Lives In The Balance

What Lives In The Balance does

Lives in the Balance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 by Dr. Ross Greene and headquartered in Freeport, Maine. Its core offering is the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) model, an evidence-based, trauma-informed methodology for understanding and supporting children with concerning behaviors through relationship-building, communication, and collaboration rather than punitive discipline. The organization disseminates the CPS model globally through free online resources, podcasts, documentaries (including the award-winning "The Kids We Lose"), peer-support Facebook communities for parents, educators, clinicians, and advocates, and a certified provider network operating in 12 countries. It also runs an annual summit and a free virtual Children's Mental Health Advocacy Conference that drew over 3,000 registrants in 2024.

The organization serves parents, educators, school administrators, mental health professionals, pediatricians, and child welfare workers. Core products include the CPS model and its diagnostic Assessment of Lagging Skills and Unsolved Problems (ALSUP), free training and resource libraries, documentary content, advocacy toolkits (including a state-level Punitive Index), and the newly launched Raising Human Beings Parenting Platform (April 2025). Distribution is primarily digital, with content available in seven languages and training delivered through a global certified provider network and partnerships with large school districts, state agencies, healthcare systems, and humanitarian organizations.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations — one-time gifts, monthly sustaining donations, and stock donations accepted via PayPal — supplemented by a forthcoming subscription revenue stream from the new parenting platform. The organization has historically priced all of its resources and training at zero cost and operates with 1-10 employees. Strategic priorities are centered on expanding advocacy and policy influence, scaling training through certified providers, and commercializing the parenting platform while maintaining the free-resource mission.

Name

Lives In The Balance

Legal name

Lives in the Balance

Website

https://livesinthebalance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lives in the Balance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free training, resources, and advocacy on the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) model for parents, educators, clinicians, and policymakers working with vulnerable children globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Mental Health Advocacy and Behavioral Health Training

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAKAHAO

Wraparound & Community-Based Behavioral Support (ABA-Adjacent)

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Behavioral Intervention & Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

SECONDARYEDACALAJ

Parent Mental Health, Stress Management & Wellness Programs

Education/Early Childhood Education/Parent Education & Family Engagement Programs

SECONDARYEDAAALAD

Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Licensure & Continuing Professional Education (CE/CPE)

Keywords

• Children's mental health
• Collaborative problem solving
• Behavioral health advocacy
• Trauma-informed care
• Nonprofit education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies entirely on charitable donations from individuals to fund its operations, resources, training, and advocacy efforts. They accept one-time donations, monthly sustaining donations, and stock donations.
2. Parenting Platform (forthcoming): A new parenting platform based on Dr. Ross Greene's CPS model and his book Raising Human Beings is under development. Sign-ups are being collected for launch.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lives in the Balance provides free resources, training, outreach, and advocacy centered on the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model, an evidence-based approach originated by Dr. Ross Greene for understanding and supporting children with concerning behaviors. Offerings include downloadable training materials, podcasts, documentaries, peer-support communities, conferences, and a directory of certified CPS providers worldwide, plus a newly launched parenting platform based on the book Raising Human Beings.

Product overview

Lives in the Balance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides advocacy and education focused on eliminating punitive disciplinary practices for children. Their core offering is the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model, an evidence-based approach originated by Dr. Ross Greene. The organization delivers free resources and training through multiple channels: the flagship CPS model and methodology, The Kids We Lose documentary and mini-documentaries raising public awareness, CPS Podcasts hosted by Dr. Greene, Facebook support communities (The B Team, Lost and Found, B Well, Advocators), the CPS Kids section with kid-friendly content, Comic Relief materials, and advocacy resources including legislative support and the Punitive Index. A new Raising Human Beings Parenting Platform was launched in April 2025. They also operate a global Provider Network connecting certified CPS practitioners across 12 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) Model An evidence-based, trauma-informed model of care for understanding and supporting children with concerning behaviors, focused on relationship-building, communication, skill enhancement, and collaboration rather than punitive discipline. Originated by Dr. Ross Greene and delivered free to parents, educators, clinicians, and treatment staff worldwide.
• The Kids We Lose Documentary Feature-length documentary exposing the futility and brutality of punitive disciplinary practices applied to vulnerable children and the link to the school-to-prison pipeline. Distributed free via public television broadcast and organizational channels to raise public awareness.
• Mini-Documentaries Short documentary films shining light on harmful disciplinary practices, produced with collaborators in multiple jurisdictions on issues including corporal punishment and restraint/seclusion in various states.
• CPS Podcasts Free podcast series featuring Dr. Ross Greene discussing the CPS model, answering parent and educator questions, and providing guidance on supporting children with behavioral challenges. Distributed on major podcast platforms with transcriptions available.
• Free Resources and Training Library Comprehensive library of free downloadable training materials, worksheets, guides, webinars, and educational content on the CPS model for parents, educators, clinicians, and treatment staff, available in seven languages.
• Facebook Peer-Support Communities Multiple peer support communities on Facebook for distinct audiences: The B Team and El Equipo B for parents, Lost and Found for educators, B Well for mental health clinicians, and Advocators for policy and awareness advocates.
• CPS Kids Content Library Educational content library using cartoons to present key themes of the CPS model in an accessible, child-friendly format.
• Comic Relief Strips Comic strips providing humor and perspective for caregivers of children with concerning behaviors, available as downloadable printable PDFs.
• Raising Human Beings Parenting Platform Comprehensive subscription-based parenting platform based on Dr. Ross Greene's CPS model and his book Raising Human Beings, providing structured guidance for parents on raising children without punitive approaches.
• Advocacy Resources and Legislation Support Resources supporting policy advocacy, including federal and state legislation tracking, advocacy toolkits for volunteers, and the Punitive Index that ranks U.S. states by prevalence of punitive disciplinary practices.
• Annual Summits and Conferences Annual in-person/virtual Summit and the free virtual Children's Mental Health Advocacy Conference featuring lawmakers, advocates, and experts on alternatives to punitive discipline.
• CPS Provider Network Directory Online directory listing certified CPS providers in twelve countries, enabling families and organizations to locate certified practitioners for CPS training and consultation services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced discipline referrals, detentions, and suspensions in hundreds of schools; dramatically reduced or eliminated restraint and seclusion in schools, inpatient psychiatry units, and residential/juvenile detention facilities
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NYC Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for implementing the CPS model in NYC public schools to reduce punitive disciplinary practices.
• Maine Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on producing 'Reducing Restraint & Seclusion in Schools: A Resource for Maine Educators' documentary featuring educators who reduced their use of restraint and seclusion.
• New York State Department of HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner supporting mental health initiatives for children.
• Boston Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in implementing CPS model in Boston area schools.
• Save the ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational humanitarian organization collaborating on child welfare advocacy efforts.
• Children's Hospital of AlabamaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner supporting child mental health initiatives.
• McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Practice at NYUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing to research and policy efforts.
• Children's Autism CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting children with autism.
• Vermont Department of Children and FamiliesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for child welfare initiatives.
• Washington OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization listed in collaborations.
• SeniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the collaboration network.
• SECACminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the collaboration network.
• Coleman Health ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health services partner.
• Kaiser PermanenteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner in the collaboration network.
• UnumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the collaboration network.
• CareknowledgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the collaboration network.
• KIDD ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the collaboration network.
• Stanley EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the collaboration network.
• Fairfax County Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor school district partner implementing CPS model.
• The Wailin' JennysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMusical group (Ruth Moody, Heather Masse, Nicky Mehta) serving as supporters whose hearts are described as amazing as their harmonies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Conscious Discipline: Conscious Discipline offers trauma-informed, relationship-based social-emotional learning curricula and training for educators and families — a competing framework in the same "non-punitive, relationship-driven" behavioral support category as CPS.
• RethinkEd: RethinkEd provides a K-12 behavioral health, SEL, and mental wellness platform used by schools and districts — directly overlapping Lives in the Balance's CPS training and school-implementation focus, though delivered as a paid SaaS rather than free resources.
• Committee for Children (Second Step): Committee for Children's Second Step is one of the most widely adopted SEL curricula in U.S. K-12 schools, competing for the same district training and curriculum budgets that Lives in the Balance targets through CPS.
• Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (RULER): RULER is an evidence-based SEL approach developed at Yale for schools, directly competing with CPS in the same K-12 social-emotional and behavioral training space, with comparable academic credibility and school-district distribution.

Others

• Stopitnow (Stop It Now): Stop It Now is a nonprofit focused on child sexual abuse prevention that similarly provides free resources, training, and helpline support — a thematically adjacent child-protection nonprofit with comparable funding, content, and advocacy models.
• CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning): CASEL is the leading research and advocacy organization advancing SEL in U.S. schools — a peer in the broader SEL ecosystem where Lives in the Balance also operates, influencing policy and district adoption frameworks.
• True Crisis Prevention: True Crisis Prevention is directly linked from Lives in the Balance's navigation as a related initiative, indicating a closely allied effort focused on crisis prevention and reducing restraint/seclusion — adjacent in mission and overlapping audience.

Emerging players

• Move This World: Move This World provides SEL and mental health programming for PreK-12 schools — an emerging paid platform competitor that overlaps with CPS in targeting educator training and classroom-level behavioral support.
• Aperture Education: Aperture Education offers the DESSA SEL assessment and intervention platform for schools, intersecting with CPS on the assessment (ALSUP) and behavioral intervention side of school mental health programs.

Broad incumbents

• Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI): CPI is the dominant incumbent in nonviolent crisis intervention training for healthcare and education — Lives in the Balance has explicitly stated it has never partnered with CPI/restraint-industry, making CPI the principal alternative framework in the same institutional training market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LITB_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_vZVcW8jPRhoWy85a6yv8g
• Facebookfacebook.com/livesinthebalance
• Instagraminstagram.com/livesinthebalance

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 Lives In The Balance