Western Youth Services (WYS)

What Western Youth Services (WYS) does

Western Youth Services (WYS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1972 that provides outpatient mental health and wellness services to children, youth, and families in Orange County, California. Operating under its trademarked One Door Any Door™ access model, WYS delivers a continuum of care including individual and family therapy, group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, and medication support, primarily to Medi-Cal-eligible clients under age 21 across five outpatient clinic locations and on-site programs at 23+ school sites in districts such as Anaheim Elementary and Santa Ana Unified. Its clinical work is grounded in trauma-informed methodology and ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) screening and intervention, with practitioners trained in evidence-based modalities including TF-CBT, PCIT, DBT, FFT, and EMDR, alongside an APA-accredited doctoral internship program that functions as a clinical workforce pipeline.

WYS's product portfolio extends beyond clinical services into training and digital education. The Behavioral Health Training Services (BHTS) unit sells behavioral health and crisis-response training to schools, agencies, and community organizations. The RESET Toolbox, co-developed with Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and the Orange County Department of Education and funded by OCHCA CARES Act, is a free online resource hub for Orange County residents. Super Resilient® Youth, launched in 2026, is a research-based mental wellness curriculum for middle-school students delivered via the Thinkific learning platform. Supporting products include Enhanced Care Management (ECM), a no-cost statewide Medi-Cal benefit, and the GuideStar Platinum-certified nonprofit fundraising infrastructure accepting donations through PayPal and Stripe.

WYS generates revenue through Medi-Cal outpatient mental health reimbursement, ECM care coordination billing, government grants (ACEs Aware, OCHCA, CARES Act), school district contracts for school-based services, and philanthropic donations processed via PayPal and Stripe. The organization employs approximately 250 clinical and operational staff across nine locations and is led by CEO Dr. Lorry Leigh Belhumeur, who has served for over 20 years. As a regional nonprofit with no disclosed revenue figures and a single-county geographic footprint, WYS is structurally dependent on California Medi-Cal policy, county-level funding decisions, and continued grant renewals, and its growth is therefore incremental and tied to public-sector reimbursement and contract cycles.

Name

Western Youth Services (WYS)

Legal name

Western Youth Services

Website

https://westernyouthservices.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Western Youth Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1972 that provides trauma-informed outpatient mental health care, school-based services, and training to Medi-Cal-eligible children, youth, and families across Orange County, California, operating five clinics and 23+ school sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Outpatient Mental Health Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Services (611)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

School-Based Mental & Behavioral Health Services (EDAJAIAB), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Outpatient mental health
• Youth behavioral health
• School-based counseling
• Clinical psychology training
• Trauma-informed care

Headquarters

HQ city

Laguna Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medi-Cal Reimbursement: Outpatient mental health services for Medi-Cal eligible clients under 21 years old, billed through standard Medi-Cal outpatient mental health reimbursement
2. Enhanced Care Management (ECM): No-cost statewide benefit for eligible Medi-Cal members providing enhanced care management with single care manager coordinating across multiple services
3. Grants and Donations: Funded through grants including ACEs Aware initiative, Orange County Health Care Agency funding, CARES Act funding, and philanthropic donations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Western Youth Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides outpatient mental health care to children and youth ages 2-21 across nine locations in Orange County, California. The organization delivers clinical therapy, school-based mental health services, community care coordination, and behavioral health training programs, including doctoral/practicum training and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) expertise. Services are offered at no cost to Medi-Cal eligible youth under 21.

Product overview

Western Youth Services (WYS) is a mental health services organization providing trauma-informed care for children, youth, and families in Orange County, California. The organization operates a multi-service model centered around its One Door Any Door™ access point, which connects clients to the full spectrum of WYS programs. Core services include Mental Health Clinics (outpatient services for Medi-Cal clients under 21 with evidence-based practices like PCIT, TF-CBT, DBT), School-Based Services (3-tiered on-campus mental health support), Community Care Coordination/Enhanced Care Management (ECM for Medi-Cal members), Behavioral Health Training Services (for schools and agencies), and ACEs Expertise (trauma and toxic stress screening/training). The RESET Toolbox is a free online resource hub launched during COVID-19. Super Resilient® Youth is a research-based curriculum for middle school students delivered via Thinkific. The organization also offers training programs including an APA-accredited Doctoral Internship and Practicum Training for graduate students. Services span prevention, early intervention, and intensive therapies with locations throughout Orange County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Outpatient Mental Health Clinics Clinic-based outpatient mental health treatment for children and youth ages 2-21, including individual, family, and group therapy delivered by licensed clinicians across nine Orange County locations.
• School-Based Mental Health Services Mental health clinicians embedded in partner schools to deliver therapy, crisis support, and prevention services directly to students on campus.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ years of service to the Orange County community
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with CHOC on RESET Toolbox development - pooling knowledge base, relationships and resources into one online mental health toolbox for Orange County residents. WYS also receives referrals from CHOC eating disorder clinic.
• Orange County Department of Education (OCDE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner on RESET Toolbox development, combining expertise with OCDE to provide comprehensive mental health resources for Orange County schools and communities.
• Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA)coreOthersOCHCA provides funding for RESET Toolbox through Behavioral Health Services and CARES Act, enabling all content to be available at no-cost for Orange County residents.
• California Surgeon General / California Department of Health Care ServicescoreOthersACEs Aware initiative partners providing grant funding to advance awareness and change the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Orange County, led by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris.
• Orange County Health Care AgencycoreOthersProvides beneficiary handbooks, grievance forms, rights information, and language assistance resources in multiple languages for Orange County healthcare consumers.
• OC LinksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInformation and referral line partnership providing telephone and online support for anyone seeking information or linkage to behavioral health services.
• 2-1-1 Orange CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with 2-1-1 OC comprehensive information and referral system for health and human services, accessible 24/7.
• Families and Communities Together (FaCT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of Family Resource Centers in Orange County's highest-risk communities providing family support services, education, and resources.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hathaway-Sycamores Child & Family Services: Long-standing Southern California nonprofit providing mental health, child welfare, and residential services to children and families. Highly comparable as a California-based youth-focused nonprofit mental health provider with school-linked and community-based programs.
• Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services: Southern California nonprofit providing outpatient mental health, suicide prevention, and school-based services for children and families. Directly comparable as a CA nonprofit offering youth outpatient mental health, school partnerships, and crisis intervention.
• Children's Health Council: Bay Area nonprofit providing mental health, ADHD, and learning disability services to children and adolescents. Comparable as a California nonprofit delivering evidence-based outpatient mental health and school consultation services to youth.
• Caminar: Northern California nonprofit providing behavioral health, substance use, and supportive housing services including youth and family programs. Comparable as a CA-based community mental health nonprofit serving Medi-Cal populations with school-linked services.
• Olive Crest: California-headquartered nonprofit serving at-risk children and families through mental health, foster care, and residential programs. Comparable as a youth-focused nonprofit providing trauma-informed mental health services and school-based supports across multiple CA counties.
• StarView Community Services: Southern California nonprofit providing outpatient mental health, school-based, and community-based services to children and families across multiple counties. Directly comparable as a CA youth mental health nonprofit with similar service lines and Medi-Cal billing model.

Broad incumbents

• Pacific Clinics: One of California's largest nonprofit behavioral health providers serving children, adolescents, and adults across multiple counties. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the same youth/community mental health nonprofit space with overlapping Medi-Cal and school-based programs.
• Children's Hospital Los Angeles (Behavioral Health): Major pediatric healthcare system providing outpatient and inpatient behavioral health services for children and adolescents in Southern California. Comparable as a regional pediatric mental health referral source and CHOC's parallel LA counterpart.

Emerging players

• Hazel Health: For-profit telehealth provider delivering K–12 school-based mental and physical health services. Comparable as a competitor in the school-based youth mental health space, particularly against WYS's school-based service line, though for-profit and tech-led rather than nonprofit.
• Aspen Education Group: National provider of therapeutic and residential treatment programs for at-risk youth. Adjacent peer in the youth behavioral health space, more focused on residential/intensive settings but overlapping in the trauma-informed youth services category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WesternYouthOC

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Western Youth Services (WYS)