PbS Learning Institute
Center for Improving Youth Justice (formerly PbS Learning Institute) operates a national membership-based, data-driven continuous improvement program (Performance-based Standards) for U.S. juvenile justice facilities, community residential programs, and reentry services, providing climate surveys, facility improvement plans, coaching, and awards.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersBraintree, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PbS Learning Institute does
PbS Learning Institute, now operating as the Center for Improving Youth Justice (CIYJ), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in Braintree, Massachusetts, that delivers a data-driven continuous improvement process called Performance-based Standards (PbS) for juvenile justice facilities, community residential programs, and reentry services across the United States. The organization's core technology consists of standardized performance measures administered through the PbS member portal (users.pbstandards.org), including Youth and Staff Climate Surveys, Youth Reentry Surveys, and Facility Improvement Plans (FIPs) that participating agencies use to benchmark performance and implement corrective actions. A longitudinal researcher database aggregating administrative forms, survey responses, and youth records over more than a decade supports both client-facing reporting and internal research; quantified outcomes documented include a rise in positive staff comments from 73% (April 2020) to 78% (October 2021) and a reduction in staff fear-for-safety at Hartford Juvenile Detention Center from 50% (2018) to 15% (October 2022). The program includes a one-year candidacy phase with on-site training visits and dedicated coaching, followed by ongoing technical assistance.
The business model combines recurring annual membership dues from juvenile justice facilities (correction, detention, community residential, and reentry) with foundation grants channeled through both CIYJ directly and the affiliated PbS Education and Employment Foundation. Membership grants access to the data portal, climate surveys, improvement planning tools, coaching, and the national Agency Coordinators Network; government juvenile justice agencies are the target buyers via direct sales. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the supplemental grants, scholarships, and awards (e.g., Barbara Allen-Hagen Award, Kids Got Talent Contest, J. Russell "Russ" Jennings Scholarship, Employment Matching Award, Reentry Award) are funded via the Foundation and external philanthropy, exemplified by a $10,000 Annie E. Casey Foundation donation supporting scholarships for current and recent PbS residents.
The organization is governed by Executive Director Kim Godfrey Lovett following the 2024-era retirement of long-tenured Deputy Executive Director Akin Fadeyi (who trained or coached approximately 500 facilities during his 22-year tenure). The operating model is markedly lean (1-10 employees) and field-coaching heavy, supplemented by an annual Agency Coordinators Training conference and Awards Night Gala. Distribution and go-to-market are entirely U.S.-focused; the legal entity was rebranded from PbS Learning Institute, Inc. to Center for Improving Youth Justice, with Performance-based Standards now positioned as a flagship program under CIYJ's broader youth-justice advocacy mission.
PbS Learning Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PbS Learning Institute
- Legal name
- PbS Learning Institute, Inc.
- Website
- https://pbstandards.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Center for Improving Youth Justice (formerly PbS Learning Institute) operates a national membership-based, data-driven continuous improvement program (Performance-based Standards) for U.S. juvenile justice facilities, community residential programs, and reentry services, providing climate surveys, facility improvement plans, coaching, and awards.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PbS Learning Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Juvenile Justice Improvement Services
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Behavior, Discipline, PBIS/MTSS & Intervention Tracking (EDAFAEAJ)
Keywords
Where PbS Learning Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Braintree
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
PbS Learning Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Foundation Grants: The organization receives funding from foundations including the Annie E. Casey Foundation ($10,000 donation for scholarships) and the PbS Education and Employment Foundation supports scholarships, reentry assistance, and employment matching awards.
- Membership Program Fees: Juvenile justice facilities and agencies pay to participate in the PbS improvement program, receiving access to data tools, coaching, training, and technical assistance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Program membership for juvenile justice facilities |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
PbS Learning Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Performance-based Standards (PbS) is a data-driven continuous improvement process delivered as a membership program for juvenile justice facilities, community residential programs, and reentry services. Participating agencies gain access to research-based standards, performance measures, climate surveys (youth, staff, reentry), Facility Improvement Plans, the PbS member portal, and dedicated coaching, training, and on-site technical assistance. First-year facilities go through a candidacy program with on-site visits to ensure quality data collection and improvement planning.
Product overview
PbS Learning Institute, now operating as the Center for Improving Youth Justice (CIYJ), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering Performance-based Standards (PbS) as its core data-driven continuous improvement program for juvenile justice facilities. The organization provides a suite of programs including research-based standards, performance measurement tools (Youth Climate Surveys, Staff Climate Surveys, Youth Reentry Surveys), and Facility Improvement Planning. Additional offerings include awards (Barbara Allen-Hagen Award, Kids Got Talent Contest), scholarships (J. Russell "Russ" Jennings Scholarship, Staff Scholarship Award), employment support (Employment Matching Award, Reentry Award), creative programs (Pencil & Palette Creative Contest, Innovative Alternatives Contest), leadership development (National Leadership Cohort), and community events (Steps for Real Second Chances). The main platform includes a participant portal for participating facilities to access data, reporting and improvement planning.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Performance-based Standards (PbS) Membership Program Data-driven continuous improvement process for juvenile justice facilities, community residential programs, and reentry services, delivered as an annual membership that includes research-based standards, performance measures, youth and staff climate surveys, reentry surveys, Facility Improvement Plans, a member data portal, coaching, training, and technical assistance.
- PbS Innovative Alternatives Contest Contest inviting facilities to share innovative alternatives to room confinement and the impact they have had, administered through the PbS program for member facilities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 78% of young people reported staff made more positive comments than negative comments (October 2021, up from 73% in April 2020)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use PbS Learning Institute
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
PbS Learning Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
PbS Learning Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Just Us ConsultingcoreJust Us Consulting designed and facilitated the Performance-Based Standards National Leadership Cohort, a six-month program for emerging leaders in youth justice settings. Felice Upton serves as Program Lead. The cohort includes expert coaching, peer connection, and individualized mentorship.
- PbS Education and Employment FoundationcoreThe Foundation supports PbS scholarships, reentry assistance awards, and employment matching awards for justice-involved young people. It sponsors the annual Awards Night Gala and various youth development programs.
- Sustainable Philanthropy PartnersminorConnected PbS with Dwight Howard and the D12 Foundation for facility visits and youth engagement activities.
- D12 FoundationminorDwight Howard's foundation partnered with PbS to visit facilities and inspire youth. The foundation sought out PbS facilities that were finalists for awards. Dwight Howard visited Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center and Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center, and served as a judge for the PbS Kids Got Talent Contest.
- Youth Advocacy ProgramminorCommunity organization that attends facility meetings at Ferris School to help young people with programmatic goals as part of their reentry support.
- College for Social Innovation (CSFI)minorMatched PbS with a fundraising fellow to create the 10K Steps for Real Second Chances Challenge as part of Second Chance Month initiatives.
- Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ)minorCJJ's Emerging Leaders Committee provides opportunities for young people with lived experiences in the justice system to serve in professional development roles.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PbS Learning Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators (CJJA): National membership association for juvenile justice agency leaders, providing training, technical assistance, and a leadership network across U.S. juvenile justice systems. Directly comparable to PbS in its focus on juvenile justice facility leadership development and continuous improvement.
- Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice: Provides training, technical assistance, and reform guidance to juvenile justice jurisdictions across the U.S. Comparable to PbS in delivering system improvement services to juvenile justice agencies and facilities.
- National Partnership for Juvenile Services (NPJS): National nonprofit advancing excellence in juvenile justice services through standards, training, and advocacy for residential and community-based programs. Highly comparable to PbS in targeting juvenile justice facilities with standards-based improvement services.
Peers
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
PbS Learning Institute social profiles
Digital presencePbS Learning Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PbS Learning Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
PbS Learning Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PbS Learning Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PbS Learning Institute
What does PbS Learning Institute do?
Performance-based Standards (PbS) is a data-driven continuous improvement process delivered as a membership program for juvenile justice facilities, community residential programs, and reentry services. Participating agencies gain access to research-based standards, performance measures, climate surveys (youth, staff, reentry), Facility Improvement Plans, the PbS member portal, and dedicated coaching, training, and on-site technical assistance. First-year facilities go through a candidacy program with on-site visits to ensure quality data collection and improvement planning.
Is PbS Learning Institute a public or private company?
PbS Learning Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was PbS Learning Institute founded?
PbS Learning Institute was founded in 2004. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is PbS Learning Institute based?
PbS Learning Institute is headquartered in Braintree, United States, in the North America region.
How does PbS Learning Institute make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Foundation Grants are the primary driver. The others are membership Program Fees.
Who are PbS Learning Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators (CJJA), Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice and National Partnership for Juvenile Services (NPJS). Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) is listed as a peer.
Does PbS Learning Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for PbS Learning Institute.
What industry is PbS Learning Institute in?
PbS Learning Institute's product category is Juvenile Justice Improvement Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAEAJ, Behavior, Discipline, PBIS/MTSS & Intervention Tracking. Its SIC code is 8300.