The Shoulder

What The Shoulder does

The Shoulder of the Central Gulf Coast, Incorporated is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit residential substance use disorder treatment center headquartered in Spanish Fort, Alabama, operating since 1985 (first facility 1988). It serves adult men and women — including pregnant women, women with dependent children, veterans, and individuals with IV substance use or HIV — across the Gulf Coast region (Lower Alabama, coastal Mississippi, panhandle Florida). Core offerings are faith-based, clinically-accredited residential programs built on three pillars — spirituality, recovery orientation, and the 12 steps — delivered across two facilities: a Men's Facility in Spanish Fort with 40 beds (32 Level III.1 Low Intensity + 8 Level III.01 Transitional) and a Women's Facility in Mobile with 42 beds (16 Level III.5 High Intensity + 26 Level III.1 Low Intensity), totaling 82 beds, plus a Level I Outpatient Program, alumni/aftercare, Operation VETS for veterans, community education, and equine therapy via a partner group.

The organization generates revenue from client treatment fees on a sliding scale tied to disposable income (with $550/$750 intake payments and a stated policy of not turning clients away for inability to pay), tiered donations (Support Circle $10-$35/month, Recovery Circle $350-$5,000/year, Leadership Circle above $5,000/year), and annual banquet event proceeds. Distribution is direct, region-wide, and referral-driven: walk-in assessments, attorney and court referrals, the UNCOPE screening tool on the website, and grassroots outreach through schools, churches, and community events. Operating geographies are concentrated on the U.S. Gulf Coast with no global footprint. Technology stack is clinical/non-digital: no proprietary software products, mobile apps, APIs, AI/ML modalities, or patents and trademarks are disclosed.

The Shoulder is governed by a Board of Directors (President Cathryn Mulder, Secretary Camille Mosher, Treasurer Jack Smith) and led by Executive Director Stephen P. Carr II, MA. Its history includes a 2005 relocation following Hurricane Katrina and a 2021 Mobile facility launch during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no parent company, no funding rounds, no subsidiaries, and no M&A activity. Stated monthly general operating expenses of approximately $179,000 imply an annualized cost base in the low single-digit millions, with revenue supplemented by donations.

Name

The Shoulder

Legal name

The Shoulder of the Central Gulf Coast, Incorporated

Website

https://theshoulder.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Shoulder is a nonprofit residential substance use disorder treatment center in Spanish Fort and Mobile, Alabama, providing faith-based, 12-step clinical care across 82 beds for adult men, women (including pregnant women and women with children), and veterans throughout the Gulf Coast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Substance Abuse Treatment

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAH

Faith-Based Healthcare Ministries (Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Missions)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

Keywords

• Residential addiction treatment
• Substance abuse recovery
• Faith-based recovery programs
• Twelve step treatment
• Mental health treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Spanish Fort

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Client Treatment Fees: Fees for residential treatment services calculated on a sliding fee scale based on client income. Initial down payment of $550 ($750 for Level 3.5) with weekly fees at 75% of disposable income.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Reliance on donations to provide quality, affordable treatment and scholarship programs for eligible clients. Monthly sustaining donations (Support Circle $10-35), annual donations (Recovery Circle $350-$5000), and Leadership Circle donations above $5000.
3. Event Revenue: Annual banquet fundraising events including ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Shoulder provides faith-based, clinically accredited residential substance abuse and mental health treatment across two Alabama facilities with a combined 82 beds. Programs include Level III.5 high intensity, Level III.1 low intensity, and Level III.01 transitional residential treatment, plus an outpatient program, Operation VETS for veterans, alumni/aftercare, outreach, and assessments. Treatment integrates Christianity, the 12-step model, and recovery orientation on a sliding-fee basis.

Product overview

The Shoulder is a drug/alcohol treatment center providing residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment services. The organization operates two facilities (Men's Facility in Spanish Fort, AL and Women's Facility in Mobile, AL) with an overall capacity of 82 beds. The treatment programs are built on three pillars: spirituality, recovery orientation, and the twelve steps. Core offerings include Level III.5 High Intensity Residential Treatment for women (16 beds), Level III.1 Low Intensity Residential Treatment at both facilities (32 beds men's, 26 beds women's), Level III.01 Transitional Residential Treatment for men (8 beds), along with Veterans Services (Operation VETS), Level I Outpatient Program, Alumni/Aftercare Services, Outreach and Education, and an UNCOPE Screening Tool for initial assessment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Operation VETS: Veterans Engaged in Treatment Services - a program specifically designed to support veterans while in treatment, open to all veterans regardless of time in service, disability or benefit status, or ability to pay initial fees.

Products and services

• Level III.5 High Intensity Residential Treatment - Women's Facility Comprehensive ASAM Level III.5 high intensity residential treatment program for adult women at the Mobile, AL facility, providing structured clinical activities including individual and group counseling, spiritual development, life skills, and community recovery groups. Clients receive a minimum of 25 hours of clinical services per week. Program has 16 beds and operates on the three-pillar model of spirituality, recovery orientation, and the twelve steps.
• Level III.1 Low Intensity Residential Treatment ASAM Level III.1 low intensity residential treatment program for adults at both the Spanish Fort men's facility (32 beds) and the Mobile women's facility (26 beds). Clients reside at The Shoulder, work during the day, and participate in therapeutic activities during evenings including individual and group counseling, spiritual development, life skills, and community recovery groups based on the three-pillar treatment model.
• Level III.01 Transitional Residential Treatment - Men's Facility

Quantifiable outcome

• 82 beds across two facilities (40 in Spanish Fort, 42 in Mobile)
• +2 more outcomes

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

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Equine Therapy GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Shoulder has partnered with Equine Therapy Group to offer equine therapy for clients at the Men's Facility. This therapeutic service provides clients with alternative treatment modalities to support their recovery journey alongside traditional counseling and 12-step programs.
• United Way of Baldwin CountyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnited Way of Baldwin County is listed as a partner/donor organization supporting The Shoulder's mission to provide addiction treatment services to Gulf Coast communities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Father Martin's Ashley: Faith-based nonprofit residential addiction treatment center combining spirituality, 12-step philosophy, and clinical care — highly comparable to The Shoulder's three-pillar model in both mission and operational design.
• Pavillon Treatment Center: Nonprofit residential substance abuse treatment center integrating 12-step programming with clinical care — directly comparable service model and faith-adjacent recovery philosophy.
• Sundown M Ranch: Nonprofit residential alcohol and drug treatment center with 12-step integrated programming and a faith-friendly environment — comparable residential service model to The Shoulder.
• Talbott Recovery Campus: Substance abuse treatment provider offering residential, outpatient, and professionals program with 12-step integration — directly comparable in service lines and recovery orientation.

Regional players

• Ridgeview Institute: Behavioral health and substance abuse treatment provider with residential and outpatient programs in the Southeast US — comparable services with overlapping Gulf Coast/Southeast geographic exposure.

Broad incumbents

• Phoenix House: Large nonprofit provider of residential and outpatient substance abuse and behavioral health services across multiple states — directly comparable in service lines and residential treatment focus.
• Caron Treatment Centers: Nonprofit residential and outpatient addiction treatment provider with multiple locations, faith-informed programming, and a strong alumni network — directly comparable mission and service model to The Shoulder.
• Bradford Health Services: Regional Southeast-based addiction treatment provider offering residential and outpatient services, with operational overlap in the same Gulf Coast region The Shoulder serves.
• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Largest nonprofit addiction treatment provider in the US with a national footprint of residential and outpatient facilities, integrating 12-step programming — a comparable model to The Shoulder at much larger scale.

Others

• Equine Therapy Group: Established partner of The Shoulder providing equine therapy at the Men's Facility — a peer in the complementary services ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theshoulderorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/theshouldertreatmentcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shoulder-of-the-central-gulf-coast-inc

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

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Shoulder