Charis Youth Center

What Charis Youth Center does

Charis Youth Center is a California nonprofit public benefit and educational corporation, incorporated in 1983 and based in Grass Valley, that delivers an integrated continuum of residential, educational, and mental health services to emotionally disturbed adolescents aged 13–21 and their families. The organization operates three residential houses (Petra, Koinonia, Nikao) with a hard capacity of 24 students at any given time, alongside a WASC-accredited non-public special education school running on a 235-day year aligned to Common Core State Standards and equivalent to Nevada Joint Union High School District coursework. Mental health services include individual and group psychotherapy, medication management, Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) available up to 24 hours per day, Life Space Crisis Intervention, case management, and animal- and equine-assisted therapy, all delivered under a unified trauma-informed framework that combines Nicholas Hobbs' 12 Principles of Re-Education with the Circle of Courage model.

The treatment approach is built on established therapeutic methodologies rather than proprietary technology: cognitive, behavioral, and trauma-based theories are operationalized through strength-based interventions, structured behavioral plans, and standardized crisis response. Staffing is specialized — a Board-Certified Psychiatrist, therapists, TBS specialists, special-education teachers and interns, teacher assistants, and therapeutic behavior staff — and Charis holds stacked regulatory credentials (California CommunityCare Licensing, Council on Accreditation, WASC, and NCASES).

The business model is government-referral and contract-based rather than commercial. Charis does not sell to end consumers; instead, California county placing agencies — Juvenile Probation Departments, Social Services/Child Protective Services, the Adoption Assistance Program, and school districts — refer youth who have failed placements in less restrictive environments. Revenue is generated primarily by billing Medi-Cal for specialty mental health and TBS services and through county contracts for residential and educational services. Donations (including AmazonSmile) provide supplementary support. Pricing is not publicly disclosed because services are contracted through third-party payers and government agencies. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding rounds or outside equity.

Name

Charis Youth Center

Legal name

Charis Youth Center

Website

https://charisyouthcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Charis Youth Center is a California nonprofit that provides integrated residential, special education, and mental health services to emotionally disturbed adolescents aged 13–21 referred by California county agencies, operating a 24-bed facility in Grass Valley under a trauma-informed therapeutic framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Youth Treatment Services

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers (HLAFACAC), Emotional & Behavioral Disorders (EBD) / Therapeutic Day Schools (EDAKAAAC), Specialized Residential Special Education Programs (EDAKAAAH), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

Keywords

• Residential treatment services
• Special education school
• Youth mental health services
• Therapeutic behavioral services
• Nonprofit child welfare

Headquarters

HQ city

Grass Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medi-Cal Mental Health Services: Charis bills Medi-Cal for Mental Health Services including TBS, therapy, medication management, and other specialty mental health services. Services include individual/group therapy, case management, crisis intervention, and collateral services. Documentation time is billable when linked to services.
2. Government Contracted Services: Charis receives referrals and funding through county Juvenile Probation Departments, Social Services, Child Protective Services, Adoption Assistance Program, and school districts for Education Related Mental Health Services.
3. Medication Support Services: Psychiatric medication evaluation, prescription, administration, dispensing, and monitoring services billed as part of comprehensive treatment planning.
4. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Charis accepts tax-deductible donations and participates in AmazonSmile program where Amazon donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to the organization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Charis Youth Center operates a Short Term Residential Treatment Program for emotionally disturbed adolescents aged 13-21, delivering an integrated continuum of residential care, special education, and mental health services. Services are delivered on a single Grass Valley, California campus through three residential houses, a WASC-accredited non-public school, and a Medi-Cal-billed mental health program that includes Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS), psychotherapy, medication management, and crisis intervention.

Product overview

Charis Youth Center is a multi-service community-based nonprofit organization offering an integrated continuum of care for emotionally disturbed youth aged 13-21. The organization operates three core programs: Residential Program (providing Short Term Residential Treatment across three residential houses: Petra House, Koinonia House, and Nikao House), a Non-public Special Education School, and Mental Health Services. The Mental Health Services program encompasses Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS), Canine Therapy, psychotherapy, medication management, and crisis intervention. The Vocational Education Program supports students in developing professional portfolios and job readiness skills. These programs work together to help youth achieve high school diplomas, develop life skills, and transition to less restrictive environments or independent living.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Program (Short Term Residential Treatment Program) Short-term residential treatment program providing structured behavioral plans implemented by residential counselors and mental health workers for emotionally disturbed youth aged 13-21, preparing them to return to less-restrictive environments or home settings. Delivered across three residential houses (Petra House, Koinonia House, Nikao House) with maximum capacity of 24 students.
• Non-public Special Education School WASC-accredited, highly structured, therapeutic, educational, and community-based program for emotionally disturbed youth, utilizing cognitive, behavioral, and trauma-based theories to deliver state-approved curriculum aligned with Common Core State Standards. Operates on a 12-month / 235-day school year and offers courses equivalent to Nevada Joint Union High School District offerings.
• Mental Health Services Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Students graduate high school with a diploma
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Nevada County One-StopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Nevada County One-Stop for vocational education resources, supporting students in career development and job placement assistance.
• AmazonSmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazonSmile program allows Amazon to donate 0.5% of eligible purchase prices to Charis Youth Center when customers shop on AmazonSmile.
• Nevada Joint Union High School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharis Non-public School curriculum is aligned with and equivalent to courses offered in Nevada Joint Union High School District's public schools. Students are enrolled in classes that are modified equivalents of district offerings.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Boys Town: National nonprofit operating residential campuses, special education, and in-home behavioral health services for at-risk youth and families. Overlapping integrated residential + education + therapy model at much larger scale.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: One of the largest U.S. nonprofit operators of residential treatment and special education schools for children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, and cognitive differences. Comparable service mix at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• KidsPeace: National nonprofit operating residential treatment, special education schools, and mental health programs for emotionally disturbed and at-risk youth. Highly comparable integrated model and government-contracted referral base.
• Wedgwood Christian Services: Nonprofit providing residential treatment, special education, and mental health services for at-risk youth, often placed by juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Comparable integrated model and referral-driven GTM.
• Rite of Passage: Nonprofit residential treatment and educational services provider for youth in juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Comparable government-referred population and residential + education integration.
• Victor Treatment Centers: California-focused nonprofit providing Short Term Residential Treatment Programs (STRTPs) and intensive mental health services for foster and probation youth. Closest direct peer on California's STRTP Continuum of Care Reform landscape.
• Aspiranet: California-based nonprofit providing foster care, residential treatment, mental health, and wraparound education-linked services to youth involved with child welfare and probation. Direct California peer with overlapping STRTP and county-contract model.
• Seneca Family of Agencies: California nonprofit serving children and youth with serious emotional disturbance through residential, education, and community-based mental health programs. Comparable integrated service model and California county contracting.
• Lakemary Center: Nonprofit offering residential treatment, special education schools, and outpatient mental health for children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges. Comparable scale and integrated care model.

Others

• Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) member agencies: Industry membership organization whose California member agencies operate residential, foster, and mental health programs for at-risk youth. Charis is a CWLA member and competes/coordinates with many of these agencies for county referrals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Charis-Youth-Center-100069169688998
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/charis-youth-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Charis Youth Center