Service Alternatives, Inc.

What Service Alternatives, Inc. does

Service Alternatives, Inc. is a privately held, values-driven human services organization headquartered in Oak Harbor, Washington, that has operated in the Pacific Northwest since 1983. The company delivers person-centered programs across three core areas: Children & Families (foster parent recruitment and licensing, family and foster care services, therapy, family preservation, and evidence-based practices such as SafeCare, The Incredible Years, Promoting First Relationships, and the Positive Parenting Program); Adults & Seniors (residential supported living, community inclusion, employment services, Individual Placement & Support, WorkFirst for TANF recipients, Overnight Planned Respite, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy); and Communities & Organizations (the Service Alternatives Training Institute, RIGHT RESPONSE de-escalation training, workforce development, technical assistance, and consultation). Service delivery is staffed by direct-support professionals across multiple offices in Oak Harbor, Burlington, Lynnwood, Brentwood (a CARF-accredited group home), and Everett.

The business model is a hybrid of managed government services and professional services. The primary revenue stream is fee-for-service contracts with Washington State agencies, specifically the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), under which Service Alternatives delivers human services at scale (369,088+ direct service hours in 2024). A secondary revenue stream is the Service Alternatives Training Institute (SATI), which sells workshops, technical assistance, leadership development, and RIGHT RESPONSE certification to external businesses and organizations on a fee-for-service basis (2,625+ people trained and 18,464 certified in 2024). Pricing on government contracts is set through negotiation with funding agencies and is not publicly disclosed; Training Institute pricing varies by course and format.

The underlying technology stack is modest: a WordPress content management system for the public website, ADP for internal HR and payroll, and a generic AI-based accessibility interface for WCAG 2.1 AA compliance. Service delivery is grounded in evidence-based and evidence-informed clinical frameworks rather than proprietary technology platforms. The company is privately held under employee ownership following a 2003 transition from founders Fran Einterz and Joyce Peterson, and is led by CEO Belinda Kindschi, who joined as a direct support professional in 1991. The 2026 'Accelerate 28' Strategic Plan articulates a forward agenda of growth and profitability across the existing service portfolio.

Name

Service Alternatives, Inc.

Legal name

Service Alternatives, Inc.

Website

https://servicealternatives.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Service Alternatives, Inc. is a privately held human services organization in Washington State delivering foster care, residential and employment services for children, adults, and seniors, and fee-based workforce training through its Training Institute, funded primarily by state agency contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent Living with Supportive Services (Light ADL/IADL Support) (HLADAAAE), Personal Care & ADL Assistance (bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility) (HLADAGAA)

Keywords

• Human services
• Foster care services
• Developmental disability support
• Supported living services
• Workforce training

Headquarters

HQ city

Lynnwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Human Services: Revenue is primarily generated through government contracts with state and local agencies for foster care services, adult supported living programs, employment services, and other human services. Services are delivered under contract with Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA).
2. Training Institute Services: The Service Alternatives Training Institute (SATI) offers fee-for-service training workshops and technical assistance to external customers including businesses, organizations, and other human service providers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Service Alternatives is a person-centered human services organization that delivers foster care, family preservation, residential supported living, community inclusion, employment, and therapeutic services for children, adults with developmental disabilities, and seniors across Washington State. It supplements direct services with the Service Alternatives Training Institute (SATI), which sells fee-for-service workshops, certifications, technical assistance, and consulting to external businesses, organizations, and human-service providers.

Product overview

Service Alternatives is a values-driven human services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of person-centered programs and services. The company operates through three core program areas: (1) Children & Families Programs including foster parent recruitment, therapy services, family preservation, and evidence-based practices like SafeCare and The Incredible Years; (2) Adults & Seniors Programs encompassing residential supported living, community inclusion, employment services, DBT, and WorkFirst; and (3) the Service Alternatives Training Institute (SATI) providing training workshops, technical assistance, and consultation services. The portfolio includes specialized modules such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Positive Behavior Support, RIGHT RESPONSE de-escalation training, and Elemental Leadership development. Services are delivered across Washington State with a focus on advancing individual potential at each phase of life through customized, evidence-based approaches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Children & Families Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 369,088 hours of direct service provided to clients annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pioneer Human Services: Washington State-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, housing, and employment services to vulnerable populations. Directly comparable as a Pacific Northwest human services provider with diversified programs and government contract funding.
• Catholic Community Services of Western Washington: Western Washington-based nonprofit offering foster care, adoption, supported living, and family services. Highly comparable in service mix, target populations (children, adults with disabilities, families), and government contract structure.
• Volunteers of America Western Washington: Regional branch of national nonprofit providing housing, behavioral health, and community services in Western Washington. Comparable for foster care, supported living, and workforce development offerings.
• The Arc of Washington State: Washington State chapter of The Arc, focused on services and advocacy for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Closely comparable for adults with IDD program line, including residential support, employment, and community inclusion.
• Sunrise Services: Washington State-based human services provider offering residential, employment, and behavioral health services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Directly comparable in service mix and Pacific Northwest government funding exposure.
• Lifeworks NW: Portland, Oregon-based nonprofit providing housing, employment, behavioral health, and developmental disability services. Comparable Pacific Northwest human services portfolio with similar person-centered philosophy.
• Compass Health: Washington State behavioral health and human services nonprofit offering mental health, substance use, and community support services. Comparable in clinical service delivery (DBT, behavioral health) and government contract structure.
• Community House Mental Health Agency: Seattle-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, housing, and community services for adults with mental illness. Comparable for adults & seniors program line, including DBT and supported community living.

Regional players

• Behavioral Health Resources: Washington State-based provider of mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services in the Puget Sound region. Comparable in clinical and supported living services, with overlap in DDA-funded programs.

Emerging players

• DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center): Seattle-based nonprofit providing housing, behavioral health, and support services for adults experiencing homelessness and behavioral health conditions. Partial overlap in supported living and behavioral health services within Washington.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/service.alternatives
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/service-alternatives-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/service_alternatives

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Service Alternatives, Inc.