Red Oak Behavioral Health

What Red Oak Behavioral Health does

Red Oak Behavioral Health is a non-profit community mental health organization founded in 1963 in Akron, Ohio, originally as the Pastoral Counseling Service of Summit County. The organization delivers a continuum of behavioral health services to children, adolescents, and adults across Northeast Ohio through three delivery channels: embedded school-based therapy in nearly 100 school buildings across Cuyahoga, Medina, Portage, and Summit Counties; outpatient services at the Barbara M. Vassel Comprehensive Care Center in the Highland Square neighborhood of Akron; and telehealth delivered via secure video or phone. Service lines include counseling and community support, mentoring (including the iC.A.R.E. Mentoring program), screening/prevention/intervention (using validated tools such as BIMAS-2, DAP, SBIRT, and SDQ), and professional training programs (Mental Health First Aid, QPR, Active Parenting, and Trauma-Informed Care).

The organization's revenue model is a mix of insurance reimbursement (Medicaid, Medicare, and most private insurance), government grants (notably a $4M U.S. Department of Labor JOG grant and ADM Board funding), individual donations (Acorn Society sustainer program with $1,500 annual tiers), and corporate sponsorships ($500-$10,000 tiers tied to events such as the After School Special gala). Go-to-market is relationship- and community-led: licensed clinicians are embedded in school buildings via district partnerships, with referrals flowing from schools, the ADM Board, community organizations, and a direct request-for-service intake on the website. The team numbers nearly 140 professionals, including more than 100 direct service staff, with leadership including President & CEO Megan Kleidon (since 2018), COO Shelly Hinton, CFO Timothy Gilroy, and CPO Ann Robson. The organization is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) and certified by Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS).

The technology stack is intentionally modest: a third-party secure telehealth platform, the Welligent patient portal, secure bill-pay infrastructure, and standard health informatics systems managed by a dedicated Director of Health Informatics and Process Quality Improvement. There are no proprietary software products, AI/ML capabilities, or technology patents evident; the core intellectual property is organizational methodology (trauma-informed care framework aligned to SAMHSA's six guiding principles, integrated school-based delivery model, and the iC.A.R.E. Mentoring brand asset).

Name

Red Oak Behavioral Health

Legal name

Red Oak Behavioral Health

Website

https://redoakbh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Red Oak Behavioral Health is a non-profit community mental health organization founded in 1963 in Akron, Ohio, delivering embedded school-based therapy across nearly 100 school buildings in four counties, plus outpatient and telehealth services to children, adolescents, and adults in Northeast Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Mental Health Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health Counseling & Therapy Services (K–12) (EDAJALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Therapy (ABA/ESDM/Positive Behavior Support) (EDACAFAE), Parent Mental Health, Stress Management & Wellness Programs (EDACALAJ)

Keywords

• Community mental health services
• School-based therapy
• Outpatient behavioral health
• Trauma-informed counseling
• Youth mentoring programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Akron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance-Based Reimbursement: Red Oak accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and most private insurance plans as payment for mental health services including outpatient therapy, school-based therapy, case management, and community support services.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support vital programs through annual fundraising events (After School Special gala), supply drives, holiday events, and ongoing community sponsorship packages ranging from $500 (Neighbor) to $10,000 (Presenting).
3. Individual Donations and Acorn Society: Individual giving through Acorn Society with three-tier annual giving levels ($1,500 Connect/Grow/Thrive) and monthly sustainer options. Also includes capital campaign donor tree leaf purchases, memorial gifts, and in-kind contributions.
4. Government Grants and Funding: Funded through partnerships with the County of Summit ADM Board and other government entities. The organization received a $4M DOL grant (JOG program) to serve at-need youth. ADM Board is listed as a community partner indicating ongoing government funding relationships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Red Oak Behavioral Health is an accredited nonprofit community mental health agency that delivers a comprehensive continuum of behavioral health services across the lifespan. Its core offerings include individual and group counseling, community psychiatric supportive treatment (CPST), case management, school-based embedded therapy in nearly 100 school buildings across four Northeast Ohio counties, early childhood services for ages 3-5, the iC.A.R.E. Mentoring program, screening/prevention/intervention, and training programs (Mental Health First Aid, QPR, Active Parenting, Trauma-Informed Care). Services are billed through Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance, with additional revenue from government grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations.

Product overview

Red Oak Behavioral Health operates as a community mental health center providing a comprehensive continuum of behavioral health services organized around four core service lines: Counseling & Community Support (individual/group therapy and case management), Mentoring (iC.A.R.E. Mentoring program), Screening, Prevention & Intervention, and Training & Education (Mental Health First Aid, QPR, Trauma-Informed Care). Services are delivered through multiple modalities including school-based embedded therapy (serving nearly 100 school buildings across four counties), outpatient services at the Barbara M. Vassel Comprehensive Care Center in Akron's Highland Square neighborhood, telehealth video/phone sessions, and early childhood programs. The organization serves children, adolescents, and adults with a team of nearly 140 professionals including more than 100 direct service staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iC.A.R.E. Mentoring: School-based mentoring program that fosters relationships cultivating mutual mentor/mentee development and empowers youth. Operated in partnership with area schools and community volunteers.

Products and services

• Counseling & Community Support Individual and group counseling, Community Psychiatric Supportive Treatment (CPST), and case management that help clients of all ages build coping skills, work toward mental health goals, and access community resources. Reimbursable through Medicaid, Medicare, and most private insurance.
• School-Based Embedded Mental Health Services Bell-to-bell mental health therapy, counseling, case management, mentoring, and wellness services delivered by licensed clinicians embedded directly inside school buildings across nearly 100 locations in Cuyahoga, Medina, Portage, and Summit Counties. Sold under contract to school districts.
• Outpatient Services at Barbara M. Vassel Comprehensive Care Center Outpatient individual counseling, group counseling, family therapy, and case management for children, teens, and adults served from the Highland Square location at 611 W. Market Street, Akron. Accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and most private insurances.
• Telehealth Services Remote mental health treatment delivered via secure video or phone using a confidential platform, accessible from smartphones, laptops, desktops, or tablets for clients unable to visit a physical location.
• iC.A.R.E. Mentoring Program School-based mentoring program providing positive, purposeful relationships between community volunteers and students. Includes best-practice systems, mentor training, curriculum, and ongoing individual/collective support.
• Screening, Prevention & Intervention Services Behavioral health screening (BIMAS-2, DAP, SBIRT, SDQ), health and wellness programs, Lions Quest SEL curriculum, and the Barberton Community Wellness Collaborative — a coordinated PreK-12 behavioral health continuum for the Barberton community.
• Early Childhood Mental Health Services Screening, intervention, and treatment services for children ages 3-5 delivered in preschool settings with family and caregiver involvement.
• Training & Education Programs Curriculum-based mental health and behavioral health training programs sold to schools, organizations, and community members, including Mental Health First Aid, QPR suicide prevention, Active Parenting, and Trauma-Informed Care training.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves children and adults across nearly 100 school buildings in 4 counties with embedded mental health services
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Akron Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRed Oak embeds licensed mental health professionals in APS schools across multiple clusters (Buchtel, East, Ellet, Firestone, Garfield, North) from preschool through high school, providing in-school mental health therapy and case management.
• Barberton City SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRed Oak provides comprehensive behavioral health services through the Barberton Community Wellness Collaborative (BCWC), a model program covering PreK-12th grade with training, education, screening, prevention, intervention, and embedded treatment services.
• Cuyahoga Falls City SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRed Oak embeds mental health services in multiple Cuyahoga Falls schools including the high school, middle school, and seven elementary schools.
• Copley-Fairlawn City SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRed Oak provides embedded mental health services at Copley-Fairlawn's primary and secondary schools.
• Massillon City SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRed Oak provides embedded mental health and mentoring services at Washington High School and Massillon Intermediate School.
• Norton City SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool-based mental health therapy and case management across Norton Elementary, Primary, Middle, and High School.
• The County of Summit ADM BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADM Board is a government mental health and addiction services authority for Summit County. The partnership provides funding, coordination, and community mental health services alignment.
• Akron Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAkron Community Foundation supports Red Oak's mission through grantmaking and community philanthropy. Red Oak's Director of Treatment Services serves on the Akron Community Foundation's Green Community Fund Advisory Board.
• Akron Area YMCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for out-of-school time Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) classes, continuing services during summer months and school breaks.
• GPD GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and engineering firm listed as a community partner supporting Red Oak's mission.
• Youth Success SummitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity coalition focused on youth success, partnering with Red Oak on shared goals for youth mental health and development.
• Akron Children's HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider partner. Red Oak refers clients in urgent need of pediatric psychiatric services to Akron Children's Hospital PIRC. Board member Emily Browning is Director of Strategy & Consumer Insights at Akron Children's Hospital.
• iC.A.R.E. MentoringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the iC.A.R.E. Mentoring program for school-based mentoring services. Red Oak provides prevention and mentoring services in collaboration with area schools and community partners. The program includes training, curriculum, and support for volunteer mentors.
• National Council for Behavioral HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRed Oak participated in the National Council's 2020-2021 Trauma-Informed, Resilience-Oriented Approaches Learning Community, receiving support from a National Council trauma-informed service consultant.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Coleman Health Services: Northeast Ohio behavioral health provider offering mental health, addiction, and primary care integration across multiple counties. Regional peer with overlapping county footprint (Portage, Summit) and ADM Board funding relationships.
• Portage Path Behavioral Health: Akron-area community mental health center offering outpatient, substance use, and crisis services across Summit County. Regional competitor for adult outpatient clients and ADM Board funding, with broader adult focus rather than Red Oak's school-based concentration.

Direct peers

• Applewood Centers: Cleveland-based nonprofit providing mental health, counseling, and community-based services to children, adolescents, and families. Comparable nonprofit children's behavioral health mission and overlapping Northeast Ohio service area.
• Child Guidance & Family Solutions: Akron-based nonprofit providing outpatient mental health, school-based, and early childhood services to children and families in the same Northeast Ohio footprint as Red Oak. Most direct local peer competing for the same school district and ADM Board relationships.
• Effective School Solutions: National provider of embedded mental health services in K-12 schools, operating a district-partnership model very similar to Red Oak's. Most directly comparable peer in mission and delivery modality, though at much larger national scale and PE-backed.
• Daybreak Health: Youth and adolescent teletherapy provider contracting with schools and health plans. Overlaps with Red Oak on K-12 mental health service delivery, but uses a primarily telehealth model and is venture-backed.
• Cartwheel Care: School-based telemental health provider serving K-12 districts with rapid-access therapy and psychiatry. Directly comparable school-based mental health mission and youth therapy service line, differentiated by telehealth-only delivery model.
• Brightline: Tech-enabled youth and family mental health provider serving children, teens, and parents through employer and health plan contracts. Comparable in target demographic (youth mental health) and multi-modal delivery, but reaches clients through different channels.
• Bellefaire JCB: One of the largest children's mental health and social services agencies in Northeast Ohio, offering residential, outpatient, school-based, and autism services. Direct competitor for school contracts and youth mental health clients in the same regional market.
• Hazel Health: School-based telehealth provider delivering mental health and physical health services to K-12 students through district contracts. Comparable customer (school districts) and use case (student mental health), though delivered via telehealth rather than embedded clinicians.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/health_red

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Red Oak Behavioral Health