Easterseals Louisiana

What Easterseals Louisiana does

Easterseals Louisiana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1951 and headquartered in New Orleans, operating as a state affiliate of the national Easterseals network. The organization delivers disability, behavioral health, early intervention, and community-support services to children, adults, and seniors across Louisiana through 13 locations spanning New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Monroe, Shreveport, Covington, and Alexandria. Its core programs include EarlySteps (early intervention for infants and toddlers birth to age 3), the ESL Chartwell Center (autism education using Applied Behavior Analysis, Community-Based Instruction, and Arts Integration), Support Coordination across OCDD and OAAS Medicaid waivers, behavioral health and housing continuum services (Permanent Supportive Housing, Rapid Re-Housing, Transitional Housing), Mental Health First Aid, and the Able Camp inclusion program. CARF accreditation has been maintained since 2011, with a rare 2022 re-accreditation carrying zero recommendations.

The business model is predominantly government-funded: the majority of revenue derives from Louisiana Medicaid waivers (Community Choices, Adult Day Health Care, Children's Choice, Supports, Residential Options, New Opportunities waivers), OCDD and OAAS contracts, HUD housing programs, and state agency agreements (Louisiana Rehabilitation Services). A secondary revenue stream comes from charitable fundraising — including the Art for Autism annual event, Kendra Scott giveback events, planned giving programs, donor-advised fund partnerships (Fidelity Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund), and workplace giving campaigns. Customer acquisition is primarily referral-driven through medical providers, health insurance providers, and Louisiana Department of Health regional offices, with some direct family-initiated enrollment. In 2024 the organization served 12,481 individuals through direct services and 3,877 through Support Coordination; 2025 impact figures cite 8,083 participants and families served, 873 housed individuals, and 1,650 infants and toddlers receiving intervention.

Operationally, the organization is led by President & CEO Patrick Gillies (appointed April 2026, formerly Louisiana Medicaid Executive Director) alongside COO Joseph Oliveri, EVP of Programs Eric Odom, and VPs spanning talent, finance, programs, and quality. The organization is governed by a board chaired by Michael A. Kelly, Jr. Total headcount is 141. There are no venture capital, private equity, or public ownership interests; the organization operates as an independent charitable nonprofit under the Easterseals national network.

Name

Easterseals Louisiana

Legal name

Easterseals Louisiana

Website

https://louisiana.easterseals.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Easterseals Louisiana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing disability, early intervention, behavioral health, housing, and support coordination services across 13 locations in Louisiana, serving individuals with disabilities and seniors through Medicaid waivers and government contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Medicaid Waivers: Majority of funding comes from government sources including Medicaid waivers (Community Choices Waiver, Adult Day Health Care Waiver), Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) waiver programs, Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS) programs, and HUD housing programs. Services funded include Support Coordination, behavioral health services, housing assistance, and early intervention programs.
2. Private Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and foundation grants. Major annual fundraising event is Art for Autism. Other events include Kendra Scott giveback events, Southern Gospel concert fundraiser, and end-of-year giving campaigns.
3. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Planned giving programs including gifts in wills/trusts, beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, stocks/securities donations, cryptocurrency donations, and Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Easterseals Louisiana provides disability, behavioral health, and human services to individuals and families across Louisiana, including early intervention for infants and toddlers (EarlySteps), autism diagnostic and therapeutic services, behavioral and mental health counseling, support coordination for individuals with developmental disabilities, senior programs, and military/veteran family services. Services are funded through Medicaid, state agency contracts, private insurance, and philanthropic support, and are delivered via clinics, home visits, and community-based programs throughout the state.

Product overview

Easterseals Louisiana is a nonprofit disability services organization offering an integrated portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include EarlySteps (early intervention for infants/toddlers), ESL Chartwell Center (autism education and vocational training), Behavioral Health Services (housing, crisis intervention, case management), Support Coordination (Medicaid/Medicare/Social Security assistance), Able Camp (accessible recreation), and Housing Continuum programs. These services are delivered through 13 locations across Louisiana, with a focus on children, adults, and seniors with disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ESL Chartwell Center: An alternative education center for children and young adults with autism, providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), academic services, and vocational training. Located at 1225 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA.
• EarlySteps
• Housing Continuum
• Able Camp

Products and services

• EarlySteps Early Intervention Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,083 participants and families served in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2025New 2025 contract to provide vocational rehabilitation and pre-employment transition services. ESL will place rehabilitation counselors within LRS offices in Region 7 (Shreveport) and local high schools to help students with disabilities achieve employment goals.
• Mental Health America (MHA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2024National partnership to offer free, anonymous online mental health screening tools. Easterseals collaborated with MHA to provide access to clinically validated screenings for depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance use, and more.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of LouisianaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2024Earth Day 2024 partnership for ESL Chartwell Center community garden event at 1225 Magazine Street.
• New Orleans Town GardenersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2024Earth Day 2024 partnership for community garden event at ESL Chartwell Center.
• UNITY of Greater New OrleanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing services partnership - UNITY Outreach Social Workers work with ESL to identify and serve homeless individuals, providing case management and housing placement services for Region 1 (New Orleans).
• Metropolitan Human Services AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional behavioral health authority partner for housing services in New Orleans area, collaborating on housing continuum programs.
• Capital Area Alliance for the HomelesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaton Rouge Continuum of Care partner for housing services, working with ESL on Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Re-Housing programs.
• Northwest Delta Human Services AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional behavioral health authority partner for Monroe area housing services, collaborating on housing continuum programs.
• HOME CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonroe-area housing coalition partner for homeless services coordination.
• Goodwill IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Monroe and Shreveport housing programs, providing job readiness and employment support services to program participants.
• Northwest Louisiana Human Services DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShreveport region behavioral health authority partner for housing and re-entry services.
• HOPE ConnectionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShreveport-area partner for housing services coordination.
• Florida Parishes Human Services AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBehavioral health authority partner for Region 9 (Covington) Mental Health Case Management services.
• The Renewal CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Monroe Phoenix Peer Support Center - a day center where individuals experiencing homelessness receive peer support, meals, hygiene facilities, and wraparound services including literacy clinic, community garden, and job readiness support.
• Camp HardtnercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Able Camp program - annual one-week session every summer at Camp Hardtner in Pollock, LA. ESL provides scholarships to participants through this partnership.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• BrightSpring Health Services: Public, large-scale provider of home and community-based health and human services, including behavioral health, autism/ABA, and pharmacy services across more than 50 states. A broader incumbent that competes for similar Medicaid HCBS waiver populations at much greater scale.
• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): National for-profit provider of home and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism services, host homes, and day programs. Operates as a broader incumbent with similar I/DD waiver populations across many states.

Emerging players

• BlueSprig Pediatrics: PE-backed for-profit provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism, with growing Louisiana clinic presence. Directly competes with Easterseals Louisiana's ESL Chartwell Center on autism services, typically with greater clinician hiring flexibility and pay.

Direct peers

• Volunteers of America (Louisiana): National faith-based nonprofit operating supportive housing, behavioral health, and reentry programs with a Louisiana presence. Directly comparable on the Housing Continuum and Re-Entry/Reintegration services offered by Easterseals Louisiana.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National nonprofit providing housing, early intervention, employment, and advocacy services to people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Directly comparable service mix and Medicaid waiver funding model, with affiliated local affiliates that operate similar state-level programs.
• Goodwill Industries of Louisiana: Regional Goodwill affiliate providing vocational training, employment services, and disability-inclusive programs across Louisiana. Highly comparable on the vocational rehabilitation and workforce development services that Easterseals Louisiana now extends via its new LRS contract.
• The Arc of Louisiana: Louisiana chapter of The Arc, a national disability services and advocacy nonprofit providing case management, residential, and waiver services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Closest direct peer in Louisiana in both mission and service portfolio (especially OCDD waiver populations).
• Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans: Faith-based nonprofit providing case management, housing assistance, behavioral health, and immigrant/refugee services in the greater New Orleans area. Comparable in scale, mixed government-grant plus private-donation funding model, and human services mission.
• Easterseals (National Network): The national Easterseals network of 69 affiliates operating the same disability services model (autism, early intervention, behavioral health, support coordination). Sister affiliates such as Easterseals DC MD VA and Easterseals Texas are the most direct operational comparables to Easterseals Louisiana.

Regional players

• The Resource Exchange (Louisiana): Louisiana-based (Colorado Springs roots, Louisiana service area) nonprofit providing case management and support coordination services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Competes for similar OCDD waiver-funded caseload in overlapping Louisiana geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LAEasterSeals
• Facebookfacebook.com/EasterSealsLouisiana
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/easterseals-louisiana
• Instagraminstagram.com/eastersealslouisiana

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Easterseals Louisiana