Children's Healing Center

What Children's Healing Center does

Children's Healing Center is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates year-round recreation facilities designed for children ages 3–18 with weakened immune systems and their families. Founded in 2015 in Grand Rapids by Amanda Winn (now Barbour) following her own experience with stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma, the Center provides a hospital-grade clean environment featuring HEPA-equivalent air filtration, positive pressurization, filtered water, easy-to-sanitize vinyl surfaces, and mandatory pre-entry health screening. Programming is organized around four core zones — exploratory play, active fitness, a tech zone, and an art/learning room — and is delivered through a trauma-informed, research-based approach supplemented by whole-family activities and the Vita Collective program for adolescents and young adults (AYA).

The underlying service technology is the physical facility itself rather than software: the combination of air handling, surface materials, screening protocols, and trained staff creates a germ-controlled indoor environment that the organization describes as the first of its kind in the United States. Membership requires a referral from a medical, social work, or child life professional, and the organization maintains deep referral partnerships with regional hospital systems including Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, Spectrum Health, Mercy Health, Metro Health–University of Michigan Health, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, and the state-run Children's Special Health Care Services program.

The business model combines recurring family membership fees with donations, corporate sponsorships, "Sponsor a Family" programs, and periodic capital campaigns (a $1.8M founding campaign in 2015 and an $8.5M expansion campaign completed in October 2024). Go-to-market is community-led and referral-driven: outreach flows through healthcare providers, member storytelling on social media and the Storybook Blog, email newsletters, community events, and a network of in-kind service partners and university volunteer programs (Calvin, GVSU, MSU, Cornerstone, Aquinas, WMU). As of 2024, the organization operates two facilities — the expanded West Michigan Center in Grand Rapids and the Southeast Michigan Center in Ypsilanti Township — with both sites open limited weekly hours to accommodate cleaning and screening cycles.

Name

Children's Healing Center

Legal name

Children's Healing Center of West Michigan

Website

https://childrenshealing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Children's Healing Center is a Michigan 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating year-round recreation facilities for immunocompromised children ages 3–18 and their families, using hospital-grade air filtration, positive pressurization, and health screening to deliver trauma-informed programming across two sites in Grand Rapids and Ypsilanti Township.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Recreation and Therapeutic Family Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Medical Complexity & Medically Fragile Childcare (G-tube, trach, seizure care) (HSAAAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mental Health & Emotional/Trauma-Informed Childcare (anxiety, PTSD) (HSAAAIAI)

Keywords

• Pediatric recreation services
• Immunocompromised child care
• Clean environment play spaces
• Family membership programs
• Trauma-informed youth programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Family membership fees for access to facility and programs. Membership requires medical professional referral.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: Charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Sponsorship programs including 'Sponsor a Family' initiatives.
3. Fundraising Campaigns: Capital campaigns for facility expansion and operational costs. Original $1.8M startup campaign; $8.5M expansion campaign.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Children's Healing Center operates membership-based year-round recreation facilities designed specifically for children ages 3-18 with weakened immune systems and their families. Members access hospital-grade, germ-free environments featuring HEPA-equivalent air filtration, positive pressurization, and filtered water, along with research-based trauma-informed programming across exploratory play, fitness, tech, and art/learning zones. Membership requires a referral from a medical, social work, or child life professional.

Product overview

Children's Healing Center is a non-profit recreation facility providing a membership-based service for children with weakened immune systems (ages 3-18) and their families. The organization operates multiple physical locations in Michigan (West Michigan in Grand Rapids and Southeast Michigan in Ypsilanti Township). The core offering consists of membership access to a hospital-grade, germ-free facility with four main program areas: exploratory play, active fitness space, tech zone, and art and learning room. Supporting programs include the Vita Collective for Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA), Whole Family programs, and an online Member Portal. The center focuses on socialization, play-therapy, recreation, and education with a trauma-informed approach to care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vita Collective: A program for adolescents and young adults (AYA) that provides social connections, supportive activities, and holistic wellness programs for young adults who have experienced medical challenges.

Products and services

• Children's Healing Center Family Membership Year-round membership providing qualified families with access to hospital-grade recreation facilities for children ages 3-18 with weakened immune systems, including social activities, play-therapy, recreation, and education programs. Requires medical professional referral.
• Research-Based Program Offerings Trauma-informed programming providing social, emotional, and mental health support through activities including exploratory play, fitness, art, learning, and tech zones. Designed for immunocompromised children and their families.
• Vita Collective (AYA Program) Program for Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) providing social connection, supportive activities, fitness, career development, and holistic wellness programs for young adults who have experienced medical challenges. Operates as a sub-brand of Children's Healing Center.
• Whole Family Programs Safe and welcoming environment and programming for the whole family—including parents, siblings, and caregivers of immunocompromised children—to connect and play together, recognizing that childhood illness affects entire families.
• Online Member Portal Online portal for members to access accounts, register for programs, and manage their membership activities.
• Hospital-Grade Clean Environment Facility Access Facility environment featuring HEPA-equivalent air filtration systems, filtered water, positive pressurization, vinyl and easily cleanable materials, wheelchair accessibility, and thorough health screening procedures designed to provide a germ-free environment for immunocompromised children.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of parents find the Center helps reduce their stress level
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Calvin UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution providing student volunteers for programs and facility operations. Part of West Michigan university network supporting the center.
• Grand Valley State University (GVSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing student volunteers for programs and activities.
• Michigan State University (MSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing student volunteers for programs.
• Cornerstone UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing student volunteers.
• Aquinas CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing student volunteers.
• Western Michigan University (WMU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing student volunteers.
• Helen DeVos Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor hospital partner providing referrals, program collaboration, and healthcare expertise. Founding partner with leadership involvement in center development.
• Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRehabilitation hospital partner providing referrals and specialized care connections.
• Mercy HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system partner providing referrals and medical expertise.
• Metro Health - University of Michigan HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing referrals and medical support.
• Spectrum HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare system partner providing referrals and integrated care connections.
• Priority HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth insurance partner collaborating on programs. Partnership announcement February 2022 to expand play therapy and social-emotional support programs.
• Children's Special Health Care ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState program partner providing referrals and healthcare coordination.
• Kids Kicking CancerminorOthersOrganization donating services including therapeutic programs for children with cancer.
• Grand Rapids Gold (NBA G League)minorOthersProfessional basketball team donating services and hosting events.
• Happy HennaminorOthersService provider offering therapeutic henna services for members.
• Yoga HothouseminorOthersYoga studio providing wellness services and programming.
• Gilda's Club Grand RapidsminorOthersCancer support organization providing programming and resources.
• Turning Point DanceminorOthersDance studio providing movement and dance programming.
• UICA (Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts)minorOthersArt organization providing creative programming and cultural experiences.
• The Mud RoomminorOthersCommunity partner providing pottery and creative services.
• A Moment of MagicminorOthersOrganization providing magical experiences for children.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Starlight Children's Foundation: Delivers programs (hospital deliveries, play, virtual reality) for hospitalized and seriously ill children. Closest direct peer in mission and pediatric-illness programming, though CHC differentiates with a year-round physical recreation facility model.
• SeriousFun Children's Network (formerly Hole in the Wall Gang Camp): Global network of camps and programs serving children with serious illnesses. Directly comparable mission of providing medically supported recreational experiences for kids with medical complexity.
• Camp Sunshine: Retreats for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Comparable in delivering full-family, medically supported recreational experiences for seriously ill children.
• Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation: Provides respite housing and hospital and beach programs for critically ill children and their families. Comparable in delivering recreational and respite experiences designed around medical needs.
• Gilda's Club Grand Rapids: Local cancer-support community organization providing programming and resources. Already a CHC programming partner; comparable in providing social-emotional support infrastructure for families affected by cancer in the same West Michigan geography.
• Kids Kicking Cancer: Provides martial-arts-based therapeutic programming for children with cancer and other illnesses. Already a CHC partner; comparable in delivering trauma-informed, in-person therapeutic programs to medically fragile children.
• Children's Oncology Services (One Step at a Time): Camp and programs for children diagnosed with cancer. Comparable in delivering medically supervised recreational programs designed specifically for the pediatric oncology population.
• Sunrise Association: Operates day camps and programs for children with cancer and their siblings. Comparable in running medically supervised recreational programming as a core delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Ronald McDonald House Charities: National nonprofit serving families of seriously ill or injured children through housing and supportive services. Comparable in serving the immunocompromised-pediatric population and family ecosystem, though focused on lodging rather than clean-environment recreation.

Emerging players

• Special Spaces: Creates dream bedrooms for children with cancer and life-threatening illnesses. Adjacent in mission (creating restorative environments for sick kids) but different delivery model (bedroom builds vs. ongoing recreation facility).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/healingkidsplay
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCIuyXcQSNziAbIzCP_FQfng
• Facebookfacebook.com/childrenshealingcenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/childrenshealingcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/children-s-healing-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Children's Healing Center