Positive Education Program

What Positive Education Program does

Positive Education Program (PEP) is a Cleveland-based nonprofit organization founded in 1971 that provides integrated mental health and special education services to children and young people ages 0-22 with developmental trauma, mental health issues, autism, and complex developmental disabilities. The organization operates five therapeutic day-treatment schools in northeast Ohio — PEP Chesnutt, PEP Hopewell, PEP Phoenix, PEP Prentiss Autism Center, and PEP Willow Creek — delivering special education alongside clinical mental health services in a single setting. PEP also runs community-based programs including PEP Connections (care coordination for Ohio's OhioRISE Medicaid program and intensive home-based treatment), PEP Early Childhood Plus (consultation for caregivers of children birth through age 6), and PEP Assist (consultation and fee-based training for educators).

The organization's clinical and technical foundation rests on proprietary trauma-informed methodologies: it is a Phase II NMT (Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics) certified site, holds CARF national accreditation, and has integrated Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills curricula across its middle and high school classrooms. Supporting technology is operational rather than novel: PowerSchool as a student information system, 1:1 Chromebook deployment with Google Chrome OS and Internet filtering, and internal tools such as the Whole Body Listener framework. The technology stack reflects a human-services delivery model, not a software platform.

PEP's revenue model is multi-stream and characteristic of a regional human-services nonprofit. Primary funding flows from Medicaid reimbursement as a Care Management Entity (CME) for Aetna's OhioRISE contract and from Intensive Home-Based Treatment (IHBT) billing. Foundation grants and philanthropy (notably a $1M anchor gift from the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation and the annual Rally for Kids fundraiser exceeding $150,000) provide capital and program support, while PEP Assist generates fee-for-service training revenue from school districts and child-serving organizations. Most family-facing services are provided at no charge, with referrals originating from school districts in consultation with parents.

Name

Positive Education Program

Legal name

Positive Education Program

Website

https://pepcleve.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Positive Education Program is a Cleveland-based nonprofit founded in 1971 that provides integrated mental health, special education, and autism services to children and young people ages 0-22 across five therapeutic schools and community-based programs in northeast Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education and Mental Health Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Emotional & Behavioral Disorders (EBD) / Therapeutic Day Schools (EDAKAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Behavioral & Social-Emotional Support (ABA, PBIS, Counseling) (EDAJAKAE), Behavioral Intervention & PBIS Supports (Tiered, Gen Ed) (EDAJAGAL)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Mental health services
• Autism support programs
• Therapeutic day schools
• Trauma-informed care

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medicaid Reimbursement: As a Care Management Entity (CME) for OhioRISE Medicaid program, PEP receives reimbursement for care coordination and intensive home-based treatment services for young people with behavioral health needs.
2. Foundation Grants and Philanthropy: PEP receives grants from foundations including Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation ($1M anchor gift for PEP Prentiss), government funding from Ohio Department of Children and Youth, and Cuyahoga County Youth Development Initiative. Annual Rally for Kids fundraiser exceeds $150,000.
3. PEP Assist Training Programs: Fee-for-service professional training programs for educators and child-serving organizations covering topics like classroom management, trauma-sensitive interventions, and students with disparate needs.
4. Special Education Services: Day treatment services providing both mental health and special education services for students ages 5-22 with significant behavioral and mental health challenges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Positive Education Program (PEP) is a Cleveland-based nonprofit that operates therapeutic day schools, home- and community-based mental health services, autism services, early childhood consultation, and educator training. Programs serve children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, developmental, and trauma-related needs, with referrals from families, school districts, and Medicaid managed care plans.

Product overview

Positive Education Program (PEP) operates as a non-profit mental health and special education organization offering multiple interconnected programs. The core offering includes five Therapeutic Schools (PEP Chesnutt, PEP Hopewell, PEP Phoenix, PEP Prentiss Autism Center, and PEP Willow Creek) providing day treatment with integrated special education and mental health services. Supporting programs include PEP Connections: OhioRISE for Medicaid care coordination, PEP Connections: Intensive Home-Based Treatment for in-home family therapy, PEP Early Childhood Plus for early childhood consultation services, and PEP Assist for professional consultation and training. These programs work together to serve children ages 0-22 challenged by trauma, mental health issues, and autism.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PEP Therapeutic Schools: Special education and mental health services for young people with significant behavioral and emotional challenges
• PEP Connections
• PEP Early Childhood Plus
• PEP Assist
• PEP Prentiss Autism Center
• PEP Chesnutt
• PEP Hopewell
• PEP Phoenix
• PEP Willow Creek

Products and services

• PEP Therapeutic Schools
• PEP Prentiss Autism Center
• PEP Connections: OhioRISE
• PEP Connections: Intensive Home-Based Treatment (IHBT)

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of students supported by PEP Assist either remained in their original setting or transitioned to a less restrictive environment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jones DaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1971Jones Day's Cleveland Office has been a partner to PEP since its founding in 1971. The firm helped PEP incorporate and is the only for-profit entity in the region that has always had one of its leaders serve on the board.
• Cleveland Kids' Book BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit that fosters a love of reading by distributing free books to children. PEP Phoenix students donate diverse children's books collected through their community service project to support literacy in the community.
• West Side Catholic CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for PEP's running program. Students complete the final mile of a 26.2 mile marathon journey as part of the West Side Catholic Center's Annual Pancake Run event.
• Ohio State Innovation FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped elder care curriculum and certificate program for PEP's vocational programming. Collaboration ensured the program reflects the needs and interests of PEP students, particularly those drawn to helping roles or caregiving environments.
• Starting PointminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding source for PEP's Special Needs Childcare Program in Cuyahoga County. PEP delivers child care consultation services as a provider of Starting Point's Special Needs Childcare Program.
• Cuyahoga Heights SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAllowed PEP to use its track, field and bleachers for a conditioning clinic in May as part of the running program. Support enables students to practice and prepare for culminating running events.
• Aetna (OhioRISE Plan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEP is contracted by Aetna as a Care Management Entity (CME) for OhioRISE Medicaid program. This role enables PEP to provide care coordination for young people with significant behavioral health issues in central Cuyahoga County.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP): National nonprofit providing home-based, therapeutic, and behavioral health services for at-risk youth, including Wraparound and IHBT-like services. Directly comparable to PEP Connections' Intensive Home-Based Treatment and care-coordination offerings.
• KVC Health Systems: National nonprofit operating residential, behavioral health, and educational programs for at-risk children and families. Comparable therapeutic/educational service model to PEP at larger scale and across multiple states.
• Sheppard Pratt: Large Maryland-based nonprofit behavioral health system operating schools, residential, and outpatient programs for children and adolescents with mental health needs. Comparable specialized education and mental-health integration model at broader scale.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: One of the largest U.S. nonprofits operating therapeutic day schools, residential, and community programs for children with autism, emotional/behavioral disorders, and intellectual disabilities. Broader geographic and programmatic footprint than PEP but directly comparable in clinical model.

Direct peers

• Bellefaire JCB: Cleveland-based nonprofit serving children and adolescents with behavioral health, autism, and foster-care needs, including residential, day treatment, and education programs. Directly comparable to PEP in mission, geography, and service mix.
• Melmark: Nonprofit provider of residential, day, and outpatient services for children and adults with autism, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and behavioral health needs. Closely comparable to PEP's autism-focused Prentiss program in clinical approach.
• Beech Brook: Northeast Ohio nonprofit providing mental health, behavioral health, and special education services to children and families. Closely comparable to PEP in therapeutic school, home-based, and intensive service offerings for at-risk youth.
• Applewood Centers: Cleveland-area nonprofit (under OhioGuidestone) providing mental health, counseling, and prevention services for children and adolescents. Overlaps with PEP's outpatient/community-support and early-childhood service lines.
• The Village Network: Ohio-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, substance use, and educational services including therapeutic residential and day programs for youth. Strong overlap with PEP's special-education and mental-health day-treatment model within the same state.

Regional players

• Chillicothe Children's Psychiatric Hospital / Ohio children's behavioral health providers: Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services-supported providers of children's behavioral health services. Comparable in mission and payor environment but operated under state/public funding rather than nonprofit service-delivery model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PEPCleveland
• Facebookfacebook.com/PEPCleveland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pepcleveland

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Positive Education Program