Crosswinds Youth Services

What Crosswinds Youth Services does

Crosswinds Youth Services, Inc. is a Florida-incorporated nonprofit organization founded in 1974 and headquartered at 1407 Dixon Boulevard, Cocoa, Florida. It provides a comprehensive network of social services for at-risk, runaway, homeless, and foster-care youth in Brevard County, with a stated 50-year track record that included a 50th anniversary milestone on April 16, 2024. Its core programs are the Robert E. Lehton Children's Shelter (24/7 emergency residential care), Community Counseling, Juvenile Assessment Center Services, Independent Living Services for youth aging out of foster care, a Prearrest Delinquency Citation diversion program, and Project Safe Place (a national program operated locally through over 100 designated community sites displaying the yellow-and-black Safe Place sign). Services are delivered free of charge to eligible youth and families under a "Turn no child or family away regardless of their ability to pay" principle, with a 24/7 helpline at (321) 452-0800.

The organization's revenue model is a mix of federal grant funding (notably HHS/Administration for Children and Families Grant Number 90CY7508 from the Family and Youth Services Bureau), corporate sponsorships (e.g., Variety – The Children's Charity of Florida, $2,500 to the Great Brevard Duck Race), individual donations (online, tribute gifts, AmazonSmile at 0.5% of eligible purchases, employer matching), special-event fundraising (the annual Great Brevard Duck Race), and in-kind community donations. Go-to-market is community-led: referrals originate from schools, law enforcement, and the Florida Department of Children and Families, supplemented by direct outreach and the Safe Place site network. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by President/CEO Mike Scully, VP/COO Karen Locke, Director of Counseling John Weimann, Compliance Administrator Pierre Bando, and Independent Living Administrator Marva Young. There is no technology product, AI/ML capability, API, or app; service delivery is entirely human-staffed, and the disclosed technology footprint is limited to a public website with online donation processing and standard cookie/HTTPS infrastructure.

Name

Crosswinds Youth Services

Legal name

Crosswinds Youth Services, Inc.

Website

https://crosswindsyouthservices.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Crosswinds Youth Services is a Florida nonprofit founded in 1974 that provides free 24/7 emergency shelter, counseling, assessment, and crisis-intervention services for at-risk, runaway, homeless, and foster-care youth across Brevard County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth and Family Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

Keywords

• Youth social services
• Emergency youth shelter
• Runaway youth support
• Foster care transition
• Family counseling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cocoa

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Crosswinds receives federal funding through grants such as Grant Number 90CY7508 from the Family and Youth Services Bureau within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners provide financial sponsorships for events like the Great Brevard Duck Race and ongoing operational support. Examples include Variety – The Children's Charity of Florida ($2,500 sponsorship).
3. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through online donations, tribute gifts, AmazonSmile program (0.5% of eligible purchases), and employer-matched giving programs.
4. Special Events: Annual fundraising events including the Great Brevard Duck Race generate revenue through sponsorships and participant donations.
5. In-Kind Donations: Community donations of supplies including gift cards, school supplies, gym bags, personal toiletry items, and recreational items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Crosswinds Youth Services operates as a nonprofit direct-service provider delivering 24/7 emergency shelter, counseling, case management, assessment, and crisis intervention to at-risk, runaway, and homeless youth and their families in Brevard County, Florida. Programs include the Robert E. Lehton Children's Shelter, Community Counseling, Juvenile Assessment Center Services, Independent Living Services for foster-care youth, Prearrest Delinquency Citation, and the local Project Safe Place network.

Product overview

Crosswinds Youth Services is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive network of social services for at-risk, runaway, and homeless youth in Brevard County, Florida. The organization operates The Robert E. Lehton Children's Shelter as its core residential facility, supplemented by Community Counseling, Juvenile Assessment Center Services, Independent Living Services, Prearrest Delinquency Citation, and Project Safe Place. Additional support services include Resources For Teens and Resources For Parents. Together, these programs provide 24/7 emergency shelter, counseling, case management, information and referral services, assessment, and service planning for youth and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Robert E. Lehton Children's Shelter Emergency residential care offering a welcoming, homelike setting for children and teens in need of 24/7 shelter and support; serves runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth in Brevard County.
• Community Counseling Community-based program where counselors work with young people and their families to find solutions to behavioral, truancy, and family-conflict issues.
• Juvenile Assessment Center Services Comprehensive assessment services for Brevard County youth in need, including those who are arrested and those at risk of delinquency.
• Independent Living Services Services assisting youth who are aging out of foster care in making a successful transition to independent adulthood, including life-skills training and housing assistance.
• Prearrest Delinquency Citation Alternative to arrest program for youth with eligible misdemeanor offenses that holds them accountable while offering counseling and other support services.
• Project Safe Place National program offering immediate help to children and teens who have run away, are homeless, on the streets, in an unsafe situation, or alone or afraid; access through more than 100 designated Safe Place sites in Brevard County.
• Resources For Teens Information and resources for teens facing runaway situations, homelessness, or unsafe conditions.
• Resources For Parents Information and resources for parents dealing with youth who are threatening to run away, are truant, or experiencing other problems.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Brevard Homeless CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization working collaboratively on homelessness issues in Brevard County. Partnership supports coordinated efforts to address youth homelessness.
• Florida Department of Children and FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner providing regulatory oversight and collaborative support for child welfare and family services in Florida.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner supporting housing and homelessness initiatives. Crosswinds participates in HUD-funded programs addressing youth homelessness.
• Safe Place NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational program under which Crosswinds operates Project Safe Place in Brevard County, offering immediate help to children and teens who have run away, are homeless, or in unsafe situations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Boys Town: National nonprofit providing youth and family services including shelter, residential care, in-home family services, and behavioral health. Broader incumbent comparable to Crosswinds' at-risk youth, family counseling, and runaway/homeless services across multiple program lines.
• YMCA of the USA: National nonprofit providing youth development programs including before/after-school care, residential camps, and family services. A broader incumbent whose community-based access points and youth development mission partially overlap with Crosswinds' family and youth support work.

Direct peers

• Children of the Night: Nonprofit operating a residential shelter and outreach programs for children and adolescents trapped in prostitution, trafficking, and homelessness. Directly comparable focus on 24/7 youth shelter and crisis intervention for exploited and homeless youth.
• Covenant House: National nonprofit operating shelter and supportive housing for homeless and trafficked youth ages 16-24. Directly comparable to Crosswinds as it provides 24/7 emergency shelter, counseling, and transition services for at-risk youth, though at much larger multi-site scale.
• Larkin Street Youth Services: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and wraparound services for homeless and at-risk youth ages 12-24. Comparable in offering a continuum of emergency shelter, counseling, case management, and independent living/transition services, but at a larger urban scale.
• National Safe Place Network: The national umbrella under which Crosswinds operates Project Safe Place. Directly comparable as it sets program standards, trains local sites, and coordinates the network of community access points for runaway and homeless youth.
• Florence Crittenton Services: Regional nonprofit providing residential, counseling, and educational services for at-risk youth and young women including foster care transition programs. Comparable service mix to Crosswinds' shelter, counseling, and independent living programs for vulnerable youth populations.
• HomeBase Youth Services: Local nonprofit providing drop-in center, shelter, case management, and housing programs for homeless youth. Closely aligned with Crosswinds' Project Safe Place access points and shelter-based service delivery model.
• National Runaway Safeline: National 24/7 helpline and online service for runaway and homeless youth and their families. Closely aligned with Crosswinds' Project Safe Place and helpline services, providing crisis intervention, information and referral, and family mediation.
• Bridge Youth & Family Services: Regional Illinois-based nonprofit providing counseling, shelter, and family services for at-risk youth and families. Comparable in offering community counseling, residential services, and crisis intervention targeted at runaway, truant, and at-risk youth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Crosswinds Youth Services