Parents In Community Action

Name

Parents In Community Action

Legal name

Parents In Community Action, Inc.

Website

https://picaheadstart.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (6244), Child Care Services (62441), Child Care Services (624410), Child and Youth Services (62411), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Head Start & Publicly Funded Infant/Toddler Programs (EDACAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Developmental Screening & Assessment (0–5) (EDACAFAA), Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ), Health Education & Parent Coaching (Sleep, Safety, Illness Management) (EDACAMAN), Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Head Start programs
• Parent training services
• Family support services
• Childhood development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Federal Head Start Grant Funding: PICA receives federal funding through Grant Number 05CH012272 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration of Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This is the primary funding source for all programs and services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Parents In Community Action (PICA) is a federally designated nonprofit Head Start and Early Head Start grantee that provides comprehensive early childhood education, health services, parent training, and workforce development programs to over 2,500 low-income children and families across 13 centers in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Services are delivered free of charge to eligible families and include preschool education, infant/toddler care, pregnant women services, Project Secure for homeless families, and ESL/GED/citizenship classes.

Product overview

PICA operates as a federally designated Head Start grantee providing a comprehensive, multi-component early childhood education and family development service model. The core offerings include Head Start (preschool) and Early Head Start (infants, toddlers, pregnant women) programs available in multiple schedule configurations (Split-Week, Double Session, Full Day), plus specialized programs such as High Five developmental kindergarten, Project TOPS, and Project Secure for homeless families. These are supplemented by parent training programs (child development, food service, transportation, clerical, bus monitoring), professional development internships leading to CDA credentials, and ESL/GED/citizenship classes. Support services include health/mental wellness, dental, nutrition, transportation, disability services, and family support. Services are delivered through a network of 13 centers across Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Head Start Program Comprehensive early childhood education program preparing preschool-age children for school success through individualized services supporting cognitive, physical, and social-emotional growth. Offers multiple schedule options including Split-Week, Double Session, Full Day, High Five developmental kindergarten, and Project TOPS. Free for eligible low-income families.
• Early Head Start Program Program designed for infants and toddlers under three years old, and pregnant women. Provides comprehensive, individualized services to support healthy cognitive, physical, and social-emotional growth. Includes Split-Week, Full Day, and Pregnant Women program options.
• Project Secure
• Parent Training Programs Workforce development programs including Child Development Training, Food Service Training, Transportation Training (Class B CDL), Clerical Training, and Bus Monitoring Training. Designed to help parents gain hands-on work experience and prepare for employment.
• Parent Professional Development Internship Program Program allowing parents who completed Child Development Training to earn their Infant/Toddler or Preschool Child Development Associate (CDA) credential while gaining classroom experience.
• ESL, GED and Citizenship Classes Ongoing English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, GED preparation, and citizenship classes for parents interested in learning basic English skills or obtaining their General Educational Development diploma.
• Health and Mental Wellness Services Preventive health services including dental services through Children's Dental Services, nutrition services through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), disability services, and early childhood special education coordination.
• Transportation Services Door-to-door transportation to and from centers for children, plus transportation for parents to attend special parent events and activities.
• Social Services and Family Support Family assessment services working with parents to evaluate family strengths, set goals, and connect with resources for achieving objectives and becoming involved in children's education.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,500 children and families supported annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

39 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Office of Head StartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary federal funder and program oversight. PICA receives Grant Number 05CH012272 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration of Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Office of Head Start provides regulatory oversight and program standards.
• Hennepin CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partner providing funding, WIC program coordination, and community resources for PICA families in Hennepin County.
• Children's Dental ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit providing complete dental services to enrolled children, their siblings, and low-income pregnant women in the community through clinics at PICA centers.
• Hennepin HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing health services and medical care coordination for PICA families.
• Northpoint Health & Wellness CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity health partner providing wellness services and community food shelf access for families.
• Children's MinnesotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPediatric healthcare partner providing specialized children's health services and resources.
• Families Moving ForwardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShelter partner for Project Secure program serving homeless families with comprehensive Head Start/Early Head Start services on-site.
• People Serving PeoplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShelter partner for Project Secure program serving homeless families with comprehensive Head Start/Early Head Start services on-site.
• Mary's PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShelter partner for Project Secure program serving homeless families with comprehensive Head Start/Early Head Start services on-site.
• St. Anne's PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShelter partner for Project Secure program serving homeless families with comprehensive Head Start/Early Head Start services on-site.
• Minneapolis Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partner providing early childhood education coordination and transition support for children entering kindergarten.
• Bloomington Public SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partner serving PICA families in Bloomington area.
• Richfield Public SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partner serving PICA families in Richfield area.
• Minnesota Reading CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly literacy program partner providing reading support and intervention services for children.
• MacPhail School of MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic education partner providing music instruction and enrichment programs for children through Facebook O.P.E.N. (Online Parent Enrichment Network) videos.
• Children's Theatre CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts partner providing theater education content through pre-recorded video lessons for early childhood development.
• Science Museum of MinnesotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience education partner providing enrichment resources and field trip opportunities for children.
• U of M Landscape Arboretum 'Growing Good MN'minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing garden-based learning activities and nature education through weekly lesson resources.
• LaCreche Early Childhood CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEHS-Childcare Partner providing Early Head Start services at LaCreche Early Childhood Center II location.
• Helen Keller InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational nonprofit providing health and nutrition program resources for children and families.
• Goodwill-Easter Seals MinnesotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment and disability services partner providing workforce development resources for families.
• The Family PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial services partner providing counseling and family support services.
• National Head Start AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization providing Head Start program advocacy, training resources, and quality initiative support.
• American Swedish InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institution partner providing cultural enrichment programs and resources.
• Breck SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent school partner providing community service program connections.
• Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial services partner providing cash assistance program resources for immigrant families.
• RS Eden Women's ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's services partner providing support programs for women and families.
• Sabathani Community CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity center partner providing neighborhood resources and support services.
• Inner City TennisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTennis and youth sports partner providing physical activity programs for children.
• Life is Good PlaymakersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth development partner providing positive youth development programming.
• Minnesota Children's MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuseum partner providing early learning resources and educational field trip opportunities.
• Minnesota State Horticultural Society's 'Garden-In-A-box'minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGarden education partner providing hands-on gardening activities and nutrition education.
• Pacer CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent training and disability resources partner providing support for families of children with disabilities.
• University of Minnesota ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing research-based education and extension resources.
• Urban Research and Outreach Engagement CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research partner providing community engagement and research support.
• City of Brooklyn ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner providing community resources and declaring PICA Head Start Day in 2020.
• City of Golden ValleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner providing community resources for PICA families.
• City of MinneapolisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner providing city resources and support for Minneapolis families.
• Weber ShandwickminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunications partner providing public relations and marketing support.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• YWCA Minneapolis: YWCA Minneapolis provides early childhood education, youth programs, and family services in the same Hennepin County market. Comparable to PICA in mission and geography, though its ECE programs are a smaller portion of its broader women's empowerment portfolio.

Others

• KinderCare Learning Companies: KinderCare is one of the largest private U.S. providers of early childhood education and family-support services. Comparable in the type of service delivered (center-based ECE) but differs structurally as a private, tuition-funded operator, not a federal-grantee nonprofit.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Bright Horizons is a publicly traded provider of employer-sponsored child care and early learning. Comparable to PICA only in age group served and delivery model — it is a private, for-profit operator without PICA's federal-grantee mission or income-restricted focus.
• National Head Start Association: NHSA is the national membership and advocacy organization for Head Start grantees, including PICA. It is a peer in the sense that it operates within the same Head Start ecosystem and has formally recognized PICA, but it is a trade/advocacy body rather than a direct service provider.

Direct peers

• Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD): ABCD is the federally designated Head Start/Early Head Start grantee for Boston, operating multiple centers with a comparable community-action mission. Like PICA, it bundles ECE with parent training, ESOL, and workforce development under the Head Start umbrella.
• Crystal Stairs: Crystal Stairs is a large Los Angeles-based nonprofit that administers Head Start and child care subsidy programs in partnership with LA County. It is comparable to PICA as a Head Start grantee delivering ECE plus parent support services to low-income families.
• Community Action Project (CAP) Tulsa: CAP Tulsa is a community-action agency that operates Head Start and Early Head Start alongside a two-generation model, including parent coaching and adult education. It mirrors PICA's federal-grantee status and wraparound service approach.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities: The Greater Twin Cities YMCA operates early learning, before/after school care, and youth development programs in the same regional market as PICA. Comparable in target demographics and geographic service area, though child care is one of many program lines.
• Easterseals: Easterseals is a large national nonprofit network providing early childhood, disability, and family services. It overlaps with PICA in ECE and disability services for low-income families but operates on a much broader national footprint.
• Save the Children US: Save the Children US operates early childhood programs (including Head Start partnerships) for low-income and immigrant families nationwide. Comparable to PICA in target population and ECE focus, but with a much larger international-affiliated footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/pica_head_start
• Xx.com/PICAHeadStart

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Parents In Community Action