Puzzle Pieces

What Puzzle Pieces does

Puzzle Pieces is a Kentucky-based nonprofit organization founded in September 2012 by Amanda Owen, a former special education teacher motivated by her brother who has a rare chromosomal disorder. The organization delivers a coordinated portfolio of disability services to more than 400 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Owensboro and Daviess County region, spanning five core programs: Adult Day Training (social and vocational skill-building for individuals 16+), Employment Opportunities/Supported Employment (job placement and ongoing career support), Behavior Services using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for all ages starting at 18 months, the Owen Autism Center (the region's only targeted autism programming for ages 3-21), and Residential Services (three staffed group homes providing 24/7 care for nine clients). A Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) program and the annual RISE Summit conference serve as complementary offerings.

Underlying the service delivery is a person-centered methodology grounded in evidence-based practices, particularly ABA strategies, functional behavior assessments, positive reinforcement, and individualized goal development. Sensory rooms and a recently installed inclusive sensory outdoor museum/playground — developed in partnership with Miracle Recreation Equipment Company and described as the nation's first — provide specialized physical infrastructure to support behavior regulation and skill development.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack: the bulk of revenue flows from Kentucky Medicaid waivers (Michelle P. Waiver and SCL Waiver, billed at rates including $11/hour for Adult Day Training and $30/hour for 1:1 Medicaid Personal Care) and from state Vocational Rehabilitation funding for Pre-ETS and Employment Opportunities. A private-pay tier ($13-$30/hour for 1:1 support, $15-$40/day for day programs) supplements waiver revenue, while charitable donations, grants, fundraising events, and corporate partnerships (Kroger Community Rewards, Owensboro Health grants) provide capital for facility investment and uncompensated care. Services are accessed through community outreach, school system partnerships (notably Owensboro Public Schools), healthcare referrals, and word-of-mouth, with all delivery occurring on a 27,000 sq ft main campus, a satellite campus, three residential homes, in-home settings, and community job sites in the Owensboro region.

Name

Puzzle Pieces

Legal name

Puzzle Pieces

Website

https://puzzle-pieces.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Puzzle Pieces is a Kentucky-based nonprofit that provides vocational, residential, behavioral, and autism services to more than 400 individuals with intellectual disabilities in the Owensboro region, funded primarily through state Medicaid waivers, vocational rehabilitation, private pay, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Assistive Technology & Learning Tools (Educational) (EDAKAKAM), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), IEP/504 Planning, Case Management & Compliance (EDAJAKAB)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Vocational training programs
• Applied behavior analysis
• Supported employment services
• Residential group homes

Headquarters

HQ city

Owensboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Medicaid Waiver Services: Primary revenue source from government-funded Medicaid waivers including Michelle P. Waiver (MPW) and Supported Community Living (SCL) Waiver. Services covered include community living supports, personal care, day training, behavioral supports, and supported employment.
2. Private Pay: Fee-for-service payments from clients or families who do not have Medicaid Waiver coverage or choose private pay options. Hourly rates from $13-$30 depending on service type.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals, businesses, and grants. The organization received nearly $250,000 from initial fundraisers to launch in 2012. Fundraising events include the annual RISE Summit conference.
4. Vocational Rehabilitation: State-funded employment services for individuals with disabilities. Puzzle Pieces is a vendor for Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and employment opportunities funded through Vocational Rehabilitation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Puzzle Pieces is a nonprofit organization that delivers vocational, behavioral, residential, and autism services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Owensboro, Kentucky region. Its core offerings include Adult Day Training, Employment Opportunities/Supported Employment, Behavior Services using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the Owen Autism Center, and 24/7 Residential Services across three staffed homes. Services are funded through Kentucky Medicaid waivers (Michelle P. Waiver and Supported Community Living Waiver), state Vocational Rehabilitation, private pay, and charitable donations.

Product overview

Puzzle Pieces operates as a multi-service nonprofit organization providing a coordinated portfolio of programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The organization offers five interconnected core services: Adult Day Training (social and vocational skill development), Employment Opportunities/Supported Employment (job placement and career support), Behavior Services/ABA Therapy (behavioral intervention and parent training), the Owen Autism Center (specialized autism programming), and Residential Services (24/7 care in group homes). Additional offerings include Pre-Employment Transition Services for students and the annual RISE Summit conference. Services are funded through Kentucky Medicaid waivers (MPW and SCL) and private pay, with vocational rehabilitation partnerships supporting employment programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Owen Autism Center: The region's only targeted autism programming serving school-aged individuals with autism from age 3 to 21, offering after-school and summer sessions with small group settings to increase independence and improve social skills.

Products and services

• Adult Day Training Program Daytime program for individuals 16 and older providing 1:1, group, and respite support based on evidence-based practices, with person-centered goal development and customizable weekly schedules including community activities and social/vocational skills development. Funded through Medicaid waivers and private pay.
• Employment Opportunities (Supported Employment) Supported employment program that places individuals with physical and/or cognitive disabilities in jobs with local Owensboro employers, providing job development, Person-Centered Employment Plans, and ongoing support throughout the client's employable career.
• Behavior Services (ABA Therapy) 1:1 behavior services for all ages beginning at 18 months, including functional behavior assessments, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) strategies, positive reinforcement, social/communication skills training, and parent training to support positive behavior outcomes.
• Owen Autism Center The region's only targeted autism programming, serving school-aged individuals with autism from age 3 to 21 through structured small-group after-school and summer sessions designed to build independence and social skills in preparation for employment or higher education.
• Residential Services 24/7 staffed residential care across three Puzzle Pieces-owned homes serving nine clients, with daily living skills training (home maintenance, cooking), independence promotion, and Family Home Provider support for foster-care-like arrangements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 17 individuals successfully placed in employment within two years of launching Employment Opportunities program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Owensboro Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership reimagining transitions in special education through the Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) program and the 'Transition Think Tank' initiative to improve student transitions from preschool through age 21.
• Owensboro HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Owensboro Health provided a $40,000 Community Health Investment Grant to support installation of the nation's first inclusive sensory outdoor museum/playground. Without Owensboro Health's support in 2012, Puzzle Pieces wouldn't exist.
• Miracle Recreation Equipment CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Miracle Recreation Equipment Company partnered to install the nation's first inclusive sensory outdoor museum/playground at Puzzle Pieces' campus. Miracle intends this to be a national model and research site for sensory play equipment, working with Puzzle Pieces' child development expert Dr. Tina Stanton-Chapman to study play patterns.
• University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partnership began in 2015 when Puzzle Pieces participated in the Kentucky state-wide scale up of the HealthMatters nutrition and exercise program. HDI provides technical support and resources to integrate health as a fundamental part of policy and programming. The partnership brought education and professionalism to the nonprofit and has been life-changing for client health and wellbeing.
• Vocational RehabilitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing funding for employment services. Puzzle Pieces is a vendor for Adult ABA Service, Pre-ETS, and Employment Opportunities. Clients must first exhaust Vocational Rehabilitation funding before using Supported Employment on Medicaid waivers.
• Employment Partner EmployersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal employers including Zaxby's, UniFirst, Hampton Inn, The Miller House, Enterprise, TTMA, and Old National Bank partner to provide employment opportunities for Puzzle Pieces clients through the Employment Opportunities program.
• Pediatric Dentistry of Owensboro (Dr. Jay Crews)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal pediatric dentist provides inclusive dental care for clients with intellectual disabilities, trained to work with special needs patients including those with autism.
• Wendell FosterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner that helped Puzzle Pieces secure gloves when all other vendors were sold out during COVID-19 pandemic.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RISE Services: Nonprofit provider of residential, day, vocational, and behavioral services to individuals with IDD across multiple states. Comparable because of its blended waiver-funded service portfolio spanning residential, employment, and behavioral lines, similar to Puzzle Pieces' community-led model.
• Penn-Mar Human Services: Mid-Atlantic nonprofit providing residential, day, and employment supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable because of its community-based, person-centered service model spanning residential, vocational, and community participation programs funded by state Medicaid waivers.
• BrightSpring Health Services: Large diversified provider of home- and community-based health and behavioral services, including IDD waiver services, supported employment, and ABA therapy. Comparable because it operates the same Medicaid waiver-funded, person-centered IDD service model that Puzzle Pieces does, just at national scale.
• Opportunity Village: Regional nonprofit providing vocational training, day services, and residential programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities in a single metropolitan area. Closely comparable to Puzzle Pieces as a one-stop, regionally anchored IDD services nonprofit with employer-partner employment programs.
• Community Options: Nonprofit developer and operator of residential homes, day programs, and employment services for people with IDD across multiple states. Comparable because of its person-centered residential and employment service portfolio funded through state Medicaid HCBS waivers, similar to Puzzle Pieces' delivery model.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Nonprofit operating residential, day, and behavioral health programs for individuals with IDD and autism, including ABA-based intervention. Comparable because of its integrated residential-day-behavioral model targeting IDD and autism populations similar to Puzzle Pieces.
• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): National operator of residential, day, and employment programs for adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Directly comparable because its service mix — group home residential, adult day training, supported employment, and ABA — mirrors Puzzle Pieces' integrated portfolio.
• Benchmark Human Services: Nonprofit operator of residential homes, day programs, and supported employment for people with IDD and behavioral health needs. Comparable because of its integrated residential-plus-day-services approach funded through state Medicaid waivers and vocational rehabilitation.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc: National federation of state and local chapters providing advocacy, residential, day, and employment services to people with IDD. Comparable because of overlapping service categories (residential, employment, advocacy), though at much larger scale and breadth than Puzzle Pieces.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit network providing autism services, vocational training, and disability support across the U.S. Comparable in mission and service categories — particularly autism services and employment support — though operating as a broad incumbent across many disability populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/puzzlepiecesky
• Facebookfacebook.com/puzzlepiecesowb

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 Puzzle Pieces