The Buckeye Ranch

What The Buckeye Ranch does

The Buckeye Ranch is a 60-year-old Ohio nonprofit behavioral health and child welfare organization operating a vertically integrated continuum of services for children, youth, and families. Its core delivery platform spans three interlocking service lines: Mental Health Services (residential treatment via the QRTP and the newly opened Ohio's first and only PRTF for teens at The Hope Treatment Center, plus six community-based programs including IFSP, IHBT, MST, FFT, Outpatient, and Integrated Co-Occurring Treatment), Education-Based Services (school-based mental health in 15+ Central Ohio schools, the Bonner Academy non-public charter school, Somali Outreach, and Early Childhood Mental Health), and Child Welfare Services (a statewide foster care network of hundreds of homes, the HAY program for high-acuity foster youth, the My Place transitional housing program with 15 apartments, and the BRIDGES program for aged-out youth). The clinical technology stack is built on a portfolio of evidence-based modalities including the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Integrative Family and Systems Treatment (I-FAST), Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed care, with proprietary clinical programs (HAY and I-FAST) developed or validated in-house.

The business model is funded primarily through Medicaid reimbursement — including Ohio's specialized OhioRISE Medicaid-managed care program via Aetna Better Health of Ohio — and government contracts with the Franklin County Children Services, Franklin County Juvenile Court, Ohio Department of Youth Services, Franklin County ADAMH Board, and multiple school districts. A second revenue layer consists of donations and event-based fundraising, including a $35 million capital campaign closed in 2025 (with $10 million from Nationwide Children's Hospital and $2.5 million from Nationwide Insurance) and the annual A Positive Note event which raised over $341,000 in 2026. GTM is referral-led, with a Same-Day Access walk-in intake at the Whitehall headquarters, a 24/7 foster care placement line, school-embedded clinicians, and care coordinators functioning as the integration layer across state, county, and managed-care payors. The organization currently operates from six locations across Ohio — Whitehall (headquarters), Grove City (residential campus), Columbus (Bonner Academy and My Place), Newark, and Cincinnati/Norwood — serving 14 counties and approximately 2,350 youth in care at any given time.

Name

The Buckeye Ranch

Legal name

The Buckeye Ranch

Website

https://buckeyeranch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Buckeye Ranch is an Ohio nonprofit providing integrated mental health, residential treatment, foster care, and education-based services for children, youth, and families across 14 counties, funded primarily through Medicaid, government contracts, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Behavioral Health and Child Welfare Services

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Home Health Care Services (62161), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers (HLAFACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Therapeutic/Behavioral & Residential Treatment K–12 Schools (EDAJABAI), Therapeutic & Behavioral Health School Programs (Day Treatment) (EDAJAEAE), Mental Health Counseling & Psychotherapy Services (EDALAFAB), Community Health & Health Equity/Social Determinants Units (HLAJAAAO)

Keywords

• Residential mental health treatment
• Foster care services
• Community-based mental health
• Child welfare services
• Behavioral health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Franklin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Medicaid Reimbursement: Services primarily funded through Medicaid, including OhioRISE specialized Medicaid-managed care initiative for children facing complex behavioral health challenges.
2. Government Contracts: Contracts with Ohio Department of Youth Services, Franklin County Children Services, Franklin County Juvenile Court, and other state/county agencies for child welfare and mental health services.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations (EIN 31-0642111) including direct donations, event fundraising (A Positive Note raised over $341K in 2026), and in-kind donations.
4. Foster Care Reimbursements: Per diem payments to foster families for caring for children, plus clothing, mileage, and other expense reimbursements. This is an expense to the organization but represents a key funding mechanism for foster care operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Buckeye Ranch is a nonprofit behavioral health and child welfare organization that delivers a continuum of mental health, residential treatment, foster care, education-based, and integrated care services to children, youth, and families across Ohio. Its service portfolio includes a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF), Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP), community-based therapies (IFSP, IHBT, MST, FFT, Outpatient, ICT), school-based mental health, The Bonner Academy charter school, foster care, and transitional housing programs such as My Place and BRIDGES. The organization also operates an OhioRISE Care Management Entity and a Same-Day Access walk-in intake hub.

Product overview

The Buckeye Ranch is a nonprofit behavioral and mental health organization offering a comprehensive continuum of services for children, youth, and families across Ohio. The organization operates three interconnected service lines: Mental Health Services (including Residential Treatment through QRTP and PRTF at The Hope Treatment Center, and Community-Based programs), Education-Based Services (including school-based mental health and The Bonner Academy charter school), and Child Welfare Services (including foster care and transitional housing through My Place and BRIDGES). Integrated Care Services including OhioRISE care coordination and Same-Day Access connect these programs, creating a unified system designed to meet youth and families wherever they are in their healing journey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Hope Treatment Center: A 57,000 sq. ft. psychiatric residential treatment facility on the Grove City campus serving youth ages 12-17.
• The Bonner Academy
• My Place
• OhioRISE Care Management Entity

Products and services

• Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) Short-term psychiatric residential treatment program for teens aged 12-17 housed in The Hope Treatment Center, providing high-acuity mental health care that bridges the gap between psychiatric hospitalization and returning home.
• Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) Family-centered residential treatment program on the Grove City campus for youth ages 9-17 with mental health diagnoses and histories of trauma, offering secure housing, therapy, and on-site education with a goal to preserve family relationships.
• Community-Based Mental Health Services Six evidence-based programs providing in-home and community counseling, including IFSP, IHBT, MST, FFT, Outpatient, and ICT, for youth and families needing mental health and substance abuse treatment.
• Education-Based Mental Health Services School-based mental health counseling in dozens of Central Ohio schools, the Bonner Academy day treatment charter school, Somali Outreach, and Early Childhood Mental Health programming for ages 0-5.
• Foster Care Services Network of hundreds of foster homes across Ohio counties providing treatment foster care, including the Healing Alternatives for Youth (HAY) program for high-acuity mental health support for foster youth experiencing placement disruptions.
• My Place Transitional Housing Transitional housing program providing 15 fully furnished one-bedroom apartments for young adults ages 16-21 transitioning from foster care, with 24/7 staff support and life skills training.
• BRIDGES Program State of Ohio program for young adults ages 18-21 who have aged out of county custody, providing case management and financial assistance for housing, utilities, food, and transportation.
• The Bonner Academy Non-public charter school providing integrated mental health and educational programming for students in grades 3-12 who have mental health symptoms affecting their functioning in traditional school settings.
• OhioRISE Care Coordination Care Management Entity (CME) services as part of the OhioRISE Medicaid-managed care initiative, providing wraparound care coordination for children and youth with complex behavioral health challenges.
• Same-Day Access Same-day evaluation and assessment services connecting families to programs through CANS assessments, diagnostic assessments, and linkage to appropriate behavioral health services; walk-in services available Monday-Thursday at the Whitehall headquarters with virtual options.

Quantifiable outcome

• IFSP program served 465 families providing 15,607 hours of clinical service in 2023
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Nationwide Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Healthcare partnership for youth mental health services. Contributed $10 million to The Hope Treatment Center PRTF facility development. Collaborative partnership in opening Ohio's first Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility.
• Oesterlen Services for YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Partnership announced September 2024 for collaborative child welfare and mental health services. Both organizations serve children and youth in Ohio.
• Aetna Better Health of OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManaged care partner for OhioRISE specialized Medicaid-managed care initiative. Collaborates with Buckeye Ranch and OhioRISE program to serve children facing complex behavioral health challenges.
• South-Western City School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides certified teachers for on-campus education at Grove City residential campus. Partnership allows youth to receive educational instruction while in treatment.
• Franklin County Children Services (FCCS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary referral partner for Multi-Systemic Therapy program. Serves youth with serious juvenile offences in Franklin County.
• Franklin County Juvenile CourtcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJustice system partner for MST program. Referrals and collaboration for youth involved with juvenile court system.
• Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState government partner for Multi-Systemic Therapy program serving youth in state custody.
• Franklin County ADAMH BoardmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMental health board partner for MST program funding and collaboration.
• Columbus ClippersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeason-long partnership for Home Runs for Hometown Kids program. Donors pledge per home run hit by the Clippers to support Buckeye Ranch programs.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• OhioGuidestone: Ohio-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, foster care, residential, and early childhood services across multiple counties. Most direct comparable in scale, geography, and service mix to The Buckeye Ranch.
• Pressley Ridge: Pennsylvania-headquartered nonprofit offering residential treatment, community-based mental health, and education programs for children and families. Operates in multiple states with a comparable continuum-of-care model.
• Bellefaire Jewish Children's Bureau (Applewood Centers): Cleveland-based nonprofit providing residential treatment, foster care, behavioral health, and special education to children and youth in Ohio. Direct competitor in Ohio youth behavioral health market.
• Youth Villages: National nonprofit providing residential, MST, and intervention services for troubled youth. Strong overlap in evidence-based program offerings (particularly MST) and similar Medicaid/government payer mix.
• Oesterlen Services for Youth: Springfield, Ohio-based nonprofit serving at-risk youth with mental health, residential, and case management services — also an active partner/peer in Ohio's child welfare ecosystem.
• St. Joseph Orphanage / St. Joseph Home: Cincinnati-based nonprofit providing residential treatment, behavioral health, and child welfare services for Ohio youth with behavioral and developmental needs. Direct geographic overlap in Southwest Ohio.

Broad incumbents

• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Nationwide nonprofit operating residential treatment facilities, community mental health programs, and foster care across multiple states. Broader scale and geographic reach, but overlapping service lines with Buckeye Ranch.
• KVC Health Systems: National child welfare and behavioral health nonprofit operating residential treatment, in-home family services, and foster care across multiple states. Broader geographic footprint and similar payer mix.
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (Behavioral Health): Major pediatric academic medical center with inpatient psychiatric and intensive behavioral health services for youth. Referral and partial-overlap relationship with Buckeye Ranch's residential continuum.

Regional players

• Children's Home Society of California: Regional nonprofit providing residential treatment, mental health, and community services for youth in California. Comparable service model in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thebuckeyeranch
• Facebookfacebook.com/buckeyeranch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 The Buckeye Ranch