COPES
COPES, Inc. is a Louisville, Kentucky-based non-profit that develops and distributes the evidence-based Creating Lasting Family Connections (CLFC) Curriculum Series — substance abuse prevention, family strengthening, reentry, marriage, and trauma programs for youth, adults, couples, fathers, and families across all 50 U.S. states and several countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersLouisville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What COPES does
COPES, Inc. (Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc.) is a 501(c)-style non-profit founded in 1981 and headquartered at 4213 Churchill Road, Louisville, Kentucky. It develops and distributes the Creating Lasting Family Connections® (CLFC) Curriculum Series, a suite of evidence-based, 40-hour family-strengthening programs targeting substance abuse prevention, HIV/Hepatitis/STD prevention, prison reentry and recidivism reduction, marriage enhancement, and — as of 2023 — stress and trauma. The portfolio includes the Original CLFC Program, the CLFC Fatherhood Program: Family Reintegration, the CLFC Marriage Enhancement Program, multiple adult and youth modules (Getting Real, Raising Resilient Youth, Developing Positive Parental Influences, Developing a Positive Response, Developing Independence and Responsibility, ABC 3(D) HIV/STD prevention), and the CLFC: OUST curriculum. The underlying curriculum is peer-reviewed and listed on SAMHSA's NREPP, the National Institute of Justice Crime Solutions registry, the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare, and Health Canada's Compendium of Best Practices; the organization has received four CSAP/NPN Exemplary Program Awards (1995, 1999, 2000, 2010).
COPES derives revenue from three primary streams: (1) one-time curriculum sales (e.g., $299.99 for a CLFC: OUST Curriculum Set including trainer manual, 20 participant notebooks, and digital materials), (2) on-site implementation training services ($6,500 per 3-day session for up to 18 participants plus travel and per diem for two RFN Master Trainers), and (3) Master Trainer certification plus donations. Curriculum materials and training are distributed primarily through Resilient Futures Network (RFN), an exclusive channel formalized in 2023 with Teresa Boyd Strader serving as National Training Director. State-level adoption is driven by partnerships with government agencies such as OhioMHAS (statewide Ohio rollout via UMADAOP) and the Kentucky Department of Corrections, alongside channel partners including KentuckianaWorks and community organizations. Customer mix spans state and county government agencies (corrections, mental health, health, workforce), nonprofit implementing organizations (UMADAOP's 11-agency federation, Dallas Challenge), and academic partners (Spalding University, Ohio University Voinovich School). Leadership is founder-led: Ted N. Strader has served as Executive Director since 1981 and is the lead developer of the CLFC series; the organization currently operates with 11-50 employees.
COPES firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- COPES
- Legal name
- Council on Prevention and Education: Substances, Inc.
- Website
- https://copes.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- COPES, Inc. is a Louisville, Kentucky-based non-profit that develops and distributes the evidence-based Creating Lasting Family Connections (CLFC) Curriculum Series — substance abuse prevention, family strengthening, reentry, marriage, and trauma programs for youth, adults, couples, fathers, and families across all 50 U.S. states and several countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where COPES is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Louisville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
COPES business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Curriculum Sales: Sale of CLFC curriculum materials including trainer manuals, participant notebooks, and digital program materials to agencies and organizations implementing the programs.
- Implementation Training Services: On-site implementation training for organizations to become certified CLFC implementation trainers. Training is provided in 3-day segments with costs per training session plus travel expenses.
- Master Trainer Certification: Advanced certification training for individuals to become CLFC Master Trainers who can conduct implementation trainings independently.
- Donations: COPES accepts donations to support their mission of substance abuse prevention and family strengthening programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | CLFC: OUST Curriculum Set |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | CLFC: OUST Individual Components |
| Other | Multi-year contract | CLFC: OUST On-site Implementation Training |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
COPES product offering
Product offeringCore offering
COPES develops, sells, and supports the Creating Lasting Family Connections (CLFC) Curriculum Series — a portfolio of evidence-based family strengthening and substance abuse prevention curricula sold to government agencies, non-profits, and educational institutions. The core deliverables are printed and digital curriculum materials (trainer manuals, participant notebooks, video series) and accompanying implementation and Master Trainer certification training services delivered on-site by certified Master Trainers.
Product overview
COPES, Inc. offers the Creating Lasting Family Connections (CLFC) Curriculum Series, a comprehensive evidence-based prevention education platform consisting of multiple interconnected programs and modules. The core portfolio includes the Original CLFC Program (40-hour family strengthening curriculum for youth and parents), the CLFC Fatherhood Program: Family Reintegration (for parents and caregivers experiencing family separation), the CLFC Marriage Enhancement Program (for couples), and the new CLFC: Overcoming and Understanding Stress and Trauma Program (OUST). These programs share a common theoretical foundation (the Connect-Immunity model) and are supplemented by targeted modules including Getting Real (communications), Raising Resilient Youth (parenting), Developing Positive Parental Influences (substance abuse awareness), ABC 3(D) HIV/Hepatitis Prevention, and youth-focused modules on developing independence and positive responses. The organization also provides certification training, case management services (Joint Intervention Meetings), and educational video products. All programs are listed on SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) and are used in all 50 states and several other countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Creating Lasting Family Connections (CLFC) Curriculum Series The umbrella Creating Lasting Family Connections (CLFC) Curriculum Series — a comprehensive, scientifically proven evidence-based portfolio of personal and family strengthening curricula for youth, adults, couples, fathers, and families, covering substance abuse prevention, HIV prevention, communication, marriage enhancement, and stress/trauma. Sold to government agencies, non-profits, and educational institutions that implement the curricula with their target populations.
- Original CLFC Program A comprehensive, scientifically proven 40-hour personal and family strengthening program for youth ages 9-17 and their parents or guardians. Builds skills in self-awareness, emotional expression, interpersonal communication, self-disclosure, social skills, refusal skills, and family management. Sold as a curriculum package including trainer manuals, participant notebooks, and supporting materials to agencies implementing youth and family programs.
- CLFC Fatherhood Program: Family Reintegration (CLFCFP) An award-winning, NREPP-listed personal and family strengthening curriculum for fathers or mothers in gender-specific groups. Addresses family separation, substance abuse recovery, incarceration reentry, military service, and violence prevention. Documented to reduce prison recidivism by up to 60%. Sold to corrections departments, reentry programs, and community organizations serving separated or returning parents.
- CLFC Marriage Enhancement Program (CLFCMEP) An award-winning, NREPP-listed comprehensive curriculum designed for married or committed couples experiencing physical or emotional separation due to substance abuse treatment, incarceration, military deployment, or other circumstances. Increases nine essential relationship skills including communication, conflict resolution, and emotional awareness. Sold to agencies serving couples in separation or recovery.
- CLFC: Overcoming and Understanding Stress and Trauma (CLFC: OUST) A new evidence-based curriculum addressing stress and trauma for general audiences including late junior high and high school aged students and both young and middle-aged adults. Consists of two modules with six 2-hour sessions each (12 sessions total). Module 1 explores human growth and development, stress and trauma, self-regulation, and adverse childhood and community experiences. Module 2 focuses on personal skill building and reflection activities. Sold as a curriculum set ($299.99) including 1 Trainer Manual, 20 Participant Notebooks, and digital program materials.
- ABC 3(D) Approach to HIV, Hepatitis and Other STDs Prevention Module A 2-3 session (1.5-2 hours each) training module examining primary modes of HIV, hepatitis, and other STD transmission along with effective prevention measures, including voluntary HIV testing encouragement. Sells as a standalone module within the CLFC Adult Modules series. Documented to achieve a 77% average voluntary HIV testing rate among participants across a 5-year project.
- Raising Resilient Youth (RRY) Module A 5-session (1.5-2 hours each) module providing parents, teachers, and other adults with skills for developing resilient youth who can withstand life challenges and social pressures. Covers communication skills, expectation setting, and non-physical consequences. Sold as a standalone adult module within the CLFC curriculum.
- Getting Real (GR) Communications Module A 5-session (1.5-2 hours each) highly interactive communications training for both youth and adults. Teaches participants to examine responses to verbal and non-verbal behavior, enhance communication skills, and develop intimate versus defensive response patterns. Sold as a standalone module available in both Adult and Youth CLFC module tracks.
- Developing Positive Parental Influences (DPPI) Module A 6-session (1.5-2 hours each) interactive module helping parents and caring adults influence youth positively. Covers facts and feelings about substance use, effective prevention approaches, intervention procedures, and treatment options. Over 20,000 people have been trained in this module by COPES facilitators. Sold as a standalone adult module within the CLFC curriculum.
- Developing a Positive Response (DPR) Module A 5-session (1-1.5 hours each) training designed for youth ages 9-17 to examine their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and skills across alcohol and drug issues. Helps youth develop refusal skills and awareness of healthy independence. Sold as a standalone youth module within the CLFC curriculum.
- Developing Independence and Responsibility (DIR) Module A 6-session (1-1.5 hours each) module encouraging youth to expand their awareness of personal power and responsibility to themselves, families, and the greater community. Designed for youth whose parents are engaged in concurrent adult modules. Sold as a standalone youth module within the CLFC curriculum.
- CLFC Digital Video Series DVD-based training video series including titles such as 'It Takes Two To Know You' (17 min), 'Getting Real: Adult Role Play' (65 min), 'The Intoxication Curve' (33 min), 'High, Drunk or State of Mind?' (33 min), 'Problem Drinking or Alcoholism?' (37 min), and customer testimonials. Sold as a packaged video product to supplement CLFC curriculum delivery.
- Joint Intervention Meeting (JIM) Case Management Services A specialized case management approach for reentry and recovery populations that involves proactive partner agency collaboration, providing support and accountability partners for participants in early recovery or reentry periods. Delivered as a service through partnerships with corrections agencies and recovery providers.
- CLFC Certification Training Professional training and certification programs for individuals and agencies to implement the CLFC Curriculum Series. Includes Implementation Training delivered in 3-9 day programs ($6,500 per on-site session for up to 18 participants plus travel and per diem for two RFN Master Trainers) and Master Trainer Training for sustained local capacity building. Provided on-site by certified Master Trainers via the Resilient Futures Network.
Quantifiable outcome
- 60% reduction in prison recidivism
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use COPES
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
COPES technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
COPES partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Resilient Futures Network (RFN)coreRFN is the exclusive distributor for CLFC materials and implementation training. Teresa Boyd Strader serves as National Training Director. RFN offers Master Trainer certification and sales representative opportunities for the CLFC: OUST program.
- Khnemu FoundationmajorPartnership with Khnemu Foundation founded by Fred B. Ward for development of CLFC: OUST stress and trauma curriculum. Fred B. Ward collaborated with Ted and Teresa Strader to create the new program.
- OhioMHAS (Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services)coreOhioMHAS awarded CLFC implementation grant to UMADAOP for statewide rollout of CLFC Curriculum Series as part of Children of Incarcerated Parents (COIP) project. Officials from OhioMHAS initiated the statewide roll-out starting end of 2015.
- UMADAOP (Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program)coreFederation of 11 agencies across Ohio awarded implementation grant by OhioMHAS to fulfill statewide CLFC rollout goals. Led by Dennis A. Baker of Mansfield UMADAOP.
- Ohio University (Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs)majorUniversity of Ohio evaluators from Voinovich School collaborating with PIRE to conduct rigorous multi-layered research on COIP project evaluation.
- Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE)majorPIRE collaborating with Ohio University evaluators for multi-layered research and evaluation of statewide Ohio CLFC implementation.
- SheRay'sminorOrganization represented on Ohio statewide coordinating committee for CLFC rollout.
- Resilient Futures Network (RFN)corePartnership for CLFC National Training System and Master Trainer Training in Ohio statewide coordinating committee.
- Spalding UniversitycorePartnership with Spalding University in Louisville for BSW and MSW student practicum placements. Students participate in CLFC program as targeted population and assist with grant writing, research/evaluation, and case management. Students form sustainability design for recruiting target populations ('pay it forward' concept).
- Center for Women and FamiliesmajorProject Advisory Group member for Connect-Immunity II Project serving Black/African American women in Louisville Metro community.
- PAL CoalitionminorProject Advisory Group member for Connect-Immunity II Project.
- Kentucky Department of CorrectionscoreContinuing six-year partnership for accessing reentry population for CLFC program implementation. Funding source for Jefferson County Reentry Fatherhood Initiative.
- Kentucky Department of Veteran AffairsminorProject Advisory Group member for Connect-Immunity II Project.
- Louisville Metro Health DepartmentmajorProject Advisory Group member for Connect-Immunity II Project addressing HIV prevention services.
- Network Center for Community ChangeminorProject Advisory Group member for Connect-Immunity II Project.
- Volunteers of AmericaminorProject Advisory Group member for Connect-Immunity II Project.
- University of Louisville WINGS ClinicminorProject Advisory Group member for Connect-Immunity II Project providing clinical services.
- KentuckianaWorkscoreStrategic partnership for Right Turn project providing youth version of evidence-based Original CLFC program to at-risk youth ages 16-21 in Louisville, KY. KentuckianaWorks operates the Kentucky Youth Career Center.
- Metro Community and Revitalization ServicesmajorStrategic partnership for linking participating fathers to supportive community services in Jefferson County Reentry Fatherhood Initiative.
- Department of Community Based ServicesmajorStrategic partnership for linking reentry fathers to supportive community services including child support, transportation, housing, and other needs.
- Jefferson County Attorney's OfficeminorCommunity agency partnership for JCRFI linking fathers to additional supportive services.
- Seven Counties ServicesminorCommunity agency partnership for JCRFI providing mental health and behavioral services.
- Goodwill IndustriesmajorStrategic partnership for linking fathers to economic stability services including job readiness and job placement.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
COPES competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA): National membership organization for community drug prevention coalitions. Broader in scope than COPES but operates in the same substance abuse prevention space and is a potential federal grant channel for evidence-based programs.
- Partnership to End Addiction: Large national nonprofit focused on substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery support. Operates much more broadly than COPES, but overlaps in substance abuse prevention mission and family education content.
- National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD): National advocacy and education organization addressing alcoholism and drug dependence. Much broader mission and older heritage than COPES, but overlapping public education and family support focus areas.
Direct peers
- Celebrating Families!: Curriculum designed for families affected by substance abuse, incarceration, and recovery — overlapping closely with COPES's Fatherhood Program and reentry segments. Same target populations and family-strengthening approach.
- Strengthening Families Program: Iowa State University evidence-based family strengthening program for parents and youth ages 10-14, also NREPP-listed. Closely comparable in target population, evidence-base approach, and group-based delivery model.
- PRIDE (Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education): Drug prevention education organization providing parent and youth curricula. Comparable historical footprint in drug prevention education and family-focused drug prevention messaging, though smaller current scale.
- Botvin LifeSkills Training: Evidence-based substance abuse prevention curriculum for youth, also listed on NREPP and widely adopted in schools. Directly comparable to COPES in target market (youth/adolescents), product category (prevention curriculum), and evidence-based positioning.
- Too Good for Drugs: Mend Curriculum's evidence-based substance abuse prevention program for K-12 youth. Comparable in prevention focus, evidence-based positioning, and curriculum-based delivery to youth settings.
- Nurturing Parent Program: Family Development Resources' evidence-based parenting and family skills curriculum for at-risk families. Comparable in family strengthening focus, parent training methodology, and serving similar high-need populations.
Emerging players
- Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT): Cognitive-behavioral program used in corrections and reentry settings to reduce recidivism. Overlaps with COPES's Fatherhood Program in corrections/reentry use case, but addresses the individual rather than the family unit.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
COPES social profiles
Digital presenceCOPES compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
COPES financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
COPES leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
COPES funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
COPES M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about COPES
What does COPES do?
COPES develops, sells, and supports the Creating Lasting Family Connections (CLFC) Curriculum Series — a portfolio of evidence-based family strengthening and substance abuse prevention curricula sold to government agencies, non-profits, and educational institutions. The core deliverables are printed and digital curriculum materials (trainer manuals, participant notebooks, video series) and accompanying implementation and Master Trainer certification training services delivered on-site by certified Master Trainers.
Is COPES a public or private company?
COPES is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was COPES founded?
COPES was founded in 1981. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is COPES based?
COPES is headquartered in Louisville, United States, in the North America region.
How does COPES make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Curriculum Sales are the primary driver. The others are implementation Training Services, master Trainer Certification and donations.
Who are COPES's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), Partnership to End Addiction and National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). Direct peers are Celebrating Families!, Strengthening Families Program, PRIDE (Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education), Botvin LifeSkills Training, Too Good for Drugs and Nurturing Parent Program. Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) is listed as an emerging player.
Does COPES have an API?
No public API is recorded for COPES.