Friendship House

What Friendship House does

Friendship House is a nonprofit behavioral health organization headquartered at 415 Biden St, Scranton, Pennsylvania, founded in 1871 and currently operating with 251-500 employees. The organization delivers a continuum of mental health, autism and developmental disability, substance use disorder, and integrated primary care services to children, adolescents, adults, and families across eight counties in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania (Bradford, Lackawanna, Lycoming, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wayne). It operates physical offices in Scranton, Carbondale, Mayfield, and Pottsville, plus Community and School-Based Behavioral Health (CSBBH) teams embedded in 14 school districts across 7 counties.

The core service portfolio is organized around four product lines: (1) the Whole Person Care Center, which integrates mental health, substance use disorder, and primary care under one roof in partnership with The Wright Center for Community Health; (2) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Services, including center-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for children ages 2.5-6, community-based ABA via trained Behavioral Health Technicians in homes, schools, and community settings, and early intervention service coordination for infants and toddlers; (3) School-Based Mental Health, delivered through CSBBH teams and the Student Assistance Program (SAP); and (4) Social Services and Supports, including a Pottsville group home for males ages 9-18. Additional clinical capabilities include Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) using live coaching, outpatient therapy, psychiatric rehabilitation, blended case management, peer services delivered by Pennsylvania-Certified Peer Specialists, and a Substance Use Disorder Program offering OP, IOP, and PHP levels of care. Telehealth is available based on clinical recommendation.

The revenue model is insurance-based service billing combined with charitable donations. Friendship House accepts a broad set of commercial and Medicaid plans including Beacon Health Options, Capital Blue Cross, Geisinger Health Plan, Highmark Blue Shield, United, UMR, and UPMCO, billing outpatient mental health, ABA, and psychiatric services on a recurring basis. Donations from individuals and organizations supplement operations and fund program expansion. The go-to-market motion is community- and referral-based: outreach through school district partnerships, healthcare provider relationships, crisis hotlines for Lackawanna and Susquehanna Counties, online appointment requests, and direct family engagement. Services are delivered across outpatient clinics, schools, homes, community settings, and via telehealth, with transportation support provided to psychiatric rehabilitation clients.

Name

Friendship House

Legal name

Friendship House

Website

https://friendshiphousepa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1871

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Nonprofit behavioral health organization serving eight counties in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania with integrated mental health, autism/ABA, substance use disorder, school-based behavioral health, and primary care services for children, adolescents, and adults.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Health and Human Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

School Counseling Services (Individual & Group) (EDAKAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

Keywords

• Behavioral health services
• Autism services
• Mental health therapy
• Developmental disability programs
• School-based mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Scranton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance-Based Behavioral Health Services: Friendship House accepts multiple insurance plans including Beacon Health Options, Capital Blue Cross, Geisinger Health Plan, Highmark Blue Shield, United, UMR, UPMCO, and others. Services are billed through insurance for mental health, autism, and developmental disability programs.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Friendship House accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support operations and expand services. Donation options are available through their website with various amount tiers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Friendship House provides a continuum of behavioral health, mental health, autism, developmental disability, substance use disorder, and integrated primary care services for children, adolescents, adults, and families across Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. Services are delivered through outpatient clinic locations, school-based teams in 14 school districts, community-based in-home and on-site delivery, telehealth, and a group home for adolescent males. The organization operates the Whole Person Care Center in Scranton, which integrates mental health, substance use disorder treatment, and primary care under one roof with social services coordination.

Product overview

Friendship House provides a comprehensive continuum of mental health, behavioral health, autism, and social services for children, adolescents, and adults across Northeastern Pennsylvania. The organization operates through distinct service lines: the Whole Person Care Center (offering integrated mental health, substance use disorder, and primary care), Autism/Developmental Disabilities Services (center-based and community-based ABA services), School-Based Mental Health (CSBBH teams and SAP services), and Social Services (including group home placement). Additional services include outpatient therapy, Parent Child Interaction Therapy, psychiatric rehabilitation, case management, and peer services. The Whole Person Care Center serves as the central hub integrating these services with primary care partner The Wright Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Whole Person Care Center An integrated care facility in Scranton offering mental health, substance use disorder, and primary care services under one roof for coordinated, patient-centered care. Primary care is delivered via partnership with The Wright Center. Serves adults and families with co-occurring physical, behavioral, and social needs across Northeastern Pennsylvania.
• Autism and Developmental Disabilities Services Comprehensive autism spectrum treatment including center-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for children ages 2.5–6, community-based ABA delivered in homes and schools by Behavioral Health Technicians, early intervention service coordination for infants and toddlers ages birth to three, and the specialized autism transition classroom designed to mirror a kindergarten environment. Delivered in Lackawanna County and surrounding areas.
• School Based Mental Health Mental health and behavioral health services embedded directly in schools through Community and School-Based Behavioral Health (CSBBH) teams and the Student Assistance Program (SAP). CSBBH teams serve 14 school districts across 7 counties in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. Services address severe emotional or behavioral issues, alcohol/tobacco/other drug barriers, and mental health issues affecting academic success.
• Mental Health Outpatient Therapy Individual and group outpatient therapy for mental illness recovery, including psychiatric evaluation, medication management, case management, family-based mental health teams, and psychiatric rehabilitation services. Provided in community-based settings, via telehealth based on clinical recommendation, and at clinic locations for children, adolescents, and adults.
• Substance Use Disorder Program Professional counseling for substance abuse and addiction including individual, group, and family therapy with three levels of care: outpatient therapy (OP), intensive outpatient therapy (IOP), and partial hospitalization (PHP). Offered as part of the Whole Person Care Center integration.
• Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Specialized therapy for young children ages 2.5–7 with behavioral and emotional difficulties, teaching parents and caregivers to manage difficult behaviors through live coaching delivered in two treatment phases. Backed by over 50 years of research evidence.
• Primary Care Services Physical health services including routine check-ups, preventive care, and chronic condition management, delivered at the Scranton location through partnership with The Wright Center for Community Health as part of the Whole Person Care integration.
• Social Services and Supports - Group Home Structured community living program in Pottsville, PA providing supervised step-down placement for adolescent males ages 9–18 who cannot live at home but do not require residential psychiatric care. Residential counselors are on site 24 hours. Program under Program Director Chyleen Chumard.
• Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services Onsite Monday–Friday program for adults experiencing difficulties with daily functioning due to a mental health diagnosis, teaching daily life skills with transportation support available for clients who require it.
• Peer Services One-on-one empowering services provided by Certified Peer Specialists trained under the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Certified Peer Specialist Program for consumers of mental health services, including Wellness Recovery Action Plans and crisis management support.
• Family Based Mental Health Teams Home-based treatment service addressing the needs of children up to age 21 and their families, promoting family functioning and well-being through intensive in-home clinical intervention.
• Medication Management Psychiatric medication prescribing, monitoring, and management services delivered by Friendship House's staff psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners as part of outpatient mental health treatment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300% increase in anxiety-related pediatric visits in primary care between 2014-2023 (national trend)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Collective Action CollaborativeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 August 2025Friendship House has joined IHI's national initiative to integrate social care into healthcare delivery. Dr. Manju Thomas will lead a cross-departmental project team to enhance resource screenings for patients under 21, identifying needs for food, housing, and essential supports.
• The Wright Center for Community HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide Primary Care services at the Friendship House Whole Person Care Center in Scranton. The Wright Center's experienced team delivers routine check-ups, preventive care, and chronic condition management in an integrated care setting alongside Friendship House's mental health and behavioral services.
• Children's Advocacy CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the IHI Collective Action Collaborative initiative. Cross-departmental project team includes partner organizations working to enhance resource screenings for patients under 21.
• Lackawanna CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the IHI Collective Action Collaborative initiative. Cross-departmental project team includes partner organizations working to enhance resource screenings for patients under 21.
• Marley's MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the IHI Collective Action Collaborative initiative. Cross-departmental project team includes partner organizations working to enhance resource screenings for patients under 21.
• Leadership LackawannacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough Leadership Lackawanna grant funding, Friendship House created a new autism transition classroom at their Autism Center in Scranton. The classroom mirrors a kindergarten-style environment to help children with autism prepare for school transitions. The project was selected through Leadership Lackawanna's process connecting nonprofits with teams for wish-list projects.
• Advocacy AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization on Friendship House's website.
• dePaul SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization on Friendship House's website.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Geisinger Health Plan: Regional payer and integrated health system serving the same PA counties as Friendship House and one of its accepted insurance plans. Included for ecosystem relevance given Geisinger's growing direct behavioral health and autism services could create upstream or downstream competitive overlap.
• Carelon Behavioral Health (formerly Beacon Health Options): Major behavioral health managed care organization and one of Friendship House's contracted payers. Included as a relevant ecosystem participant given its payer-provider relationship, not as a direct service-line competitor.

Direct peers

• KidsPeace: Nonprofit organization headquartered in Pennsylvania providing residential treatment, foster care, community-based behavioral health, and educational services for children and adolescents with mental health needs. Closely comparable to Friendship House's group home, outpatient, and school-based programs serving the same Pennsylvania populations.
• Merakey (formerly NHS Human Services): National nonprofit provider of behavioral health, autism (ABA), intellectual/developmental disability, and integrated care services across multiple states including Pennsylvania. Comparable to Friendship House in offering community-based mental health, autism services, and case management under a Whole Person-style model.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large nonprofit behavioral health provider operating residential, educational, and community-based programs for children, adolescents, and adults with autism, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and mental health needs. Directly comparable to Friendship House's autism, school-based, and group home service lines across Pennsylvania and the broader Northeast.
• Chesapeake Health Care / Children's Service Center of Wyoming Valley: Nonprofit behavioral health agency serving Northeastern Pennsylvania children, adolescents, and adults with mental health, developmental disability, and substance use services. Operates within overlapping PA counties and offers similar school-based and outpatient programs.
• The Wright Center for Community Health: Federally qualified health center partner providing primary care inside Friendship House's Whole Person Care Center. Comparable model as a community-based integrated care provider in NEPA serving similar underserved populations.
• Clarity Behavioral Health / Scranton Counseling Center: Community-based behavioral health provider serving the Scranton/Lackawanna County region with outpatient mental health and substance use services. Directly overlaps Friendship House's catchment area and service mix.

Regional players

• Penn Foundation: Nonprofit behavioral health provider based in Sellersville, PA offering mental health, SUD, autism, and integrated primary care services to children and adults. Comparable to Friendship House across outpatient, SUD, and autism service lines in the broader Pennsylvania market.
• Pyramid Healthcare: Pennsylvania-based behavioral health provider with a strong footprint in Central and Eastern PA offering residential and outpatient SUD, mental health, and dual-diagnosis treatment. Comparable to Friendship House's SUD program and mental health outpatient services in adjacent Central PA counties.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/friendshiphousepa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friendship-house

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Friendship House