Children's Mental Health Services

What Children's Mental Health Services does

Children's Mental Health Services (CMHS, d/b/a CMHS/REACH Inc.) is a Minnesota nonprofit comprehensive mental health center founded in 1988 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, MN. The organization provides diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative mental health services for children from birth through early adulthood and their families, primarily in Itasca, St. Louis, and Aitkin Counties. Service delivery is anchored in schools: CMHS provides Children's Therapeutic Services & Supports (CTSS) and School-Based REACH (Rehabilitative Education Assistance for Children's Health) directly inside every school in seven Itasca County school districts, supplemented by a clinical outpatient office in Grand Rapids, in-home services, and a 6-week Summer REACH program. Treatment modalities are evidence-based practices including TF-CBT, EMDR, DBT, Play Therapy, Sand Tray Therapy, Art Intervention, and the Incredible Years parenting curriculum, with a dedicated Birth to 5 specialty track and a Children's Mental Health Targeted Case Management service line.

The business model is reimbursement-based, with most services covered by Medical Assistance (Medicaid), private insurance, and Itasca County contracts. A School-Linked Behavioral Health Grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services supports free or reduced-rate services, and as an Essential Community Provider, CMHS does not turn away families unable to pay. The organization operates as an independent nonprofit with no parent company and no private equity or venture capital ownership; current Executive Director Tom Potter also serves as MN DHS SLBH Grant Manager, and clinical leadership is provided by two MSW/LICSW Clinical Program Directors. Non-clinical revenue includes donations and an endowment, supplemented by the annual Stomp on Stigma 5K fundraiser benefiting CMHS, NAMI, and Kiesler Wellness Center.

The go-to-market motion is community-led: referrals are generated through school partnerships, healthcare provider referrals, county-contracted case management, self-referrals, and a Local Advisory Council on Mental Health. Distribution channels include on-site school services, a clinical outpatient office, in-home family services, and a formal partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Customer concentration is defined by payer mix rather than individual clients - the bulk of revenue is tied to Medical Assistance, private insurance, and a single county and state contracting relationship. The organization has 35+ years of operating history, holds National Health Service Corps and MNSure Partner designations, and serves an exclusively Minnesota-based rural and small-metro population.

Name

Children's Mental Health Services

Legal name

Children's Mental Health Services/REACH Inc.

Website

https://cmhsreach.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Children's Mental Health Services (CMHS) is a Grand Rapids, Minnesota nonprofit providing comprehensive mental health care for children birth through early adulthood and their families. It delivers evidence-based therapy, CTSS, and School-Based REACH services on-site in seven Itasca County school districts, plus outpatient, in-home, and Birth to 5 programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Mental Health Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAFACAL

Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment

Keywords

• Children's mental health services
• School-based mental health
• Family therapy services
• Evidence-based behavioral therapy
• Pediatric mental health treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Medical Assistance (Medicaid): Most services covered by Medical Assistance for eligible children and families.
2. Private Insurance: Services covered by private insurance plans.
3. County Government Funding: Services contracted and funded through Itasca County for case management and other mental health services.
4. School-Linked Behavioral Health Grant: Free or reduced rates provided through School-Linked Behavioral Health Grant sponsored by Minnesota Department of Human Services. As an essential community provider, no child/family is turned away for inability to pay.
5. Donations and Endowments: Financial donations and endowment contributions for ongoing support of the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CMHS delivers comprehensive mental health services to children from birth through early adulthood and their families across Itasca, St. Louis, and Aitkin Counties in Minnesota. Core offerings center on the Children's Therapeutic Services & Supports (CTSS) framework, with school-based delivery of therapies including TF-CBT, EMDR, DBT, Play Therapy, and Art Intervention, supported by case management, diagnostic assessments, and parenting programs.

Product overview

Children's Mental Health Services (CMHS) is a comprehensive mental health center primarily serving children and their families since 1988. The organization offers a unified portfolio of mental health services rather than a software platform. Core services include Children's Therapeutic Services & Supports (CTSS) as the primary service delivery framework, with specialized programs such as School-Based REACH, Summer REACH Program, and School-Linked Behavioral Health Services. The organization provides therapeutic interventions including Individual/Group/Family Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Play Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), EMDR, and Art Intervention Services. Additional offerings include Diagnostic Assessments for Birth to 5 and older populations, Targeted Case Management, Day Treatment, and Parenting Skills Programs. Services are delivered in schools, at the outpatient office in Grand Rapids, and in family homes across Itasca, St. Louis, and Aitkin Counties in Minnesota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Children's Therapeutic Services & Supports (CTSS) A flexible package of mental health services for children requiring varying therapeutic and rehabilitative levels of intervention, encompassing School-Based Skills Training, Office-Based Skills Training, In-Home Skills and Therapy, Psychotherapy, and Crisis Services. Designed for children with mental health diagnoses and their families.
• School-Based REACH (Rehabilitative Education Assistance for Children's Health) School-based mental health services delivered through CTSS, including individual and group skill work as well as crisis assistance, provided directly in Itasca County schools. Intended for K-12 students needing on-site therapeutic support.
• School-Linked Behavioral Health Services Mental health services provided in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Human Services through a School-Linked Behavioral Health Grant, supporting free or reduced rates as part of CMHS's essential community provider role.
• Summer REACH Program A 6-week intensive rehabilitative skills-based summer program providing therapeutic and fun activities in a group setting for children, guided by Licensed Mental Health Professionals and Mental Health Practitioners.
• Individual, Group, and Family Therapy Therapeutic services for individuals from birth through adulthood, utilizing evidence-based practices to help children process difficult thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and experiences.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) An evidence-based, structured treatment program for adolescents struggling with regulating emotions, interpersonal relations, and self-harmful behaviors, typically running for 16 weeks and including individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and 24/7 telephone coaching.
• Play Therapy Therapeutic intervention using play — including art play, sand play, dramatic play, and fantasy play — to help children cope with emotional stress or trauma.
• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) An evidence-based treatment approach shown to help children, adolescents, and their caretakers overcome trauma-related difficulties by addressing distorted trauma-related beliefs and supporting processing of traumatic experiences.
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Trauma-informed therapy technique for processing traumatic memories and experiences.
• Diagnostic Assessment Services Comprehensive assessments performed by Licensed Mental Health Professionals, including face-to-face interviews, family interviews, questionnaires, and reviews of school functioning, behavior, and mood patterns, to form diagnoses and treatment recommendations for Birth to 5 and 5 through Adult populations.
• Birth to 5 Comprehensive Services Mental health services specifically designed for infants, toddlers, and preschool children and their families, including screening, consultation, and therapeutic support services in school or family home settings.
• Children's Mental Health Targeted Case Management Case management services for children and families with highly complex situations involving multiple problems that require involvement of community resources.
• Day Treatment Services Intensive mental health services provided at certain school sites during school hours.
• In-Home Individual and Family Rehabilitative Skills Rehabilitative skills training provided in the family home setting when family involvement is important for treatment.
• Parenting Skills Programs Programs such as The Incredible Years Evidenced Based Treatment Curriculum, including a 16-week parent training series for parents of young children.
• Sand Tray Therapy Therapeutic technique using sand and miniature figures to help children express and process emotions and experiences.
• Art Intervention Services Uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance mental, emotional, and physical well-being, helping people resolve conflicts, manage behavior, reduce stress, and increase self-esteem.

Quantifiable outcome

• CTSS services are time-limited interventions with measurable treatment outcomes identified in individual treatment plans (ITPs)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Minnesota Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Minnesota Department of Human Services for School-Linked Behavioral Health Services. CMHS provides essential community mental health services under this partnership with grant funding supporting free/reduced rates for families.
• Itasca County Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty contracted services for Case Management and mental health services. Close collaboration with county for mental health services delivery and Local Advisory Council partnership.
• Itasca County School DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServices provided in every school in Itasca County including Bigfork, Deer River, Grand Rapids, Greenway, Hill City, Nashwauk-Keewatin, and Warba districts. Partnership enables school-based mental health services and therapeutic supports.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Grand RapidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral and resource partnership for families. CMHS directs clients to NAMI resources and support groups. NAMI Grand Rapids provides online support group meetings and mental health resources.
• National Alliance on Mental IllnessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeneficiary of Stomp on Stigma 5K fundraiser event, with proceeds supporting NAMI mental health programs.
• Kiesler Wellness CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeneficiary of Stomp on Stigma 5K fundraiser event.
• Early Childhood Providers (Itasca County)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration with all Early Childhood providers throughout Itasca County in meeting mental health needs of Birth to Five population.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• PrairieCare: Larger Minnesota-based behavioral health provider operating a continuum from outpatient to residential programs for children and adolescents; broader scale and geographic reach but overlapping pediatric behavioral health service lines.
• Rogers Behavioral Health: National specialty behavioral health system with strong presence in Minnesota, including DBT and pediatric mental health programs that overlap with CMHS's evidence-based modality portfolio.

Regional players

• Woodland Centers: Community mental health provider serving western Minnesota counties with outpatient therapy, crisis, and case management for children and families — comparable rural operating model in an adjacent region.

Emerging players

• Ellie Mental Health: Multi-state outpatient mental health franchise including Minnesota locations with children's services; for-profit, scaled-up alternative showing how the same community-therapy model can be commercialized.

Direct peers

• Human Development Center: Community mental health and substance use provider in northeastern Minnesota offering outpatient, school-linked, and CTSS-equivalent services to children and families — highly comparable rural community-behavioral-health operator.
• Northwestern Mental Health Center: Community mental health center serving northwestern Minnesota with children's mental health, case management, and school-based service lines — very similar rural community-behavioral-health footprint.
• Northern Pines Mental Health Center: Community mental health center serving north-central Minnesota with a comparable mix of outpatient therapy, case management, children's mental health, and school-linked services — the closest direct operational analog to CMHS in the region.
• Range Mental Health Center: Minnesota-based community mental health center providing outpatient mental health services, case management, and children's programs across rural northern counties — directly comparable in scale, payer mix, and service model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CMHSREACH/?fref=ts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/childrens-mental-health-service-reach

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Children's Mental Health Services