Youth Advocate Services

Name

Youth Advocate Services

Legal name

Youth Advocate Services

Website

https://yasohio.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Health and Foster Care Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL)

Keywords

• Community behavioral health
• Foster care services
• Child welfare support
• OhioRISE behavioral health
• Early intervention programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government/County Contracts: Youth Advocate Services operates as a nonprofit and is one of Franklin County Children Services' top ten most-purchased service providers, indicating revenue comes primarily from government contracts with county child services agencies.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations as part of Cadence Care Network, though YAS specifically was not a donation-dependent organization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Youth Advocate Services is a Columbus-based nonprofit that delivers community-based behavioral health services (counseling, psychiatry, behavior support, school-based services, early childhood mental health, teen and young adult programs, groups, art therapy, sexual behavior support) alongside foster care placement, foster parent recruitment and training, adoption resources, OhioRISE program services (respite, care coordination, IHBT, MST), and early intervention/prevention programs such as Bridges and Franklin County Early Intervention for children and families in Central Ohio.

Product overview

Youth Advocate Services (YAS) operated as a single-service nonprofit organization offering community-based behavioral health and child welfare services, rather than a platform or product-based company. After its acquisition by Cadence Care Network in 2024, these services became part of Cadence Care's broader portfolio of integrated behavioral health, foster care, and family support programs. The acquired services include behavioral health counseling and psychiatry, foster care placement and support, OhioRISE program services (respite, IHBT, MST), and early intervention/prevention programs. The organization did not offer separate branded products or modules—the services functioned as a unified suite of care delivery programs serving children and families in Franklin County, Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Behavioral Health Services Community-based behavioral health services encompassing counseling, psychiatry, behavior support, school-based services, early childhood mental health, teens and young adults programs, group therapy, art therapy, and sexual behavior support for children, teens, young adults, and families in Central Ohio.
• Foster Care Comprehensive foster care services including placement, foster parent recruitment and training, adoption resources, respite care, and ongoing support for foster families and children placed in care.
• OhioRISE Services Specialized services under Ohio's OhioRISE program including behavioral health respite, care coordination, Intensive Home-Based Treatment (IHBT), and Multisystemic Therapy (MST) for eligible youth and families.
• Support Services Additional support programs including Bridges, Franklin County Early Intervention, and Prevention services for children, teens, and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served over 52,000 children and families throughout its 46+ year history

Named customers1 record

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

One partnership is on record.

• Cadence Care NetworkflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Cadence Care Network acquired Youth Advocate Services in 2024, expanding into Central Ohio. The acquisition combines YAS's 46+ years of community expertise with Cadence Care's resources to provide expanded mental health services, stronger foster care support, and enhanced early intervention programs. YAS CEO Sarah Steuer noted the partnership opens doors to more services, resources, and possibilities for families and staff.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• National Youth Advocate Program: Columbus, Ohio-based nonprofit providing community-based behavioral health, foster care, and wraparound support to children and families—nearly identical service portfolio, geography, and target population as Youth Advocate Services.
• Bellefaire JCB: One of the largest children and family services agencies in Ohio, offering behavioral health, residential treatment, and adoption/foster care services across Northeast Ohio—directly comparable in scope and population.
• Applewood Centers: Cleveland-based youth behavioral health and foster care agency serving children and families across Northern Ohio, operating under a similar nonprofit county-contracted model as YAS.
• OhioGuidestone: Ohio's largest nonprofit provider of behavioral health and social services, offering counseling, substance use treatment, foster care, and early childhood services statewide—a direct regional peer with overlapping OhioRISE and child welfare contracts.
• The Village Network: Ohio-based nonprofit operating community behavioral health, foster care, residential treatment, and prevention programs for youth and families—comparable mission, geography, and funding model.
• Pressley Ridge: Mid-Atlantic and multi-state nonprofit providing foster care, residential treatment, and community-based behavioral health for children and families—operates an integrated service continuum similar to YAS and Cadence Care Network.
• Beech Brook: Cleveland-area nonprofit providing behavioral health, foster care, and early childhood services to children and families in Northeast Ohio—directly comparable regional peer with similar county-contracted delivery model.
• Choices Coordinated Care Solutions: Nonprofit providing community-based behavioral health, foster care, and intensive in-home services for youth and families in Ohio and other states—directly comparable to YAS's OhioRISE and IHBT offerings.

Broad incumbents

• KVC Health Systems: Large multi-state nonprofit providing child welfare, foster care, behavioral health, and in-home family services—operates a comparable service continuum at greater geographic scale than YAS.

Others

• Cadence Care Network: Parent organization of YAS since 2024, providing the same behavioral health and foster care services across Northeast Ohio; included as an ecosystem reference since YAS now operates as a subsidiary within this entity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/YASohio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yasohio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Youth Advocate Services