Kent School Services Network

What Kent School Services Network does

Kent School Services Network (KSSN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that implements the community school model across 49 schools in six school districts in Kent County, Michigan, serving over 21,000 students and their families. The organization embeds Community School Coordinators in partner schools to coordinate on-site access to physical and mental health services, social services (including MDHHS Pathways to Potential Success Coaches), before- and after-school programming, family engagement, and connections to community resources such as Family Outreach Center clinicians. KSSN was founded in 2006 with eight pilot schools under the Kent County Family and Children's Coordinating Council and formally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) on February 1, 2014; its model has been recognized as the basis for Michigan's statewide Pathways to Potential initiative.

KSSN has no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is relationship-driven through embedded coordinators and Team Leads across six districts (Godfrey-Lee, Godwin Heights, Grand Rapids, Kenowa Hills, Kentwood, and Sparta Area Schools). Revenue is entirely grant- and donation-based, with no fees charged to students, families, or districts. Funding streams include foundation grants (Grand Rapids Community Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Steelcase Foundation, Wege Foundation, Meijer Foundation, Jandernoa Foundation, Keller Foundation, Michigan Health Endowment Fund), government funding from Kent County, Kent ISD, and the State of Michigan (including a landmark $1 million state investment in December 2025), contributions from district partners, and individual donations processed via qgiv. Go-to-market is community-led: expansion into additional schools and districts follows demonstrated outcomes and community demand rather than commercial sales motions.

The organization is led by Executive Director Dr. Keenan King, supported by Directors of People and Strategy, Advancement, and Operations, plus Team Leads dedicated to specific district portfolios. KSSN operates from the Kent ISD Conference Center in Grand Rapids and aligns its work with the Coalition for Community Schools' Community School Standards framework.

Name

Kent School Services Network

Legal name

Kent School Services Network

Website

https://kentssn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kent School Services Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that implements the community school model across 49 schools in six Kent County, Michigan districts, embedding coordinators who coordinate health, mental health, social services, and family engagement for over 21,000 students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community School Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

School-Based Mental & Behavioral Health Services (EDAJAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health Counseling & Therapy Services (K–12) (EDAJALAG), Family Engagement & Caregiver Support Programs (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAK), School-Based Mental Health Therapy (Licensed Clinicians) (EDAKAMAD)

Keywords

• Community school services
• Student support services
• Family engagement programs
• School-based health services
• Educational equity programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: KSSN receives funding from multiple foundations including Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Jandernoa Foundation, Keller Foundation, Meijer Foundation, Michigan Health Endowment Fund, Steelcase Foundation, Wege Foundation, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation to support community school operations and programs.
2. Government Funding: KSSN receives state and local government funding, including a landmark $1 million state investment in 2025, as well as funding from Kent County and Kent Intermediate School District.
3. Individual Donations: KSSN accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals through its website portal. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with EIN 46-3946663.
4. District Partnerships: KSSN partners with six school districts who contribute to funding community school coordinators and related services in their schools.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kent School Services Network implements the community school model across 49 schools in six Kent County school districts by embedding Community School Coordinators on-site to coordinate student and family services. Offerings include integrated student supports such as mental health counseling (delivered through Family Outreach Center Site Team Clinicians), social services (delivered through MDHHS Pathways to Potential Success Coaches), before- and after-school programming, family engagement, and connections to community resources. All services are provided free of charge to students and families at partner schools.

Product overview

Kent School Services Network (KSSN) is a community school initiative operating across 49 schools in six school districts in Kent County, Michigan. Rather than a technology product, KSSN provides a service-based model that places Community School Coordinators in partner schools to coordinate community resources, health services, social services, before- and after-school programming, and family education opportunities. KSSN partners with staffing providers including Family Outreach Center (for Site Team Clinicians providing mental health services) and Michigan DHHS (for Pathways to Potential Success Coaches providing social services). The organization also operates a Coordinator Wish List donation program and accepts financial contributions through qgiv. The organization has no distinct branded software products, modules, or technology offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community School Coordination Place-based coordination service that embeds Community School Coordinators inside partner schools across six Kent County districts to organize integrated student supports, expanded learning opportunities, family engagement, and community partnerships. Delivered under partnership agreements with public school districts and funded through grants, government funding, district contributions, and donations.
• School-Based Mental Health Services School-based mental health services delivered through Family Outreach Center site team clinicians providing individual and family therapy, crisis response, clinical case management, and psycho-educational group services to students and families at KSSN partner schools.
• Pathways to Potential Social Services On-site social services coordination through MDHHS Pathways to Potential Success Coaches working with chronically absent, truant, or suspended students and connecting families to necessary state and community social services at KSSN partner schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• 38% of teachers reported increased number of students present and ready to learn since KSSN started in their schools
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Kent Intermediate School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSSN partners with Kent ISD to implement the community school model in schools across the county. Kent ISD provides administrative support and infrastructure through the Kent ISD Conference Center where KSSN maintains its administrative office.
• Kent CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKent County provides funding and support for KSSN operations as part of its commitment to community well-being and family services.
• Family Outreach CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Outreach Center provides site team clinicians who deliver individual and family therapy, crisis response, clinical case management, and psycho-educational group services at KSSN partner schools.
• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMDHHS provides Pathways to Potential Success Coaches who work with KSSN to provide social services to students and families who are chronically absent, truant, or suspended, and connect families to necessary services.
• Godfrey-Lee Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict partner hosting community school coordinators at Godfrey Elementary, Lee Middle School, Lee High School, East Lee Campus, and Early Childhood Center.
• Godwin Heights Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict partner with community school coordinators at Godwin Heights High School, Godwin Heights Middle School, North Godwin Elementary, West Godwin Elementary, and Learning Center.
• Grand Rapids Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest district partner with community school coordinators at over 20 schools including elementary, middle, and high schools across Grand Rapids.
• Kenowa Hills Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict partner with community school coordinator at Alpine Elementary and other district schools.
• Kentwood Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict partner with community school coordinators at 15+ schools across the Kentwood district including elementary, middle, and high schools.
• Sparta Area SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict partner with community school coordinators at Ridgeview Elementary and Sparta Middle School.
• Children's Aid (New York City)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSSN worked closely with Children's Aid in New York City during its early years to develop its community school model.
• National Center for Community SchoolsstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSSN collaborated with the National Center for Community Schools to develop and implement its community school strategy.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Coalition for Community Schools: National coalition that defines the Community School Standards framework KSSN uses. Comparable as the field's standards body and broad advocate, but operating at national policy level rather than as a school-level service provider.
• Boston Public Schools Community Schools: Operates a community schools strategy across Boston Public Schools with partner-driven services. Comparable at the strategy level, though executed by a single large urban district.
• Chicago Public Schools Community Schools Initiative: Large district-led community schools initiative embedded in Chicago Public Schools. Comparable in coordinator-embedded model but executed by a single large district rather than an independent nonprofit network like KSSN.

Direct peers

• National Center for Community Schools: National technical assistance and advocacy hub for the community schools strategy and a direct strategic partner of KSSN. Comparable as the field's central coordinating body that helps replicate KSSN-like local networks.
• Ottawa Community Schools Network: Michigan-based community schools network that KSSN's team leads previously led. Closely comparable as a neighboring Michigan community schools network with a similar coordinator-driven model.
• Children's Aid (New York City): Operates the nationally recognized community schools model in NYC and was KSSN's early development partner. Directly comparable as a community schools network operator embedding coordinators and clinical staff in schools.
• Cincinnati Public Schools Community Learning Centers: One of the largest U.S. community school systems, operating in 36+ schools with embedded coordinators and integrated student supports. Closely comparable operating model to KSSN at greater scale.
• Baltimore City Community Schools: Operates a community schools strategy across Baltimore City public schools with site coordinators and partner-driven services. Directly comparable as a district-level community schools implementation.

Regional players

• KConnect: West Michigan nonprofit focused on system-building for educational equity; KSSN's Executive Director previously led KConnect's system-building work. Comparable regional nonprofit addressing educational equity via community partnerships.
• United Way of Kent County: Local funder and convening organization in KSSN's home geography; partner and potential funder. Comparable as a Kent County nonprofit that coordinates community-based services and education support.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kent_ssn
• Facebookfacebook.com/kentschoolservicesnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kent-school-services-network
• Instagraminstagram.com/kentschoolservicesnetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kent School Services Network