BHK
BHK Child Development is a non-profit 501(C)(3) early childhood education provider, founded in 1974, serving families with children prenatal through age 5 across Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw Counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula via Head Start, Early Head Start, and K-5 out-of-school time programs delivered through 14 community-based centers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersHoughton, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What BHK does
BHK Child Development (legally Baraga-Houghton-Keweenaw Child Development Board, Inc.) is a private non-profit 501(C)(3) community agency founded in 1974 and headquartered at the Rod Liimatainen Center, 700 Park Avenue, Houghton, Michigan. It is the largest provider of early education and care in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, delivering a continuous prenatal-through-age-5 service continuum plus K-5 out-of-school time programming across Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw Counties. Core offerings include Prenatal to Age 3 Programs (home visiting, infant-toddler care, Early Head Start), Preschool Programs (Head Start, Great Start Readiness Program, parent-pay tuition), and Great Explorations afterschool and summer programming for K-5 students, supplemented by family engagement, mental health consultation, nutrition, dental, and developmental screening services.
The organization delivers services through a network of 14 community-based child development centers and additional school-based sites hosted by Baraga Area Schools, L'Anse Area Schools, CLK Schools, Hancock Area Schools, Lake Linden-Hubbell Public Schools, and the Copper Country Intermediate School District. Its pedagogical platform centers on the research-based HighScope Curriculum for all Birth to 5 classrooms and the Parents as Teachers Curriculum for home visiting, both implemented through in-person, child-centered, active-learning approaches. Operational technology includes the ChildPlus online enrollment application for eligibility and enrollment management. A registered Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship program, partnered with Bay Mills Community College, Gogebic Community College, and UP MiWorks!, operates as a workforce-development pipeline.
BHK is funded primarily through federal grants from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (Head Start, Early Head Start), Education (including the $1.5M five-year Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant), and Agriculture, supplemented by Michigan Departments of Education and Health and Human Services (including the Great Start Readiness Program), parent-pay tuition for non-eligible families, and donations processed via PayPal and check. Enrollment is governed by federal poverty guidelines for free programs, with a tuition tier for income-ineligible families when funded slots are filled. The 2010 designation as a National Center of Excellence by the Federal Administration for Children and Families is the most prominent external recognition on record. Governance is exercised through a volunteer Board of Directors with a Parent/Policy Council representative, and no parent company, subsidiaries, or M&A activity are disclosed.
BHK firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BHK
- Legal name
- Baraga-Houghton-Keweenaw Child Development Board, Inc.
- Website
- https://bhkfirst.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- BHK Child Development is a non-profit 501(C)(3) early childhood education provider, founded in 1974, serving families with children prenatal through age 5 across Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw Counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula via Head Start, Early Head Start, and K-5 out-of-school time programs delivered through 14 community-based centers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BHK industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early Childhood Education Services
- NAICS
- Child Care Services (624410), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (611), Child and Youth Services (624110)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs (EDACABAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Early Head Start & Publicly Funded Infant/Toddler Programs (EDACAGAH), Center-Based Toddler Care (18–36 months) (EDACAGAB), Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAD), Developmental Screening & Assessment (0–5) (EDACAFAA)
Keywords
Where BHK is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houghton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices13 records
Markets served
BHK business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Federal Grants: Primary funding from federal sources including U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (Head Start, Early Head Start), Education, and Agriculture. The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant provides $1.5 million over five years for out-of-school time programs.
- State Funding: Funding from Michigan's Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, including Great Start Readiness Program for 4-year-olds.
- Parent Pay/Tuition: Tuition-based enrollment options for families who do not qualify for free programs. Children 3 or 4 years of age may enroll on a parent pay basis if space allows after funded enrollment slots are filled.
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Money contributed supports activities not directly funded through grants such as scholarships, technology updates, facility improvements, and innovative initiatives. Donations may be made online via PayPal or by check.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Early Head Start / Head Start (Free) |
| Other | Annual | Great Start Readiness Program (Free) |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Parent Pay/Tuition-Based (Full Cost) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
BHK product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BHK Child Development is a non-profit community agency that provides early childhood education and care services from the prenatal period through 5th grade across Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw Counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Core offerings include Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms, Great Start Readiness Program preschool, parent-pay tuition preschool, K-5 afterschool and summer enrichment (Great Explorations), home visiting, family engagement, child health screenings, nutrition, and mental health consultation. Programs are delivered through 14 community-based centers and partner school locations, funded primarily by federal and state grants with tuition and donations.
Product overview
BHK is a non-profit early childhood education and care organization providing a comprehensive suite of programs for children from prenatal to age 5 and their families across Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw Counties in Michigan. The core offerings include Prenatal to Age 3 Programs (Home Visiting, Infant/Toddler Care, Early Head Start), Preschool Programs (Head Start, Great Start Readiness Program, parent-pay), and K-5 Out-of-School Time Programming (Great Explorations). These programs are delivered through multiple centers and school partnerships, supported by family engagement services, health screenings, and nutrition services. BHK does not offer a technology product or platform—it is a direct service provider of educational and developmental services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Prenatal to Age 3 Programs Home visiting services and infant-toddler care for children from birth to age 3, including Early Head Start services, developmental support, and breastfeeding assistance for expectant families. Targeted at expectant mothers and at-risk families in BHK's three-county service area.
- Preschool Programs Early education for children ages 3-5, including Head Start (federally funded), Great Start Readiness Program (state-funded for 4-year-olds), and parent-pay options, focusing on school readiness across developmental domains. For families in Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw Counties.
- K-5 Out-Of-School Time Programming (Great Explorations) Afterschool and summer enrichment programs for K-5 students providing academic support, STEM, literacy, arts, health/wellness activities, and character building, operated at local elementary schools in Baraga and Houghton Counties. Funded in part by the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant.
- Comprehensive Prenatal to 5 Services Integrated services including child health services, developmental screenings, HighScope Curriculum, nutrition services, mental health consultation, family well-being support, home visits, and parent leadership opportunities. Bundled support for children from prenatal to age 5 and their families.
- Family Engagement Services Resources, activities, and support for parents including home visits, parent-teacher conferences, referrals to community services, and parent leadership opportunities. For families enrolled in BHK programs and the broader community.
- Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Program Registered apprenticeship program in partnership with Bay Mills Community College, Gogebic Community College, and UP MiWorks! providing on-the-job training, mentoring, and T.E.A.C.H. scholarships for early childhood educators pursuing college coursework.
Companies that use BHK
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
BHK technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
BHK partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Bay Mills Community CollegecoreEducational partner in the Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship program, providing college coursework pathways for early childhood educators.
- Gogebic Community CollegecoreEducational partner in the Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship program, providing college coursework pathways for early childhood educators.
- UP MiWorks!coreWorkforce development partner supporting the Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship program through T.E.A.C.H. scholarships for apprentices.
- Copper Shores Community Health FoundationcoreHosts the annual Giving Tuesday event with amplified donations up to $200,000. BHK participates as a featured nonprofit receiving matched contributions.
- Upper Great Lakes Family Health CentercoreProvides mobile dental services for in-school dental days, offering oral screenings, cleanings, and oral health education to BHK students.
- From the Ground Farmers Market CollectivesupportingLocal non-profit collaborating with local farmers and food producers to provide families access to fresh, nutritious food. Fourteen BHK families participate in a 12-week CSA program.
- Aspirus HealthsupportingHealthcare partner supporting child health services and family wellness programs.
- Baraga Area SchoolscoreSchool district partner hosting Best Start and Great Explorations programs at school facilities.
- L'Anse Area SchoolscoreSchool district partner hosting preschool, Best Start, and Great Explorations programs at school facilities.
- CLK SchoolssupportingSchool district partner for early childhood and out-of-school time programming.
- Hancock Area SchoolssupportingSchool district partner hosting preschool programming.
- Lake Linden-Hubbell Public SchoolssupportingSchool district partner hosting preschool programming.
- Michigan Technological UniversitysupportingHigher education partner in the Upper Peninsula supporting early childhood education initiatives.
- Western UP Health DepartmentsupportingPublic health partner supporting child health services and community wellness.
- UP Health System - PortagesupportingHealthcare system partner supporting child health and wellness services.
- Copper Country Intermediate School DistrictsupportingRegional education service agency partner supporting program coordination.
- Copper Country Senior MealssupportingCommunity partner for family nutrition and food security programs.
- Clark Hill Law FirmsupportingLegal services partner supporting organizational operations.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BHK competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- KinderCare Learning Centers: KinderCare is one of the largest private U.S. providers of early childhood education and care, serving infants through school-age children across a national network of centers. It is comparable to BHK in core service category (child day care and preschool) but operates for-profit at much larger scale.
- Learning Care Group: Learning Care Group operates multiple early childhood education brands (including Childtime, La Petite Academy, and Tutor Time) with hundreds of centers nationwide. It is a broad incumbent in the same child care services category as BHK, though it operates as a for-profit corporate consolidator.
- Primrose Schools: Primrose Schools is a national franchise system of accredited early childhood education centers serving infants through school-age children with a proprietary balanced-learning curriculum. It is comparable to BHK as a preschool/early education operator, though via a for-profit franchise model.
- YMCA of the USA: YMCA is a national non-profit community organization that delivers licensed childcare, preschool, before- and after-school programs, and family services through local branches — closely paralleling BHK's non-profit community-based model that combines early childhood education and out-of-school time programming.
- Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Bright Horizons is the largest U.S. provider of employer-sponsored childcare and early education, operating hundreds of centers nationwide. It is comparable to BHK as a broad incumbent in the same child care services category, though it operates a for-profit corporate model rather than community-based non-profit.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Boys & Girls Clubs is a national non-profit delivering afterschool, summer, and youth development programming for school-age children through local affiliates. It is comparable to BHK's K-5 Great Explorations afterschool/summer programs and shares the non-profit, community-based, federally and locally funded operating model.
Others
- Child Care Aware of America: Child Care Aware of America is the national non-profit policy and resource hub for the U.S. child care sector, working closely with Head Start programs and state networks. It is thematically comparable to BHK as a sector-level peer organization addressing childcare access, workforce, and family support.
- Teaching Strategies: Teaching Strategies is a leading provider of early childhood curricula, assessment tools, and professional development (including the Creative Curriculum and GOLD assessment widely used in Head Start). It is comparable to BHK as a critical ecosystem supplier serving the same Head Start/early childhood provider customer base.
- Parents as Teachers: Parents as Teachers is the national non-profit that developed the home-visiting curriculum BHK uses in its Home Visiting program. It is a directly relevant supplier/peer organization providing the evidence-based model underpinning one of BHK's core prenatal-to-3 service lines.
- HighScope Educational Research Foundation: HighScope is the research organization that developed the HighScope Curriculum, which BHK uses across all Birth to 5 classrooms. It is a directly relevant ecosystem participant — a curriculum/intellectual-property provider that is a key supplier relationship for BHK and many peer Head Start programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BHK social profiles
Digital presenceBHK financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BHK leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
BHK funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BHK M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BHK
What does BHK do?
BHK Child Development is a non-profit community agency that provides early childhood education and care services from the prenatal period through 5th grade across Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw Counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Core offerings include Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms, Great Start Readiness Program preschool, parent-pay tuition preschool, K-5 afterschool and summer enrichment (Great Explorations), home visiting, family engagement, child health screenings, nutrition, and mental health consultation. Programs are delivered through 14 community-based centers and partner school locations, funded primarily by federal and state grants with tuition and donations.
Is BHK a public or private company?
BHK is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was BHK founded?
BHK was founded in 1974. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is BHK based?
BHK is headquartered in Houghton, United States, in the North America region.
How does BHK make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Federal Grants are the primary driver. The others are state Funding, parent Pay/Tuition and donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are BHK's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are KinderCare Learning Centers, Learning Care Group, Primrose Schools, YMCA of the USA, Bright Horizons Family Solutions and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Others are Child Care Aware of America, Teaching Strategies, Parents as Teachers and HighScope Educational Research Foundation.
Does BHK have an API?
No public API is recorded for BHK.
What industry is BHK in?
BHK's product category is Early Childhood Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACABAK, Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs, with a secondary code of EDACAGAH, Early Head Start & Publicly Funded Infant/Toddler Programs. Its NAICS code is 624410 and its SIC code is 8351.