St. Christopher's

What St. Christopher's does

St. Christopher's, Inc. is a 144-year-old nonprofit social services organization headquartered at 71 South Broadway in Dobbs Ferry, New York, that operates as a residential treatment center serving children and youth ages 12 to 21 with special needs. Founded in 1881 by Etta Angell Wheeler—a Methodist missionary who, in 1873, helped expose the Mary Ellen Wilson child abuse case and catalyzed the first national child welfare movement in the United States—the organization delivers three primary service lines: (1) evidence-based therapeutic residential support for youth with educational and developmental disabilities and/or psychiatric and emotional issues, (2) healthcare services for children with chronic health conditions living at or below the poverty line, and (3) shelter, education, vocational training, and mental health services for unaccompanied children. Services are provided directly through the organization's facilities, with beneficiaries acquired through referrals from government agencies, healthcare providers, community organizations, and families rather than via a commercial sales motion.

The organization is funded through government contracts and grants under a recurring revenue arrangement, and is HIPAA-compliant with a designated HIPAA Compliance Officer and a Notice of Privacy Practices governing protected health information (effective November 1, 2019). It does not offer technology products, platforms, or software; its core capability is the direct delivery of therapeutic residential care, healthcare, mental health, and social support services. Marketing is limited to organic social channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube), and headcount is reported in the 101-250 range. Current leadership includes CEO Sarah Ruback.

On April 29, 2024, St. Christopher's, Inc. and The McQuade Foundation each filed voluntary petitions for relief under Subchapter V of Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (Case Nos. 24-22373 and 24-22374). The organization continues to operate its programs and services during the restructuring, but the filing itself is a material event signaling financial pressure on a previously stable, government-funded operating model.

Name

St. Christopher's

Legal name

St. Christopher's, Inc.

Website

https://mystchristophers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1881

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

St. Christopher's, Inc. is a nonprofit residential treatment center headquartered in Dobbs Ferry, New York, serving children and youth ages 12 to 21 with developmental disabilities, psychiatric needs, chronic health conditions, or unaccompanied minor status, funded primarily through government contracts and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Treatment Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGADAO

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYHLAFACAI

Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment

SECONDARYHLAFAJAL

Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Women’s & Children’s Health Providers

Keywords

• Residential treatment services
• Children youth services
• Mental health care
• Social support services
• Vocational training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Dobbs Ferry

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Grants: St. Christopher's receives funding through government contracts and grants to provide residential support services, healthcare, mental health services, and shelter to children with special needs, children with chronic health conditions, and unaccompanied children.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

St. Christopher's is a nonprofit residential treatment center that provides therapeutic residential support, healthcare, mental health services, social support, and vocational training to children and youth ages 12-21 with special needs. Founded in 1881, the organization operates from Dobbs Ferry, NY and serves as a long-term care and treatment provider for at-risk youth.

Product overview

St. Christopher's, Inc. is a nonprofit organization (not a technology company) that provides social services to children and youth with special needs. Its service portfolio includes three primary offerings: (1) therapeutic residential support services for youth with educational/developmental disabilities and/or psychiatric/emotional issues, delivered in a safe and nurturing environment; (2) healthcare services ensuring children with chronic health conditions at or below the poverty line receive necessary care; and (3) shelter, education, vocational training, and mental health services for unaccompanied children. The organization does not offer technology products, platforms, or software as its core business.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Broad incumbents

• Childhelp: National nonprofit focused on child abuse prevention and treatment, operating residential programs and advocacy. Comparable in mission and child welfare focus but with a broader national advocacy footprint rather than a single-site residential model.

Direct peers

• JCCA (Jewish Child Care Association): New York-based nonprofit serving children, teens, and families through residential treatment, foster care, mental health, and unaccompanied minor programs. Strong geographic and service-line overlap with St. Christopher's.
• Pressley Ridge: Nonprofit providing residential treatment, therapeutic foster care, and behavioral health services for youth with trauma and behavioral challenges. Comparable in residential care delivery model and beneficiary profile.
• Boys Town: National nonprofit providing residential, educational, behavioral health, and family support services to at-risk youth. Directly comparable in mission, multi-service model, and youth residential care focus.
• Hillside (Hillside Family of Agencies): Nonprofit human services organization offering residential treatment, education, and behavioral health services for children and youth. Comparable multi-program nonprofit serving similar populations.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large nonprofit operating residential treatment centers and community-based programs for children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, and developmental disabilities. Closely matches St. Christopher's integrated behavioral health and developmental services model.
• Maryvale (Maryvale Foster Care & Family Services): Nonprofit residential and community-based services provider for abused and neglected children. Comparable as a regional nonprofit residential treatment provider for vulnerable youth.
• Children's Home Society of California: Long-established nonprofit providing adoption, foster care, residential, and family preservation services. Comparable in longevity, nonprofit residential services model, and youth welfare mission, though California-focused.
• KVC Health Systems: Nonprofit child welfare and behavioral health organization providing residential treatment, foster care, and in-home services. Comparable in serving vulnerable youth populations through government-contracted services.
• MercyFirst: Long-established New York-based nonprofit providing residential, foster care, mental health, and unaccompanied minor services. Directly comparable regional peer with similar service mix and beneficiary populations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDGd-Wrz45Tmmk6lIngKOPw
• Facebookfacebook.com/stchristophersinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st--christopher's-inc-
• Xx.com/StChris1881

Compliance1 record

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 St. Christopher's