Families United Network

What Families United Network does

Families United Network (FUN) is a Pennsylvania-licensed 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded on July 1, 1996 that operates a continuum of child welfare and family services, including foster care, adoption (foster care adoption and private adoption), pregnancy support, and peer-based behavioral health support. The organization is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and supports more than 500 children statewide, with services delivered through seven staffed offices across Pennsylvania: Muncy, Harrisburg, Scranton, Pittsburgh, Kingston, Mount Joy, and Erie.

FUN's service model is trauma-informed, anchored by the Creating PRESENCE organizational certification (Dr. Sandra Bloom framework) and a diversified offering that includes dedicated supports for older youth, sibling groups, and children with special needs. In November 2025, FUN launched Peer Help United Network (PHUN), Pennsylvania's first family and peer-run behavioral health organization, operating from a dedicated facility in Kingston, PA to serve Luzerne and Wyoming Counties. FUN has also listed a Drug and Alcohol Support and Recovery Services line on its public website, indicating continued vertical diversification.

FUN's revenue model is multi-stream and characteristic of a private child welfare nonprofit: (1) per-diem and program reimbursements from Pennsylvania counties and the state Department of Human Services for foster care services, routed through county Children and Youth agencies and SWAN (Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network); (2) charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations; and (3) restricted and unrestricted grants from regional foundations such as the Moses Taylor Foundation, AllOne Foundation & Charities, Enterprise Mobility Foundation, Abigail L. Longenecker Memorial Foundation, and Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Mental Health and Developmental Services. Adoption and peer support services are largely provided at no direct cost to families, with pregnancy support services delivered in partnership with Catholic Charities and Lourdeshouse Maternity Home.

Name

Families United Network

Legal name

Families United Network

Website

https://families4kids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Families United Network is a Pennsylvania-licensed 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1996, that provides foster care, adoption, pregnancy support, and peer-based behavioral health services through seven offices statewide, serving more than 500 children across Pennsylvania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foster Care and Adoption Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF), Family Engagement & Caregiver Support Programs (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAK)

Keywords

• Foster care services
• Adoption services
• Peer support services
• Pregnancy support services
• Child welfare nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Muncy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Reimbursements for Foster Care Services: The organization receives reimbursements from state and local government agencies for foster care services provided. Foster parent payments are made through county/state child welfare systems.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Donations support educational supplies, clothing, hygiene products, beds, special events, extracurricular activities, and scholarships for children in care.
3. Grant Funding: FUN receives grant funding from foundations and government entities including the Abigail L. Longenecker Memorial Foundation, Enterprise Mobility Foundation ($3,000 grant), Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Mental Health and Developmental Services, The Moses Taylor Foundation, and AllOne Foundation & Charities for specific program initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Families United Network is a Pennsylvania 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides foster care, adoption, peer support, pregnancy support, and drug and alcohol recovery services to children and families through seven community-based offices statewide. Services are delivered by licensed social workers, case managers, and peer support specialists under contract with Pennsylvania county children and youth agencies and the Department of Human Services, with funding from government reimbursements, donations, and foundation grants.

Product overview

Families United Network offers a unified suite of social services focused on child welfare, consisting of Foster Care Services, Adoption Services (including Foster Care Adoption and Private Adoption Services), Peer Support, and Pregnancy Support Services. The organization operates across multiple Pennsylvania locations (Erie, Harrisburg, Kingston, Mount Joy, Muncy, Pittsburgh, Scranton) and recently launched Peer Help United Network (PHUN) as a dedicated behavioral health subsidiary. All services prioritize trauma-informed care, reunification or permanency outcomes, and supporting children and families through community-based assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Peer Help United Network (PHUN): Pennsylvania's first family and peer-run organization dedicated to providing accessible behavioral health services, leveraging shared life experiences to foster a supportive network for families and youth in Luzerne and Wyoming Counties.

Products and services

• Foster Care Services Temporary care services for children who cannot safely remain with their biological families, providing safe, supportive, and loving environments while working toward reunification or other permanency outcomes. Funded through Pennsylvania county and state child welfare reimbursements.
• Adoption Services Comprehensive adoption services including foster care adoption and private adoption services, helping unite families through the adoption process with ongoing pre- and post-adoption support and SWAN-affiliated permanency services.
• Peer Support Services Peer support services connecting families with mentors who have lived experiences, providing guidance and empowerment for families in Luzerne and Wyoming Counties to help youth flourish at home, school, and community settings.
• Pregnancy Support Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Supports over 500 children statewide through foster care and adoption services
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services (PCCYFS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Families United Network CEO Ron Simon was elected to serve on the PCCYFS Board of Directors. PCCYFS represents private agencies employing more than 12,000 professionals statewide delivering foster care, adoption, residential treatment, behavioral health, education, counseling, and independent living services. This appointment strengthens the connection between FUN and the broader community of providers.
• Catholic Charities of HarrisburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Partnership to support mothers at the Lourdeshouse Maternity Home. FUN is collecting essential items to transform a room into a welcoming haven for two women and their babies simultaneously. This community project supports pregnant women facing overwhelming challenges.
• Luzerne-Wyoming Counties Mental Health and Developmental ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2025Key community partner that helped establish Peer Help United Network (PHUN). Provided grant funding and administrative support for Pennsylvania's first family and peer-run behavioral health organization serving Luzerne and Wyoming Counties.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bethany Christian Services: Largest US nonprofit foster care and adoption provider with a comparable continuum of foster care, adoption, pregnancy, and refugee services; FUN competes for similar Pennsylvania families at a much smaller regional scale.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, foster care, and residential services; comparable as a multi-service child welfare organization with significantly broader scale and geographic footprint.

Direct peers

• KidsPeace: Pennsylvania-headquartered nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, residential treatment, and behavioral health services to children and families statewide; directly comparable in geography, mission, and service mix.
• Pressley Ridge: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit operating foster care, adoption, residential, and community-based programs across Pennsylvania and other states; closest geographic peer with overlapping continuum-of-care model.
• The Bair Foundation: Faith-affiliated nonprofit offering foster care, adoption, and family preservation services across multiple US states; directly comparable service model focused on child welfare and family strengthening.
• Spaulding for Children: Specialty adoption and foster care nonprofit with strong focus on older youth, sibling groups, and children with special needs; closely comparable to FUN's stated differentiation in serving hard-to-place children in Pennsylvania and adjacent markets.
• Children's Home Society of Pennsylvania: PA nonprofit delivering foster care, adoption, and family support services across multiple Pennsylvania counties; closely comparable mid-size regional child welfare provider.

Emerging players

• Catholic Charities of Harrisburg: Regional Catholic-affiliated nonprofit that FUN explicitly partners with on pregnancy/maternity support; comparable in family services and direct referral source/competitor for pregnancy support clients in Central PA.

Others

• Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN): Pennsylvania's designated network of adoption service providers through which FUN delivers SWAN-aligned adoption services; not a direct competitor but the institutional channel that FUN operates within for adoption placements.
• National Foster Care & Adoption Directory providers (e.g., AdoptUSKids): National child welfare infrastructure platforms and clearinghouses that funnel prospective foster/adoptive families to competing agencies; functions as a competitive channel rather than a service peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/families4kids
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/families-united-network-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Families United Network