, Mobile Health Clinic, and the EmPATH Unit. The organization serves approximately 52,000 people annually across 27 East Tennessee counties through 23 outpatient mental health centers and 432 housing units.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mental Health Care Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% of children receiving school-based services maintained or improved functioning
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use McNabb Center
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
McNabb Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature4 records
McNabb Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.
- Helen Ross McNabb FoundationcoreSister organization founded in 1972 that actively raises, holds, and invests funds on behalf of the McNabb Center. The Foundation has a 26-member volunteer board and has contributed greatly to the stability and growth of the Center through fundraising campaigns including the $9.25 million Elevate Recovery campaign.
- Knox County SchoolscorePartnership to provide educators who teach academic credit recovery courses at Elevate Recovery High School. Knox County School educators help students stay on schedule to graduate while McNabb Center provides treatment services.
- River Valley HealthnotablePartnership providing Get Well Now walk-in clinic inside EmPATH building offering sick care and non-emergency medical services for adults and children regardless of insurance status.
- University of Tennessee Medical CenternotableHealthcare partner providing collaboration on mental health and substance use treatment services.
- East Tennessee Children's HospitalnotableHealthcare partner hosting the Children's Crisis Stabilization Unit location.
- TCATnotableTennessee College of Applied Technology providing job training skills for Jail to Work program participants.
- UT Extension Institute of AgriculturenotableUniversity partner providing nutrition and agricultural training for Jail to Work program participants.
- Stepping OutminorCommunity partner providing life skills training for Jail to Work program participants.
- Jim Casey Youth Opportunities InitiativenotableNational initiative supporting Opportunity Passport program for young people in foster care, providing financial education, banking access, and matched savings.
- National Council for Behavioral HealthminorProfessional membership organization for mental health and substance use treatment providers.
- Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations (TAMHO)minorState professional membership organization for mental health providers.
- Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug and other Addiction Services (TAADAS)minorState professional organization for addiction services providers.
- Tennessee Alliance for Children and FamiliesminorState alliance supporting children and families services.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights6 records
McNabb Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Centerstone: One of the largest nonprofit behavioral health providers in the U.S., operating across Tennessee, Indiana, and Kentucky with a similar full-continuum model (mental health, substance use, crisis, residential, community services). Directly comparable in mission, scale, and payer mix to McNabb.
- Volunteer Behavioral Health: Tennessee-based nonprofit community mental health center serving 32 counties with mental health, substance use, and crisis services. Directly comparable as a Tennessee CMHC with overlapping payer mix (TennCare) and similar service portfolio to McNabb.
- Frontier Health: Nonprofit behavioral health provider serving Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia with mental health, substance use, crisis, and developmental disability services. Comparable as a regional CMHC with similar payer mix, geography, and continuum of care.
Regional players
- Cherokee Health Systems: Federally Qualified Health Center based in East Tennessee providing integrated primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy services. Comparable as an East Tennessee safety-net provider with integrated care model, though broader primary-care orientation.
- Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services: Community mental health center serving Anderson, Campbell, and surrounding East Tennessee counties with mental health, substance use, and crisis services. Comparable as a smaller East Tennessee CMHC with overlapping catchment area.
- Park Center (Nashville): Nonprofit behavioral health provider in Nashville, Tennessee offering mental health, substance use, and supportive housing services. Comparable as a Tennessee-based CMHC with similar mission and Medicaid dependence, though operating in a different metro.
Broad incumbents
- Acadia Healthcare: Largest publicly-traded pure-play behavioral health provider in the U.S. operating psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, and outpatient programs. Comparable as a large-scale behavioral health operator that could expand into McNabb's Tennessee territory.
Others
- Universal Health Services (Behavioral Health Division): Large for-profit hospital and behavioral health operator with a national footprint of psychiatric facilities. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the behavioral health space that competes for state contracts and professional staff in overlapping markets.
- Helen Ross McNabb Foundation: Sister 501(c)(3) fundraising entity founded in 1972 that raises, holds, and invests funds on behalf of the McNabb Center. Included as a related enabling entity — not a competitive peer, but a key capital and governance partner for the Center.
- Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: State agency that funds and contracts with McNabb for Project Rural Recovery, Mobile Health Clinic, Opioid Abatement, and Creating Homes Initiative grants. Included as a key payer/funder relationship rather than a competitive peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
McNabb Center social profiles
Digital presenceMcNabb Center compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
McNabb Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
McNabb Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
McNabb Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
McNabb Center 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 McNabb Center
What does McNabb Center do?
The McNabb Center is a nonprofit behavioral health organization providing a full continuum of mental health care, substance use treatment, social services, and victim services to children, adolescents, adults, and families across 27 counties in East Tennessee. Services are delivered through outpatient clinics, crisis stabilization units, walk-in crisis facilities (EmPATH, Family Walk-in Center), residential treatment, mobile clinics, and specialized programs such as the Elevate Recovery High School and the Blount County Transition Campus. The Center served more than 52,000 people in 2025 and operates with approximately 1,300 staff and CARF International accreditation.
Is McNabb Center a public or private company?
McNabb Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was McNabb Center founded?
McNabb Center was founded in 1948. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is McNabb Center based?
McNabb Center is headquartered in Knoxville, United States, in the North America region.
How does McNabb Center make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Government Contracts and TennCare is the primary driver. The others are federal Grants, foundation and Donor Contributions, united Way, commercial Insurance and client Fees and Self-Pay.
Who are McNabb Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Centerstone, Volunteer Behavioral Health and Frontier Health. Regional players are Cherokee Health Systems, Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services and Park Center (Nashville). Acadia Healthcare is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are Universal Health Services (Behavioral Health Division), Helen Ross McNabb Foundation and Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Does McNabb Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for McNabb Center.
What industry is McNabb Center in?
McNabb Center's product category is Behavioral Health and Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFACAA, Outpatient Mental Health Clinics & Counseling Centers. Its NAICS code is 621420 and its SIC code is 8093.