Chapel Haven, Incorporated

What Chapel Haven, Incorporated does

Chapel Haven Schleifer Center, Inc. (CHSC) is a private nonprofit founded in 1972 in New Haven, Connecticut, that delivers residential, educational, vocational, and lifelong support services to adults aged 18 and older with developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and social communication challenges. The organization operates on a single 1040 Whalley Avenue campus in New Haven and serves approximately 250+ adults drawn nationally and from several countries, with a continuous-care model in which participants do not age out of services. Programmatic offerings include three core residential transition programs—REACH (a 24-month apartment-style transition curriculum for adults with mild intellectual/developmental disabilities), ASAT (a young-adult program for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1 and related social communication profiles built on Chapel Haven's proprietary Social Communication Competency, or SCC, curriculum), and CATCH (a one-year residential program for mid-life and older adults aged 35+). A downstream lifecycle of Bridge, Supported Living Program (SLP), Schleifer Adult Independent Living (SAIL), and Community Outreach Services (COS) extends the residential pathway, while Community Life Program (CLP), CareerAbility, and Campus Life & Beyond provide day, employment, and recreation programming.

The organization's underlying technology is largely people-mediated rather than software-mediated: the SCC curriculum is described as a proprietary, specialist-developed framework addressing nonverbal communication, receptive/expressive language, perspective-taking, and theory of mind, and it underpins clinical and instructional decision-making across the ASAT program. Operational technology investments are modest (no public-facing app, no API, and no disclosed AI/ML systems); supporting infrastructure consists of standard CRM-style admissions tooling, a content-marketing website, and a small IT/security function.

CHSC's revenue model is tuition-based and subscription-like, with programs such as CATCH listed at $70,000 per year and billed quarterly. One-time fees include a $52 admissions application fee and a $1,300 week-visit assessment fee. Revenue is supplemented by donations (the "Continuing the Commitment" $45 million campus transformation is funded through philanthropy), scholarship funds (Poole, Bershaw, Baker Family, and Anonymous, each providing minimum $5,000 awards), and state funding coordination through the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services. The organization is CARF-accredited and approved by the Connecticut State Department of Education, the Massachusetts Board of Education, and licensed by the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services.

Name

Chapel Haven, Incorporated

Legal name

Chapel Haven Schleifer Center, Inc.

Website

https://chapelhaven.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Chapel Haven Schleifer Center is a New Haven, Connecticut-based nonprofit founded in 1972 that provides lifelong residential, educational, vocational, and community programs for adults aged 18+ with developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorder.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Developmental Disability Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Transition Planning & Postsecondary Readiness (Educational) (EDAKAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

College Readiness & Disability Services Transition Support (EDAKANAB), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Specialized Residential Special Education Programs (EDAKAAAH)

Keywords

• Developmental disabilities services
• Autism transition programs
• Residential independent living
• Vocational training adults
• Supported living programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New Haven

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Residential Program Tuition: Tuition-based residential programs including REACH, ASAT, CATCH, Bridge, and SAIL. Programs are typically billed annually with some quarterly billing options. CATCH program specifically listed at $70,000/year.
2. Day Programs: Structured day programs including REACH Day Program, Community Life Program (CLP), and ASAT Day Program for Board of Education-placed students.
3. Scholarships and Financial Aid: Need-based scholarship programs including Poole Scholarship Fund, Bershaw Temporary Scholarship Fund, Baker Family Scholarship Fund, and Anonymous Scholarship Fund. Administered through Student Support Services (SSS) and TADS.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Chapel Haven Schleifer Center is a nonprofit that operates residential transition programs (REACH, ASAT, CATCH), ongoing supported living programs (SAIL, SLP, COS), and day/employment programs (CLP, CareerAbility, Campus Life & Beyond) for adults 18+ with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, and developmental disabilities. Services are delivered on a campus in New Haven, CT with tuition-based pricing and scholarship support, and follow a lifelong support model where adults never age out of services.

Product overview

Chapel Haven Schleifer Center offers a comprehensive suite of residential, day, and a la carte programs for adults 18+ with developmental and social disabilities. The core residential programs—REACH, ASAT, and CATCH—provide structured pathways toward independence on a vibrant New Haven campus. REACH serves adults with mild developmental and intellectual disabilities through apartment-style living and functional academics. ASAT provides neurodivergent-specific transition support for young adults with autism spectrum disorders, focusing on social communication competency and college/vocational preparation. CATCH offers a one-year residential experience for mid-life adults 35+. Upon completion, graduates can transition to ongoing support through Bridge, SLP (off-campus supported living), SAIL (on-campus independent living with daily support), or COS (community outreach services). Day programs include CLP (Community Life Program), CareerAbility employment services, and Campus Life & Beyond recreation and wellness offerings. The organization follows a lifelong support model where adults never age out of services, providing residential, educational, vocational, and social supports that evolve across all stages of adulthood.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• REACH: Residential Education at Chapel Haven - transition program focusing on independent living, vocational skills, and social development for adults with mild developmental and intellectual disabilities
• ASAT
• CATCH
• Bridge
• SLP
• SAIL
• COS
• CLP
• CareerAbility
• Campus Life & Beyond

Products and services

• REACH (Residential Education at Chapel Haven) Two-year residential transition program for adults 18+ with mild developmental and intellectual disabilities, focusing on independent living, vocational skills, functional academics, and social development through apartment-style living experience.
• ASAT (Autism Supports and Transition) Neurodivergent-specific transition program for young adults 18-30 with Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1, social communication disorders, executive functioning challenges, and ADHD, emphasizing social communication competency, college/vocational support, self-determination, and independent living skills.
• CATCH (Connecting Adults to Chapel Haven) One-year residential program for mid-life and older adults 35+ with developmental disabilities, providing campus apartment with 24/7 staff support, structured weekly schedule with up to 20 hours of classes/recreation/activities, Community Life Program participation, and up to 10 hours/week of one-on-one coaching at $70,000/year.
• Bridge Program Additional year of transition support for recent REACH graduates, providing one-to-one and small group support for daily living skills, budgeting, community integration, and social relationship navigation in on-campus apartments.
• SLP (Supported Living Program) Off-campus living with individualized weekly support (1-10 hours per week) for REACH, Bridge, or CATCH graduates, offering case management, life skills support, and full access to campus community activities.
• SAIL (Schleifer Adult Independent Living) Long-term, tuition-based residential program for Chapel Haven graduates seeking on-campus supported community living, offering one- and two-bedroom apartments with 24/7 staff support, shared common spaces, fitness center, and wellness services.
• COS (Community Outreach Services) In-home and community-based support for adults who completed ASAT or CATCH Programs, offering case management and life skills support ranging from 1 hour per month to 6 hours per week with access to campus community.
• CLP (Community Life Program) Structured adult day program for adults seeking to build productive routines through wellness activities, group discussions, volunteer opportunities, and social outings, meeting Monday through Friday with morning and afternoon sessions.
• CareerAbility Employment services guiding students and community members toward meaningful employment, offering career advisement, work-based learning, employment programs, placement services, and individualized career development support.
• Campus Life & Beyond Integrated recreation and wellness programs offering 30+ weekly activities, annual trips, seasonal getaways, fitness classes, adaptive sports, arts education, and continuing adult education for all adults at Chapel Haven.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90%+ of CareerAbility participants retain employment for 90+ days (vs. 45.3% national average)
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Yale University / Yale Center for British ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with Yale Child Study Center for autism research and clinical collaboration. Partnership with Yale Center for British Art includes Out to Art weekly museum-based program integrating gallery learning with hands-on studio practice. YCBA Artism program for young children with autism and their families. Professors Fred Volkmar and Ami Klin serve on Board of Directors.
• Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBest Buddies chapter partnership in partnership with SCSU. ASAT offers optional social communication course through SCSU Communication Disorders Program. SCSU Center of Excellence on Autism Spectrum Disorders external advisory board membership. Many staff are SCSU graduates.
• JCC of Greater New HavencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJewish Community Center partnership includes Open Choices fitness sessions at JCC, holiday fair participation, and employment partnership through CareerAbility. JCC Holiday Fair venue for CHSC art exhibitions.
• Special OlympicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHSC athletes compete in 8 sports through Special Olympics: bowling, basketball, floorball, swimming, soccer, tennis, track & field, and softball. Weekly practices with state, national, and world games competition opportunities.
• Honeyplate KitchenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive-year partnership providing daily food service for students, staff, and visitors. Operates on-campus CH Cafe with rotating, accessible menus. Provides individually packaged meals on campus and to homes. Supports life skills adults practice daily.
• Cornell Scott Hill Health CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership recognized by Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce as Health Care Hero award winner. Partnership improves health and fitness for Chapel Haven adults through integrated healthcare services.
• Best BuddiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarge and active Best Buddies chapter partnering with Southern Connecticut State University. Adults paired with SCSU students for lifelong friendships. Biweekly meetings for activities like trivia nights, arts and crafts, and dances.
• Gateway Community CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPopular college choice for ASAT students pursuing post-secondary education and vocational exploration.
• University of New HavenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPopular college choice for ASAT students pursuing post-secondary education and vocational exploration.
• Connecticut State Department of EducationcoreOthersState agency approval for REACH Day Program, ASAT Day Transition Program, and other educational services. Oversight and regulatory relationship.
• Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS)coreOthersState agency providing regulatory oversight and funding coordination for developmental services. DDS Level of Need assessments for program eligibility.
• American Red CrossminorOthersHealth and human services partnership for emergency response and community support services.
• CT Food BankminorOthersHealth and human services partnership addressing food security for community members.
• Jewish Family ServicesminorOthersHealth and human services partnership supporting Jewish community members and families.
• Neighborhood Music SchoolminorOthersCommunity and inclusion partnership providing music education and cultural enrichment opportunities.
• Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE)minorOthersProfessional association membership providing resources, advocacy, and professional development in autism services.
• Organization for Autism Research (OAR)minorOthersProfessional association membership supporting autism research and evidence-based practices.
• Westville Village Renaissance AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal community partnership supporting Westville neighborhood integration and local business relationships. CHSC serves as good partner by being in service to the Westville community.
• Accessibility AcceleratormajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting accessibility initiatives and inclusive programming for adults with disabilities.
• Special Education Legal Fund (S.E.L.F.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by CHSC SVP Development Christine W. Lai. S.E.L.F. provides grants for hundreds of families across 80+ school districts. Since 2018, provided over $1.5M in grants.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ability Beyond: Ability Beyond is a CT/NY-based nonprofit offering residential, day, vocational, and behavioral supports to adults with autism and developmental disabilities. It is a directly comparable operator serving the same populations as Chapel Haven.
• May Institute: May Institute is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing autism and developmental disability services across residential, day, and educational settings. It is directly comparable in mission to Chapel Haven's ASAT and REACH programs.
• Abilis, Inc. Abilis is a Greenwich, CT-based nonprofit serving individuals with disabilities across the lifespan through residential, employment, and community programs. Chapel Haven's SVP Development Christine Lai previously chaired its Board, evidencing direct comparability in mission and geography.
• The Arc Connecticut: The Arc Connecticut is the state chapter of The Arc, providing advocacy and direct services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It overlaps Chapel Haven on residential, day, and employment supports within the same CT service ecosystem.
• Howard Center: Howard Center is a Burlington, Vermont-based nonprofit providing developmental disability, mental health, and substance use services. Chapel Haven's SLP Director Ruari Clancy previously served Howard Center as Senior Program Team Lead, evidencing operational overlap.
• Vista Life Innovations: Vista Life Innovations is a Connecticut-based nonprofit providing residential, vocational, and community-based programs for adults with developmental disabilities. It is directly comparable to Chapel Haven; VP of Finance Paul Anacki previously served Vista.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of the United States: The Arc is the largest national nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with over 600 state and local chapters. It is a broad incumbent whose state chapters compete with Chapel Haven's residential, vocational, and advocacy offerings.
• Easterseals: Easterseals is a national nonprofit network providing disability services including adult day programs, employment services, and residential supports. It operates at much greater scale than Chapel Haven and represents a broader-incumbent alternative for families.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Devereux is one of the largest U.S. nonprofits providing behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disability services across residential, educational, and vocational settings. It overlaps with Chapel Haven at a broader national scale.

Others

• Jewish Family Services of Greater New Haven: JFS of Greater New Haven is a local human-services partner of Chapel Haven. While not a direct residential competitor, it is an adjacent social-services organization serving overlapping family populations in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLaY59o215IPZ_T9ijSxR8w
• Facebookfacebook.com/Chapel-Haven-490345897651925
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chapel-haven-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/chapelhaven
• Xx.com/chapelhaven

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Chapel Haven, Incorporated