Clinicare

What Clinicare does

Clinicare Corporation, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Elm Grove, Wisconsin, is a private for-profit provider of youth behavioral health, residential treatment, and alternative education services. The company operates a multi-site platform spanning Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Dakota, organized around two service lines: residential treatment programs concentrated at the Aurora Plains Academy campus in Plankinton, South Dakota (which also houses the Polaris Intensive Residential Treatment center, the Dakota Reach Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, and the Spark Alternative School), and three alternative day schools serving grades 5-12 with behavioral challenges (New Frontier Academy in Prairie du Chien, WI; Crossroads Academy in Decorah, IA; and Eau Claire Academy in Eau Claire, WI). Its core technology is clinical rather than software-based: evidence-informed therapeutic treatment, trauma-informed care programming, individualized treatment planning, and post-discharge transition services designed to reduce recidivism.

Clinicare's business model is government-funded service delivery. Revenue is generated primarily through per-diem and contract-based placements by state child-welfare agencies, county social services, and insurance payers for youth with mental illness, conduct disorders, intellectual disabilities, addictions, sexual abuse/offender issues, and academic or family-related behavioral challenges. The go-to-market is referral-driven rather than consumer-marketing-driven, with state agencies and healthcare providers acting as the primary intake channel. The company also operates a Transition/Reunification Program that maintains contact with youth for months post-discharge, providing a continuum-of-care differentiator.

In 2022, Clinicare made a strategic restructuring decision to discontinue Wisconsin residential treatment operations and focus resources on its alternative day schools and South Dakota residential programs, signaling consolidation around its highest-performing service lines. The company holds C.O.A. (Council on Accreditation) accreditation, a credential required by many state placing agencies, and maintains membership in industry associations including the South Dakota Association of Youth Care Providers and AspireMN. Clinicare is independently owned, with no disclosed parent company, private equity sponsor, or venture capital involvement.

Name

Clinicare

Legal name

Clinicare Corporation

Website

https://clinicarecorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Clinicare Corporation is a private Wisconsin-based provider of residential treatment and alternative day school programs for youth with behavioral, mental health, and intellectual disabilities, operating across Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Dakota with funding primarily from state agency contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Residential Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers (HLAFACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Residential youth treatment
• Alternative day schools
• Behavioral health services
• Youth mental health
• Intermediate care facility

Headquarters

HQ city

Wauwatosa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Residential Treatment Services: Long-term residential treatment programs for youth with mental illness, emotional problems, conduct problems, and other behavioral issues. Funded through government contracts and state agency placements.
2. Alternative Day School Programs: Alternative day schools providing structured education for students grade 5-12 who struggle behaviorally in traditional settings. Operates at multiple Wisconsin and South Dakota locations.
3. Respite Care Services: Short-term respite stays at South Dakota location providing brief interventions to strengthen placements in family settings. Individualized to serve youth needs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Clinicare Corp operates residential treatment programs and alternative day schools for children and adolescents with mental illness, emotional problems, conduct problems, cognitive delays, addictions, sexual abuse/offender issues, academic issues, and peer and family problems. Services are delivered through owned facilities including Aurora Plains Academy in South Dakota (housing Polaris IRT, Dakota Reach ICF/IID, and Spark Alternative School) and three Wisconsin-region alternative schools (New Frontier Academy, Crossroads Academy, Eau Claire Academy). Programs are individualized, trauma-informed, and designed to support youth with complex behavioral and mental health needs through clinically advanced treatment and structured education.

Product overview

Clinicare operates a multi-service platform for youth behavioral health, combining residential treatment and alternative education programs across Wisconsin and South Dakota. The core offerings include Aurora Plains Academy (residential treatment in South Dakota) and three alternative day schools (New Frontier Academy, Crossroads Academy, and Eau Claire Academy). Specialized sub-products include Polaris Intensive Residential Treatment (IRT), Dakota Reach (ICF/IID facility), and Spark Alternative School—all housed within the Aurora Plains campus. Additional services include Respite Care and a Transition/Reunification Program for post-treatment support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aurora Plains Academy Residential treatment program in Plankinton, South Dakota providing mental health, emotional, conduct, and addiction treatment for youth with complex behavioral needs.
• Polaris Intensive Residential Treatment Intensive Residential Treatment (IRT) center located within Aurora Plains Academy providing high-intensity therapeutic services for youth.
• Dakota Reach ICF/IID Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) providing specialized residential care and daily living support in Plankinton, South Dakota.
• Spark Alternative School Structured alternative education setting for students grades 5-12 who struggle behaviorally in traditional school environments, located within the Aurora Plains campus.
• New Frontier Academy Alternative day school in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin providing highly structured, supportive education for youth with behavioral challenges.
• Crossroads Academy Alternative day school in Decorah, Iowa serving students who need structured educational support for behavioral challenges.
• Eau Claire Academy Alternative day school in Eau Claire, Wisconsin providing structured educational services for youth with behavioral needs.
• Respite Care Services Short-term respite stays at the South Dakota location used proactively or responsively to strengthen placements in family settings, with individualized planning for each youth.
• Transition/Reunification Program Post-treatment support program maintaining contact with youth for months after treatment completion to encourage success and decrease recidivism.

Quantifiable outcome

• Transition program maintains contact with youth for months after treatment completion to encourage success and decrease recidivism

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• AspireMNminorOthersProfessional association membership focused on advocacy and training within the youth care industry in Minnesota.
• South Dakota Association of Youth Care ProvidersminorOthersProfessional association membership for advocacy and training within the youth care provider industry in South Dakota.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Acadia Healthcare: Large publicly-traded behavioral health operator with residential treatment facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and outpatient services nationwide. Comparable to Clinicare in residential mental health services but operates at far greater scale across a broader portfolio.
• Magellan Health: Managed behavioral health care organization providing mental health, substance abuse, and specialty care management services. Comparable to Clinicare in addressing youth behavioral health and state-contracted populations, but operates primarily as a payor/services manager rather than a facility operator.
• Universal Health Services: Major for-profit hospital and behavioral health operator with a sizable behavioral health segment including residential facilities. Comparable in offering residential mental health and substance use treatment, but operates as part of a much larger diversified healthcare portfolio.

Direct peers

• KVC Health Systems: Midwest-based nonprofit providing residential treatment, foster care, behavioral health, and educational services for children and families. Directly comparable to Clinicare's geographic focus (Midwest) and integrated residential + child welfare service model.
• Camelot Education: Operator of alternative education, behavioral, and therapeutic day school programs for at-risk and court-involved youth nationwide. Directly comparable to Clinicare's alternative day schools (New Frontier, Crossroads, Eau Claire, Spark).
• Youth Villages: A large private nonprofit providing intensive residential treatment, behavioral health services, and at-risk youth programs across multiple states. Directly comparable to Clinicare in terms of target population (children and adolescents with mental illness, conduct disorders, and family disruption) and integrated service delivery model.
• Boys Town: Father Flanagan's Boys' Home operates residential treatment, behavioral health, and educational programs for at-risk youth nationwide. Comparable to Clinicare in serving youth with mental illness, emotional, and conduct challenges through owned residential campuses and structured educational settings.
• AspireMN (Aspire Minnesota): Named professional association partner in Clinicare's data, AspireMN is a Minnesota-based youth care provider association advocating for residential treatment and child welfare services. Directly comparable given shared Midwest footprint, youth-services focus, and member-level proximity to Clinicare's operating model.
• Sevita Health: Large operator of ICF/IID, behavioral health, and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable to Clinicare's Dakota Reach ICF/IID and overall IDD + behavioral health combination.
• Rite of Passage: National provider of residential youth services, therapeutic programs, and educational programs for at-risk youth, including mental health, substance abuse, and conduct-disordered populations. Directly comparable to Clinicare's Aurora Plains Academy residential offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries7 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 Clinicare