The Home for Little Wanderers

What The Home for Little Wanderers does

The Home for Little Wanderers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit child welfare and behavioral health services organization headquartered at 72 E. Dedham Street, Boston, Massachusetts, established in 1799 as the oldest child welfare agency in America. It serves children from birth to age 26 who are abused, neglected, or in at-risk circumstances, reaching more than 15,000 youth and family members annually across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York. The organization delivers services free of charge through a continuum-of-care model that includes foster care and adoption (Center for Permanency), behavioral health and clinical services (outpatient, school-based, in-home therapy), residential care (7 programs including Harrington House, Waltham House, Unity House, Walpole, Southeast Campus, Wediko NH, and The Collaborative), three special education schools (Clifford Academy, COVE School, Wediko School), young adult transition programs (12 programs totaling 200+ beds), Camp Wediko, and a Training Institute offering ASWB/NBCC/NYSED-accredited continuing education.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Damon Hart (EVP and CLO at Liberty Mutual Insurance) and operates under the leadership of President and CEO Lesli Suggs, with a C-suite comprising finance, development, external affairs, and marketing officers plus VPs across behavioral health, community programs, congregate care, clinical quality, and HR/compliance. Service delivery relies on standard electronic health records and off-the-shelf vendor tools (Eventbrite for registrations, AI-assisted hiring tools); no proprietary technology platform is disclosed.

Revenue is generated through four streams: individual donations (~90% of philanthropic support, channeled through giving societies such as the 1799 Society and Better, Brighter Futures Leadership Giving Society), corporate partnerships and event sponsorships, government contracts with state Departments of Social Services and Mental Health in MA, NH, and NY, and special events including Boston Marathon, TCS NYC Marathon, and Falmouth Road Race charity teams plus galas and golf tournaments. Distribution is community-based: services are accessed via DCF referrals, schools, healthcare providers, a 855-240-HOME intake line, and program locations across the tri-state region. Mergers and acquisitions history (Charles River Health Management 1998, Boston Children's Services 1999, Parents' and Children's Services 2003, Wediko Children's Services, and The O'Connell House 2026) reflects a sustained strategy of consolidation to expand programmatic scope and geographic reach.

Name

The Home for Little Wanderers

Legal name

The Home for Little Wanderers, Inc.

Website

https://thehome.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1799

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Home for Little Wanderers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1799, operating 30+ child welfare, behavioral health, residential, special education, and young adult programs across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York, serving 15,000+ at-risk youth and family members annually through donations, government contracts, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors provide approximately 90% of The Home's philanthropic support. The organization operates giving societies (Better, Brighter Futures Leadership Giving Society, 1799 Society, Edna Betts Talbot Society) to recognize donors.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsorships, event sponsorships, group volunteer activities, matching gifts programs, and workplace giving. Event sponsorships include Wells Cup Golf Invitational, Voices & Visions, and Gingerbread House Decorating Contest.
3. Government Contracts: Contracts with Massachusetts Departments of Social Services and Mental Health, as well as similar agencies in New Hampshire and New York for child welfare, behavioral health, and special education services.
4. Special Events Fundraising: Charity running teams (Boston Marathon, NY Marathon, Falmouth Road Race), annual gala events, golf tournaments, and holiday gift drives generate donations while raising awareness.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Home for Little Wanderers provides a comprehensive, integrated continuum of child welfare, behavioral health, residential, special education, and young adult transition services to at-risk children and youth from birth through age 26, delivered through 30+ programs across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York. All services are provided free of charge to children and families, funded primarily through individual donations (approximately 90% of philanthropic support), corporate partnerships, government contracts, and fundraising events.

Product overview

The Home for Little Wanderers operates as a unified social services organization offering a comprehensive continuum of programs spanning foster care and adoption, behavioral health and clinical services, residential care, special education schools, young adult transition programs, and professional training. Their 30+ programs work together as an integrated system, with the Center for Permanency serving as the backbone approach that shapes practices across all services. The organization serves children from birth to age 26 and their families across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Center for Permanency – Foster Care & Adoption Provides therapeutic, emotional, and practical supports for adoption, comprehensive foster care, and youth permanent connections to help children stay home, go home, or find a permanent family. Services are delivered free of charge to children and families across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York.
• Behavioral Health & Clinical Services Comprehensive behavioral health services including outpatient therapy, school-based therapy, in-home therapy, family support, therapeutic mentoring, intensive care coordination, early childhood clinical services, and psychological testing for children and families with complex trauma and emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges.
• Residential Care Out-of-home placement services providing supportive living environments including group homes (Harrington House, The Collaborative, Waltham House, Unity House) and residential treatment programs with education (The Home at Walpole, Southeast Campus, The Wediko School). Capacity totals roughly 120+ beds across seven programs serving youth ages 8–18.
• Special Education Schools Three special education schools (Clifford Academy, The COVE School, The Wediko School) providing individualized academic and therapeutic support for children aged 5–18 with structured settings, behavior support systems, and high staff-to-student ratios.
• Young Adult Programs Transition services for youth ages 18–26 aging out of foster care, offering emergency housing, independent living support, case management, counseling, employment and housing support across 12 programs including Boston Continuum of Care, Codman Village, Liberty Village, and Youth on Fire. 160+ housing units across Massachusetts and New Hampshire; 85–90% of participants leave with permanent housing.
• Camp Wediko Six-week residential summer camp for children ages 8–18 with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges, combining therapeutic milieu with traditional camp activities, clinical supports, and educational enrichment.
• Training Institute Clinical professional development offerings including trainings on restorative practice, permanency, early childhood mental health, motivational interviewing, LGBTQ+ resources, and suicide prevention for employees and external professionals. Approved as an ACE, NBCC, and NYSED continuing education provider; 500+ free on-demand training sessions available online 24/7.
• Family Resource Centers

Quantifiable outcome

• 85-90% of young adults leave with permanent housing vs 60-65% national average
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• New York Road Runners (NYRR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Official Charity Partner of the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon. NYRR has expanded its Official Charity Partner Program to include more than 670 charities with a goal of raising over $100 million.
• The O'Connell HouseflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Nationally recognized residential program serving women who survived human trafficking joined The Home as part of its continuum of care, expanding services for women and families. Founded by Deb O'Hara Rusckowski, who joined The Home's Board of Directors.
• CitizenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongtime partner that awarded a grant towards vocational programs at The COVE School, funding raw materials for student food truck project that builds life skills and entrepreneurial know-how.
• BreaktimeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit that helps young people access jobs and build financial stability; referred David to Liberty Village when he sought resources after experiencing homelessness.
• United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way of Massachusetts Bay partnership supporting The Home's programs and services.
• Massachusetts Permanency Practice Alliance (MPPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Home is co-founder of MPPA, driving system-wide improvements and advancing public policies that strengthen families and improve outcomes across the child welfare landscape.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Justice Resource Institute (JRI): Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing child welfare, behavioral health, residential, and special education services. Closest comparable in scope and geography, with similar multi-program continuum serving at-risk youth across New England.
• Childhelp: National nonprofit focused on child abuse prevention, treatment, and advocacy, operating residential facilities and advocacy programs. Directly comparable mission and service mix targeting abused and neglected children.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: One of the largest U.S. nonprofits operating residential treatment, behavioral health, and special education programs for at-risk youth. Comparable continuum of residential and clinical services nationally.
• Children's Aid Society: New York City-based nonprofit operating foster care, adoption, behavioral health, community schools, and youth development programs. Comparable comprehensive child welfare continuum in the NY metro market.
• Bay Cove Human Services: Boston-based human services nonprofit providing child and family services, behavioral health, and residential supports. Comparable multi-program model serving vulnerable populations in Massachusetts.
• KVC Health Systems: Midwest-based nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, behavioral health, and residential treatment for children and families. Comparable operating model across child welfare and behavioral health verticals.
• Seven Hills Foundation: Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing child welfare, special education, behavioral health, and family support services. Comparable regional operating footprint and multi-program model.
• May Institute: Massachusetts-based nonprofit operating special education schools, residential programs, and behavioral health services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Highly comparable operating model and geographic footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Casey Family Programs: Nation's largest operating foundation focused on child welfare, foster care, and adoption. Comparable mission to reduce the number of children in foster care and improve long-term outcomes, with broader national reach.
• Catholic Charities USA: National umbrella organization supporting a network of agencies providing foster care, adoption, family preservation, and youth services. Comparable service lines with broader geographic coverage and an umbrella rather than direct-service structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thehomeorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/home271
• Facebookfacebook.com/thehomeforlittlewanderers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-home-for-little-wanderers
• Instagraminstagram.com/thehomeforlittlewanderers
• Pinterestpinterest.com/thehomeorg

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries13 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 Home for Little Wanderers