American Indian Changing Spirits

What American Indian Changing Spirits does

American Indian Changing Spirits (AICS) is a non-profit residential substance use treatment provider founded around 2000 and based at a single facility in Long Beach, California, serving the greater Los Angeles area. Its core offering is a 24/7 residential program that integrates evidence-based clinical treatment (individual and group counseling, case management, discharge planning, medication-assisted treatment, harm reduction, therapy, and 12-Step meetings) with culturally-relevant Native American programming including sweat lodge ceremonies, talking circles, beading and sewing circles, native art programs, indigenous-plant gardening, and pow wow outings. The organization is governed by a Native American Board of Directors for cultural and spiritual practices, while clinical treatment is delivered through a partnership with parent organization Behavioral Health Services, Inc.

AICS primarily serves Native American and Indigenous adults (18+) battling substance use and co-occurring behavioral health conditions, and the program is explicitly inclusive of LGBTQIA-2S+ community members and individuals needing ADA accommodations or translation services. The organization is CARF-accredited, licensed and certified by the California State Department of Health Care Services (License 190239AN, expiring 03/31/2028), and is an SAPC-contracted provider for Los Angeles County. Revenue is generated through Drug Medi-Cal reimbursement for eligible LA County residents, tribal funding sources, and Private Pay arrangements; an in-house team of certified peer support specialists, registered counselors (CCAPP/ACCBC/CADTP), and clinicians provides care. Marketing and admissions are driven primarily by community and tribal referrals, with a website, Facebook page, and a newer TikTok channel (@changingspirits) extending reach.

The organization has operated continuously for 25 years without disclosed funding rounds or M&A activity, maintains a 11–50 person headcount, and operates from one physical site. Leadership visibility includes a 2016 President's Call to Service Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama's Council to staff members Jimi Castillo, Jeanette Castillo, and Kem Persaud. The business is structurally reimbursement-funded, narrow in geographic scope, and differentiated primarily through cultural-programming authenticity and stacked regulatory credentials rather than technology or scale.

Name

American Indian Changing Spirits

Legal name

American Indian Changing Spirits

Website

https://americanindianchangingspirits.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

American Indian Changing Spirits is a non-profit operating a 24/7 residential substance use treatment program in Long Beach, California, serving Native American and Indigenous adults (and LGBTQIA-2S+ residents) by combining evidence-based clinical care with culturally-relevant Native American programming, funded through LA County Drug Medi-Cal, tribal sources, and private pay.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Health / Residential Substance Use Treatment

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN), Tribal/Indigenous Public Health Authorities (HLAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Residential substance use treatment
• Culturally relevant recovery services
• Native American behavioral health
• Medication assisted treatment
• Nonprofit addiction recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Medi-Cal Reimbursement: Revenue from Los Angeles County Medi-Cal (Drug Medi-Cal) coverage for eligible participants enrolled in residential substance use treatment services.
2. Tribal Funding: Funding received through Tribal sources to cover substance use treatment services for Native American and Indigenous individuals.
3. Private Pay: Direct payment options for individuals not covered by insurance or tribal funding who self-pay for residential treatment services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

American Indian Changing Spirits runs a 24/7 residential substance use treatment program in Long Beach, California, serving Native American and Indigenous adults (and adults of all genders) through evidence-based clinical treatment — individual and group counseling, case management, discharge planning, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), harm reduction, 12-Step meetings, and peer support — integrated with culturally-attuned practices such as sweat lodge ceremonies, talking circles, beading and sewing circles, native art programs, indigenous plant gardening, and pow wow outings.

Product overview

American Indian Changing Spirits operates as a single, unified residential treatment program rather than a modular platform. The core offering is a 24/7 residential substance use treatment program that integrates culturally-relevant Native American programming (sweat lodge, talking circles, beading/sewing circles, pow wows, native art, gardening) with evidence-based clinical treatment services (counseling, MAT, case management, harm reduction, therapy). The program is overseen by a Native American Board of Directors for cultural/spiritual practices while Behavioral Health Services, Inc. provides the clinical treatment component. Additional services include peer support and linkage to external care such as psychiatry and primary care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Substance Use Treatment Program A 24/7 residential program providing evidence-based clinical treatment combined with culturally-relevant Native American programming for adults battling substance use disorders and behavioral health challenges; funded via Drug Medi-Cal, Tribal funding, or Private Pay.
• Culturally-Relevant Native Programming Traditional Native American practices integrated with treatment, including sweat lodge ceremonies, talking circles, beading and sewing circles, native art programs, gardening with indigenous plants, outings to local pow wows and cultural events, and native culture lectures.
• Evidence-Based Clinical Treatment Services Clinical treatment services including individual counseling, group counseling, education services, case management, discharge planning, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), harm reduction practices, and therapy provided by trained professionals and peer-based providers.
• Peer Support Services Peer-based providers deliver support throughout the recovery journey, working alongside trained professionals to provide lived-experience guidance for participants in the residential program.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Behavioral Health Services, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBehavioral Health Services, Inc. provides the evidence-based clinical treatment component while American Indian Changing Spirits provides culturally-relevant programming overseen by a Native American Board of Directors. This partnership combines clinical expertise with cultural sensitivity.
• SAPC (Substance Abuse Prevention and Control)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAPC-contracted provider for Los Angeles County, enabling services to be covered through Drug Medi-Cal for eligible participants.
• Community Withdrawal Management PartnersminorOthersReferral network of community partners for initial withdrawal management treatment for persons experiencing withdrawals or at risk of withdrawals who cannot be admitted to residential primary SUD setting.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: The largest non-profit residential substance use treatment organization in the U.S., with CARF-accredited programs across multiple states. Comparable as a CARF-accredited, residential SUD provider, though it does not have AICS's specific Indigenous-cultural specialization.
• Caron Treatment Centers: A nationally recognized non-profit residential substance use treatment provider with locations across the U.S., offering residential, detox, and recovery programs. Comparable to AICS in CARF-equivalent quality standards and residential SUD focus, but operating at much greater scale and without Indigenous specialization.
• La Hacienda Treatment Center: A residential substance use treatment provider in Texas offering detox, residential, and recovery programs for adults. Comparable to AICS as a CARF-accredited residential SUD provider, though faith-based and not Indigenous-specialized.
• Phoenix House: A national non-profit operating residential and outpatient substance use treatment programs across multiple U.S. states. Comparable to AICS as a residential SUD provider but operating a broader portfolio at significantly larger scale and without an Indigenous-cultural focus.

Direct peers

• McShin Foundation: A non-profit recovery community organization providing peer-based recovery housing, sober living, and resource connection for individuals with substance use disorders. Comparable to AICS in its emphasis on peer support and community-driven recovery.
• Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest (NARA): An Indigenous-governed non-profit providing residential and outpatient substance use, mental health, and recovery services to Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest. It is the closest functional peer to AICS in terms of combining cultural programming with clinical treatment under a Native-led board.
• Behavioral Health Services, Inc. (BHS): The clinical partner and listed parent of AICS, operating residential and outpatient substance use programs across Los Angeles County. Directly comparable because BHS provides the evidence-based clinical backbone to AICS's cultural programming and operates in the same LA County SAPC-funded environment.
• White Bison, Inc. An Indigenous non-profit that develops culturally-based recovery curricula (e.g., the Wellbriety Movement) and supports recovery programs serving Native American communities. Comparable to AICS in mission (Indigenous recovery), although operating primarily as a curriculum/training organization rather than a residential facility.

Regional players

• Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc. A Los Angeles County-based non-profit providing residential and outpatient SUD and behavioral health services, including Drug Medi-Cal-funded programs. Directly comparable because it competes for the same SAPC/Medi-Cal-funded residential SUD clients in the same LA market as AICS, though without the Indigenous cultural component.
• SACHR (Southern Area Community Housing & Recovery): A Southern California-based recovery housing and supportive services provider. Comparable to AICS as a regional SUD recovery provider in the same state, although focused more on recovery housing than residential clinical treatment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aicscommunity
• TikToktiktok.com/@changingspirits
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-indian-changing-spirits

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 American Indian Changing Spirits