What Schulheim Effingen does

Schulheim Effingen, operated by the Elisabeth Meyer Stiftung (CHE-107.126.358), is a Swiss nonprofit residential special education institution located in Effingen, Canton Aargau. Founded in 1867 as the Meyersche Rettungsanstalt and renamed to its current form in 1975/76, the institution has operated continuously for over 150 years, evolving from a religious reformatory into a politically and confessionally neutral social-pedagogical facility. It serves 44 children and youth (typically from age 7) with socio-emotional impairments — most commonly autism spectrum disorders — who are normally intelligent but cannot live with their families. The campus combines four residential groups (Rot, Blau, Grün, Orange) plus 10 progression places, an internal Sonderschule following the Aargau Lehrplan 21, animal facilities supporting Tiergestützte Intervention (TGI) with therapy donkeys and Iceland horses, and a 365-day operational model. Approximately 74 employees (50+ FTE) deliver integrated residential care, schooling, and therapy.

The institution's service portfolio spans Wohnen (residential living), Schule (internal special school with small classes of max 6-7 students across Kleinklasse, Primarstufe, and Oberstufe), Tagesstruktur (structured day programming), Spezialförderung (individualized support with speech therapy, art therapy, TGI), Berufsorientierung (career preparation in coordination with IV-Berufsberatung), and Therapie (behavioral therapy, psychotherapy with visiting child/adolescent psychiatrists). A 2024 pilot in Schulsozialpädagogik extends external school-access support. Progression groups in Hausen bei Brugg and on campus prepare young adults for independent living. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-institution: placements are made through cantonal youth welfare services, child protection authorities, and family referrals — there are no commercial sales channels. The institution is currently transitioning from boys-only to coeducational admission effective January 1, 2026.

Revenue derives from cantonal contributions (Canton of Aargau), federal funding (Bundesamt für Justiz / BJ), municipal contributions, and parental fees, supplemented by tax-deductible donations and legacies. Specific revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The institution is ISO 9001:2015 certified, SODK OST+ certified, and officially recognized by the Federal Office of Justice as a licensed child and youth welfare provider. Pricing is not publicly listed and is determined through individual cost-coverage agreements with cantonal authorities based on family circumstances. As of July 2025, the institution reported 100% occupancy across both client places and staff positions despite a national skilled-labor shortage in social work.

Name

Schulheim Effingen

Legal name

Elisabeth Meyer Stiftung

Website

https://schulheim-effingen.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1867

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schulheim Effingen is a Swiss nonprofit residential special school in Canton Aargau serving 44 children and youth (typically age 7+) with socio-emotional impairments such as autism, integrating 365-day residential care, an internal Sonderschule, and therapy including animal-assisted intervention.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Special Education and Youth Welfare Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Residential Care Facilities (62399)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Therapeutic/Behavioral & Residential Treatment K–12 Schools (EDAJABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health & MTSS/RTI Tiered SEL Supports (EDAKAMAE), Related Therapy Services (Speech, Occupational, Physical, Feeding) (EDAJAKAD), Family & Community Support Services (Case Management, Referrals) (EDAJAIAK)

Keywords

• Residential special education
• Youth welfare services
• Therapeutic residential care
• Special needs schooling
• Animal-assisted intervention

Headquarters

HQ city

Effingen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State Funding - Canton of Aargau: Primary revenue from cantonal contributions for residential care and special education services
2. Federal Office of Justice (BJ): Government funding for child protection measures and recognized institutional care
3. Municipal Contributions: Funding from local communities for resident care services
4. Parental Contributions: Fees paid by parents for residential care and education services
5. Donations and Legacies: Tax-deductible donations used for special projects, equipment, and activities beyond basic services. As a tax-exempt charitable institution, donations are fully allocated to beneficiaries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Schulheim Effingen is a residential special education institution (Internat) that provides 365-day integrated care, schooling, and therapy for 44 children and youth with socio-emotional impairments. The core offering combines Wohnen (residential living across four on-campus groups plus ten progression places) with Schule (an internal Sonderschule following the Aargau Lehrplan 21 curriculum across primary and secondary levels), supplemented by Spezialförderung, Berufsorientierung, Schulsozialpädagogik, and a comprehensive therapy suite including animal-assisted intervention (TGI) using Icelandic horses and therapy donkeys.

Product overview

Schulheim Effingen operates as a unified residential school (internat) offering integrated residential care and schooling for normal-gifted children and youth with socio-emotional impairments, primarily those on the autism spectrum. The core offering combines Wohnen (residential living across four groups plus ten progression places for young adults) with Schule (an internal Sonderschule following Aargau Lehrplan 21 across primary and secondary levels). These core programs are supplemented by Spezialförderung (special needs support with individualized educational planning), Berufsorientierung (career preparation), Schulsozialpädagogik (social-pedagogical support), and a comprehensive range of therapeutic services including Tiergestützte Intervention (TGI) using Icelandic horses, donkeys, and small animals. An annual activity plan (Jahresplan) provides structured leisure and experiential education throughout the year. The institution is currently male-only but transitioning to coeducational admission from January 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wohnen (Residential Living) Full-time and week-boarding residential care for 34 children and youth with socio-emotional needs, provided across four residential groups (Rot, Blau, Grün, Orange) on the Effingen campus, plus 10 external progression places for transition to independent living.
• Schule (Internal Special School) Internal Sonderschule (special school) following the Aargau Lehrplan 21 curriculum, offering Kleinklasse (max 6 children), Primarstufe (2 classes, ~7 students each), and Oberstufe (2 classes, ~7 students each) for normal-gifted children with special educational needs.
• Progressionsgruppen (Progression Groups) External supervised living arrangement for 10 youth transitioning to independence, requiring attendance at external school or vocational training. Located on campus and in Hausen bei Brugg. Direct entry only possible for those previously placed in institutions.
• Therapie (Therapeutic Services) Comprehensive therapy offerings including behavioral therapy, speech therapy (Logopädie), art therapy (Maltherapie/Gestaltungstherapie), psychotherapy with visiting child/adolescent psychiatrists, and medication management.
• Tiergestützte Intervention TGI (Animal-Assisted Therapy) Animal-assisted therapy using Icelandic horses, specially trained therapy donkeys, chickens, and rabbits to strengthen emotional development, build social competencies, increase self-worth, and help overcome anxieties and process childhood trauma.
• Berufsorientierung (Career Orientation) Vocational preparation for upper-level students including career counseling, internship placement, and collaboration with IV-Berufsberatung (cantonal disability insurance career counseling).
• Jahresplan (Annual Activity Plan) Year-round structured activity program including hiking days, snow sports camps, circus projects, theater performances, Christmas candle-making tradition, Europa-Park trips, and other recreational activities, operating alongside the educational and residential programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 students typically graduate/successfully transition annually from school program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Canton of Aargau - Department of Education, Culture and Sport (BKS)coreOthers · 1 August 2025Strategic oversight by Department Sonderschulung, Heime und Werkstätten (SHW). Regular collaboration on institutional development, strategic planning, and regulatory compliance.
• Europa-ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in the 'Frohe Herzen' (Happy Hearts) program where Europa-Park invites children from the institution for complimentary park visits, providing memorable experiences for the youth.
• Sabrina GolobminorOthersVisual communication photographer providing professional photography services for the institution
• Dominik Golob PhotographyminorOthersVideographer providing video production services for the institution
• IV-Berufsberatung (Disability Insurance Career Counseling)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with cantonal disability insurance career counseling for youth vocational preparation, including assessment of IV professional measures for eligible youth
• Local Physicians and PharmaciesminorOthersNetwork of local healthcare providers including a home doctor (Heimarzt) with nearby practice, local pharmacy, and child/adolescent psychiatrists for medical and psychiatric support

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Heime Auf Berg gemeinnützige GmbH: Swiss non-profit operating residential homes and schools for children and youth in difficult life situations. Comparable residential child-and-youth welfare model with school and therapy integration.
• Sonderschulheim Birnbeck: Residential special school for children and youth with social-emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges. Comparable as a Swiss foundation-run Sonderschulheim with multi-year residential placements.
• Stiftung Schulheim Mätteli: Residential special school in Canton Zug offering integrated schooling, living, and therapy for children with social-emotional and developmental challenges. Closely comparable operating model: foundation-owned, multi-disciplinary residential Sonderschule.
• Stiftung Brüttelenbad: Swiss foundation operating a residential special-education institution in the Canton of Bern for children and youth with social-emotional and behavioral difficulties. Directly comparable as a residential Sonderschule serving socio-emotionally impaired children on multi-year placements.
• Heime und Schulen Schloss Kasteln: Foundation-run residential special school in Canton Aargau (the same canton as Schulheim Effingen) serving children and youth with social-emotional and learning difficulties. Direct regional competitor with similar integrated school + residential model.
• Stiftung Sonnenhof Arlesheim: Swiss foundation operating residential and educational programs for children and youth with social-emotional and developmental needs in the Basel region. Comparable integrated care, school, and therapy operating model.

Emerging players

• Mulberry Bush School: UK residential special school for children with severe social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties. Compares on therapeutic residential model, although UK-based and not a direct Swiss competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Pestalozzi Children's Foundation (Kinderdorf Pestalozzi): Long-established Swiss foundation providing residential education and care for children and youth in Trogen (AR). Broader scope and international footprint but overlapping residential child-welfare mission.

Regional players

• Juvenat Mont-Soleil: Swiss residential institution for adolescents in difficult life situations with integrated school and workshop programs. Comparable residential education model in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.
• Heim Morgenthal: Swiss residential institution for children and youth. Comparable in residential child-and-youth welfare scope, although geographic catchment and exact therapeutic focus may differ.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schulheim-effingen

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Schulheim Effingen