Human Service Agency

What Human Service Agency does

Human Service Agency is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) behavioral health and human services organization founded in 1962 (originally as Lake Region Mental Health Center) and headquartered in Watertown, South Dakota. The agency operates as both a Community Support Provider and Community Behavioral Health Center, delivering an integrated portfolio of services through six core programs: New Horizons (vocational training, residential, and employment support for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities), Behavioral Health (outpatient therapy, psychiatric services, DBT/MRT/ART), Addictions (chemical dependency, gambling, DUI classes, intensive outpatient), Serenity Hills (medically monitored detox, dual-diagnosis halfway house, Safe Room crisis stabilization), C.A.R.E. (case management for severe and persistent mental illness), and NEPRC (prevention resource center addressing alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and violence). It also runs Employment Services placing individuals with disabilities at local employers and hosts an on-site Genoa Healthcare pharmacy. Service delivery is multi-modal — in-clinic, school-based, home-based, employment-site, and via Zoom telehealth — across Watertown, Sisseton, and Milbank. The organization serves over 2,700 individuals annually and employs approximately 150–200 staff.

The business model blends fee-for-service and grant-funded revenue. The agency accepts most private insurances and Medicaid, operates a sliding-scale fee schedule for uninsured clients (with services delivered regardless of ability to pay), and actively pursues state funding, including from the SD Department of Social Services Division of Behavioral Health, which underwrites NEPRC. Capital projects and large equipment purchases are funded separately through the HSA Foundation (a 501(c)(3) affiliate established in 1984) via charitable donations and community philanthropy, including major gifts such as the 2025 DeWitt donation for the 1234 East Kemp property. The technology stack is conventional — standard healthcare case management and electronic health records systems — with no disclosed proprietary platform, API, or AI tooling; differentiation rests on regulatory accreditation (CQL), 60+ years of community presence, and integrated multi-disciplinary care delivery.

Strategically, HSA has executed a sustained campus consolidation and expansion cycle since 2021, breaking ground on the ARF/Serenity Hills/CARE building, opening an Appropriate Regional Facility for crisis stabilization in 2023, purchasing a 4-plex for New Horizons in 2024, and adding the East Kemp property in 2025 — while simultaneously divesting non-core properties (1203 1st Ave NE in 2024; 1029 Gilbert in 2023). Geographic reach was extended in 2016 when New Horizons launched a Conflict Free Case Management program serving Brookings, Madison, and Aberdeen. Leadership transitioned in 2019 with Kari Johnston replacing Dr. Charles Sherman (27-year tenure), and the organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors with no parent company, private equity, or institutional investor involvement.

Name

Human Service Agency

Legal name

Human Service Agency

Website

https://humanserviceagency.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Human Service Agency is a Watertown, South Dakota-based nonprofit behavioral health and human services organization delivering mental health, addiction, developmental disability, and prevention services to over 2,700 individuals annually across Watertown, Sisseton, and Milbank.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health & Substance Use Public Health Programs (BPAIAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Benefits Counseling & Financial Literacy for Transition-Age Youth (EDAKANAJ)

Keywords

• Community behavioral health
• Mental health services
• Substance abuse treatment
• Developmental disability services
• Community support provider

Headquarters

HQ city

Watertown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance and Medicaid Payments: The agency accepts most insurances and Medicaid for services rendered
2. Government Funding: Works to secure State funding and funding from other sources for client services
3. Sliding Scale Fees: Offers sliding scale fee schedule for individuals without insurance or who do not qualify for state funding. The agency serves all individuals regardless of their ability to pay.
4. Donations and Foundation: HSA Foundation provides financial support for capital improvements and large equipment purchases. Accepts charitable donations as a 501(c)(3) organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Human Service Agency delivers community behavioral health, addiction, and developmental disability services through outpatient clinics, residential programs, school- and home-based delivery, and supported employment across Watertown, Sisseton, and Milbank, South Dakota. Core offerings include outpatient mental health counseling, psychiatric evaluation and medication management, substance use treatment (including Serenity Hills halfway house and detox), developmental disability services (including New Horizons), prevention programming, and supported employment and vocational training through programs such as C.A.R.E. and NEPRC. Revenue is generated from a mix of insurance/Medicaid reimbursements, state and county/court funding, federal grants, sliding-scale client fees, and charitable donations.

Product overview

Human Service Agency is a Community Support Provider and Community Behavioral Health Center offering a multi-program service portfolio. The organization operates through eight distinct programs: New Horizons (vocational training and residential services for individuals with disabilities), Behavioral Health/Mental Health Services (outpatient therapy, psychiatric services, and evidence-based therapies like MRT, ART, and DBT), Addiction Services (chemical dependency and gambling treatment), Serenity Hills (residential detox and halfway house facility), C.A.R.E. (comprehensive support for severe mental illness), NEPRC (prevention resource center for youth), Employment Services (job placement for people with disabilities), and an on-site Genoa Pharmacy partnership. The organization serves over 2,700 individuals annually across Watertown, Sisseton, and Milbank, South Dakota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• New Horizons: Services for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, including vocational training, day program, employment connections, residential services, and nursing support
• Serenity Hills
• C.A.R.E.
• NEPRC

Products and services

• Outpatient Behavioral Health / Mental Health Services Outpatient mental health counseling, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management for individuals and families experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidality, and other mental health concerns; delivered in offices, schools, homes, and via HIPAA-compliant telehealth.
• Addiction Services Comprehensive substance use treatment including outpatient addiction counseling, court-approved DUI assessments, and residential components (Serenity Hills detox/halfway house), serving individuals with alcohol, opioid, and other substance use disorders.
• Serenity Hills Residential substance use program offering medically supported detox and a halfway house for adults transitioning out of acute addiction, located within Human Service Agency's service region in South Dakota.
• New Horizons Developmental disability services program providing day services, residential support, vocational training, and community-based supports for individuals with developmental disabilities.
• C.A.R.E. Community-based supported employment and vocational rehabilitation services that place individuals with mental health, addiction, or developmental disability backgrounds into competitive employment, with on-the-job coaching and retention support.
• Northeastern Prevention Resource Center (NEPRC) Regional prevention programming covering drug, alcohol, suicide, and youth-focused prevention education delivered in schools and the wider community across northeastern South Dakota.
• Genoa Pharmacy (on-site partner pharmacy) On-site partner pharmacy that provides convenient prescription fills and medication management support to consumers served by Human Service Agency's behavioral health programs.
• 24/7 Crisis Line 24-hour telephone crisis response line staffed by Human Service Agency for individuals in mental health or substance-related crisis within the agency's service region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 2700 individuals annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Genoa HealthcarecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2007Genoa Healthcare operates an on-site pharmacy at the Watertown location (123 19th St NE), providing specialized pharmacy services for behavioral health, substance use disorder, and chronic health conditions. They offer pre-filled medication containers, mail delivery, and vaccination services.
• United WaycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUnited Way partnership supporting community health and human services initiatives
• Prairie Lakes Healthcare SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for healthcare coordination and virtual event hosting, including assistance with the 6th annual Remembrance Ceremony for suicide awareness
• Dakota at Home (Division of Developmental Disabilities)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState referral partner for New Horizons developmental disability services intake process
• Local Vocational Rehabilitation OfficecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorks closely with local Vocational Rehabilitation office to help people find jobs in the community through Community Services
• Local EmployerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with area businesses for job placement of individuals with disabilities. Employment partners include Holiday Inn, Dakota Tube, Dempsey's, County Fair, and Metrix. Provides tax incentives information and job development support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves22 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Riverside Community Care: Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing mental health, substance use, developmental disability, and community support services across the full continuum. Highly comparable integrated nonprofit behavioral health and human services model to HSA.
• BrightSpring Health Services: Diversified provider of home and community-based health services including behavioral health, IDD, and pharmacy services. Compares to HSA across its multi-program service portfolio, though at much larger scale and with public-equity backing.
• The MENTOR Network (Sevita): Large national provider of home- and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including residential group homes, day programs, and employment services — directly comparable to New Horizons' service lines.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit delivering services for individuals with disabilities including vocational rehabilitation, residential, and employment supports. Directly comparable to HSA's New Horizons program for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
• Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota: Regional faith-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, counseling, and human services across South Dakota with similar mission, payer mix, and community-based delivery model as HSA. Operates in overlapping South Dakota geography.
• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit offering integrated behavioral health, addiction, IDD, housing, and community services across multiple states. Highly comparable multi-program service portfolio and funding model (Medicaid, grants, donations) to HSA's behavioral health, IDD, and prevention programs.

Regional players

• AspenPointe (Diversus Health): Community mental health and behavioral health provider serving Colorado communities with residential, outpatient, and crisis services. Comparable service mix to HSA's Behavioral Health, Addiction, and Serenity Hills programs but in a different regional market.
• LifeSkills (Kentucky): Regional nonprofit providing mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services across Kentucky with similar multi-program portfolio and payer mix. Comparable as a mid-sized regional community behavioral health center to HSA.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: Large national federation of Catholic Charities agencies providing behavioral health, family services, disability services, and community support. Overlaps with HSA's mission and 501(c)(3) nonprofit model but at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth.

Others

• National Council for Mental Wellbeing: Membership and advocacy organization representing community behavioral health organizations including community mental health centers. Comparable as an ecosystem peer reflecting HSA's community behavioral health center designation and state advocacy positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HumanServiceAgency
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/humanserviceagency

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Human Service Agency