FamilyForward

What FamilyForward does

FamilyForward is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri, that provides trauma-informed therapeutic and educational services for children and families affected by abuse, neglect, and developmental trauma. The organization was formed in 2017 through the merger of Children's Home Society of Missouri and Family Resource Center and operates as a registered charity (EIN 43-0652622) under the legal name Children's Home Society of Missouri, doing business as FamilyForward. As of 2024, FamilyForward served 5,546 children, families, and community members; delivered 6,285 hours of therapy, 520 trauma and psychological assessments, and 1,306 in-home visits; and reported that 99.9% of children receiving services live safely with their caregivers.

The service portfolio is integrated and delivered primarily through a 9.5-acre, 41,778 sq. ft. Developmental Trauma Campus in Saint Louis, supplemented by satellite offices in Creve Coeur, Hillsboro, and Potosi. Core offerings include trauma assessments and therapy (individual, family, and group), occupational therapy, a therapeutic preschool serving children ages 3-6, foster care case management, home visiting, kinship navigation, and caregiver education. The clinical model is anchored by the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), in which FamilyForward was the first St. Louis-region agency to achieve site certification from the ChildTrauma Academy (2015), and by the Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment (SMART) Room introduced in 2023 — the first of its kind in the region. Therapists also hold certifications in Play Therapy, Theraplay, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, EMDR, TFCBT, Parent-Child Interactive Therapy, Attachment Regulation Competency, and Training on Adoption Competency.

FamilyForward's revenue model is donation-driven: services are delivered at no cost to eligible families, with funding sourced from individual and corporate donations, foundation grants (e.g., Boeing $130,000 in 2018, YouthBridge $100,000 in 2019), institutional partners (United Way of Greater St. Louis, Children's Service Fund), planned giving programs, in-kind donations via Charity Clothing Pickup, and fundraising events including an annual gala that raised over $600,000 in 2026. Client access is referral-based, driven primarily by Missouri Children's Division and other social service agencies, with co-located training and outreach channels including the "Out Front with FamilyForward" podcast, a Thinkific-powered online Learning Center for professionals, and a quarterly LifeLines newsletter. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, led by CEO Karen E. Nolte, LCSW, and employs a 150-person team of licensed clinicians and program staff.

Name

FamilyForward

Legal name

Children's Home Society of Missouri

Website

https://familyforwardmo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

FamilyForward is a Saint Louis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing trauma-informed therapeutic, educational, and foster care services for children and families affected by abuse and neglect across the St. Louis region, funded primarily through donations, grants, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare & Trauma-Informed Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ), Family Advocacy, Parent Training & Support Services (EDAJAKAK)

Keywords

• Trauma-informed therapy
• Child welfare services
• Foster care programs
• Developmental trauma treatment
• Family support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporations support the organization's programs and services. FamilyForward is a registered 501(c)(3) organization with EIN number 43-0652622. Missouri tax credits are available for donations of $1,000 or more.
2. Annual Fundraising Events: Major annual gala (Rocket Ball) raising over $600,000 in 2026, plus community events including pickleball tournaments, wine tastings, canvas painting nights, and trivia events.
3. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Planned giving programs allowing donors to include FamilyForward in estate plans, including donor-advised funds, beneficiary designations, and charitable bequests.
4. In-Kind Donations: Clothing and household items donated through Clothing for a Cause program, with 100% of proceeds from Charity Clothing Pickup recycled sales going to FamilyForward.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FamilyForward is a nonprofit organization delivering trauma-informed therapeutic and educational services to children ages 3-19 and their families in the St. Louis region. Core services include trauma assessments, individual and family therapy, occupational therapy, a therapeutic preschool, foster care case management, home visiting, kinship navigation, and caregiver education. Most services are provided at no cost to eligible families and are funded through donations, grants, and community partnerships.

Product overview

FamilyForward is a nonprofit social services organization offering a comprehensive suite of trauma-informed therapeutic and educational services for children and families in the St. Louis region. The organization operates as a single integrated platform of services including Assessments (trauma evaluation using Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics), Therapy (individual/family/group sessions with multiple therapeutic certifications), Therapeutic Preschool (Lesley Ann Waldheim Early Childhood Center for ages 3-6), Occupational Therapy (trauma-specific), Foster Care case management, Home Visiting, Kinship Navigator, and Caregiver Education. Additional offerings include the S.M.A.R.T. Room (Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment), a podcast (Out Front with FamilyForward), and an online Learning Center. Most services are delivered at their physical locations (Developmental Trauma Center, Early Childhood Center, and satellite offices in Hillsboro and Potosi), with some training available via their Thinkific-powered platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Assessments Trauma and psychological assessments for children ages 4-19 who have experienced abuse and/or neglect, using the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) approach and producing comprehensive evaluation reports with recommendations for home and school support.
• Therapy Individual and family therapy for children ages 4-19 who have experienced chronic abuse and/or neglect, including therapeutic youth groups, summer day camps, and caregiver support groups. Therapists hold certifications in Play Therapy, Theraplay, EMDR, TFCBT, and Attachment Regulation Competency (ARC).
• Therapeutic Preschool The Lesley Ann Waldheim Early Childhood Center provides therapeutic preschool for children ages 3-6 with developmental trauma, integrating individual play therapy, occupational therapy, group therapy, and caregiver engagement using the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics. Offered at no cost for eligible families.
• Occupational Therapy Trauma-specific occupational therapy that uses the strengths of the child and caregiving environment to help clients participate in meaningful activities, with emphasis on sensory regulation, executive functioning, and motor development.
• Foster Care Case management services working with the State of Missouri to support families navigating alternative care, collaborating with biological families toward reunification while ensuring child well-being. Supported 563 youth in 2024.
• Home Visiting Family coaching services provided in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Jefferson County, and St. Charles County to equip caregivers with personalized support and resources in their homes. Delivered 1,306 in-home visits in the most recent reporting period.
• Kinship Navigator Guides kinship caretakers through the ins and outs of kinship care, helping them navigate systems and connect with resources for legal, educational, and medical support.
• Caregiver Education Provides pre-service training for foster/adoption journeys, ongoing in-service training, home assessments for licensing, and parenting classes using the Nurturing Parenting curriculum for birth families and professionals.
• Learning Center Online learning platform (powered by Thinkific) offering courses and educational opportunities for professionals working with children and families impacted by trauma, including specialized training for organizations serving trauma-impacted populations.
• S.M.A.R.T. Room Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment room using specialized therapeutic equipment (weighted blankets, balance beams, swings, fitness balls, textured fabrics, large cushions) to help trauma-impacted children process traumatic experiences through full-body, interactive play such as climbing, swinging, and making music.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,546 people served in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2026Pott Child Advocacy Award recipient for nearly 20 years of partnership. Most recently helped create a sensory path at the Developmental Trauma Center through technical expertise and leadership. Contributed to the Rocket Ball as Silver Sponsor and Bronze Sponsor.
• Alberici ConstructorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2026Pott Child Advocacy Award recipient for nearly 20 years of partnership. Partnered to create a sensory path at the Developmental Trauma Center. Contributed as Gold Sponsor to Rocket Ball gala.
• Charity Clothing PickupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2026Partner for Clothing for a Cause program - recycles donated items for sale with 100% of proceeds donated back to support FamilyForward programs.
• Washington University in St. LouismajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2026Copper Sponsor of 2026 Rocket Ball gala. Dr. Robert Lee Williams II was pivotal in developing the African and African American Studies program at Washington University.
• United Way of Greater St. LouiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured by United Way highlighting FamilyForward's innovative approach to navigating effects of childhood trauma in the Therapeutic Preschool using Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics.
• ChildTrauma AcademycoreTechnology or IntegrationFamilyForward was the first agency in St. Louis region to become site certified in Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) by the ChildTrauma Academy in 2015. Dr. Bruce Perry, founder, has been associated with the organization.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Boys Town: Boys Town is a national nonprofit providing child and family services, including in-home family support, foster care, residential care, and behavioral health. Directly comparable to FamilyForward in mission, service mix (foster care, therapy, family support), and trauma-informed approach to youth and families.
• Pressley Ridge: Pressley Ridge provides therapeutic foster care, residential services, and community-based programs for children and families affected by trauma. Highly comparable to FamilyForward's mix of therapy, foster care, kinship support, and caregiver education under a trauma-informed lens.
• Children's Home Society of California: Children's Home Society of California is a nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, mental health, and early childhood services. Comparable to FamilyForward as a sibling organization under the broader Children's Home Society network, with overlapping service lines in foster care, adoption, and family therapy.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Devereux is one of the largest nonprofit providers of behavioral health services for children and adolescents, including trauma-informed therapy, foster care, and family services. Comparable to FamilyForward in therapeutic modalities, certification-driven clinical model, and nonprofit delivery structure.
• Children's Home & Aid: Children's Home & Aid is a Midwest-rooted nonprofit delivering child welfare, foster care, adoption, early childhood, and family support services. Comparable to FamilyForward in legacy nonprofit structure, regional scope, and integrated family-services portfolio.
• KVC Health Systems: KVC Health Systems is a nonprofit child welfare and behavioral health organization offering foster care, adoption, in-home family services, and residential treatment across multiple states. Closely comparable to FamilyForward's foster care, adoption, and family support service lines for at-risk children.
• Maryville Academy: Maryville Academy provides foster care, residential, therapeutic day school, and family support services for abused and neglected children. Comparable to FamilyForward in trauma-focused service mix, foster care emphasis, and nonprofit operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Lutheran Services in America: Lutheran Services in America is a national network of 300+ Lutheran social service organizations delivering foster care, adoption, behavioral health, and family support. Comparable to FamilyForward in faith-rooted nonprofit service mix and child welfare focus, though operating at much larger scale.
• Casey Family Programs: Casey Family Programs is a national operating foundation focused on safely reducing the need for foster care and improving child welfare systems. Comparable to FamilyForward's child welfare and foster care work, but operates as a philanthropy/field builder rather than direct service provider.
• Childhelp: Childhelp is a national nonprofit addressing child abuse through prevention, intervention, treatment, and advocacy. Comparable to FamilyForward's trauma-informed mission, but more focused on awareness/advocacy and residential treatment than the integrated regional service-delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL3li873VLmRTlahf09TqMSK4ijXOB01fx
• Instagraminstagram.com/familyforwardmo
• Xx.com/familyforwardmo
• Facebookfacebook.com/familyforwardmo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/familyforwardmo

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 FamilyForward