Think:kids At Massachusetts General Hospital

What Think:kids At Massachusetts General Hospital does

Think:Kids is a program within the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (part of Mass General Brigham) that develops, disseminates, and certifies practitioners in the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach — an evidence-based, neurobiologically-guided methodology for understanding and addressing challenging behavior in children. The core thesis reframes challenging behavior as a function of lagging cognitive skills rather than lack of will, and is operationalized through a structured assessment (the Thinking Skills Inventory), a Plan B conversation protocol, and accompanying planning tools such as the CPS Assessment & Planning Tool (CPS-APT), the Plan B Organizer, and durable Plan B Conversation Cards. The methodology was developed and refined over 30+ years at MGH and Harvard Medical School under founder Dr. J. Stuart Ablon, and is supported by published research documenting outcomes including a 73% reduction in oppositional behaviors, an 86% reduction in physical restraint, and a 71% reduction in self-inflicted injuries.

The portfolio spans a multi-tier training and certification program (Introduction, Essential Foundation, Advanced Concepts, Parent/Caregiver classes, Certification, and Trainer Certification tracks) delivered through Teachable for self-serve learners and through the CPS Hub for certified practitioners, alongside a suite of books authored by Dr. Ablon (Changeable, The School Discipline Fix, Treating Explosive Kids, Collaborative Problem Solving: An Evidence-Based Approach), quick-reference guides, posters, and digital assessments. Think:Kids serves four primary customer segments — parents and caregivers, K-12 schools and educators, therapeutic programs and clinicians, and organizations/systems — through a multi-channel GTM that combines direct-to-consumer self-serve online learning, enterprise Associate and Partnership Programs for deep organizational implementation, a network of 98+ certified practitioners across North America, and physical/digital product sales through Amazon and Mimeo Marketplace.

The business is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID 04-1564655) housed institutionally within Mass General Brigham, generating revenue from training and certification fees, organizational implementation services, book and resource sales, and philanthropic donations managed by a Director of Development. With approximately 30+ multidisciplinary staff across operations, training, research, certification, implementation, and communications, and a global footprint anchored by US and Canadian markets, Think:Kids combines academic-clinical credibility (Harvard Medical School appointments, peer-reviewed research, REDCap-based outcome tracking) with a commercial training, certification, and product distribution motion.

Name

Think:kids At Massachusetts General Hospital

Legal name

Think:Kids at Massachusetts General Hospital

Website

https://thinkkids.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Think:Kids, a program at Massachusetts General Hospital, develops and certifies practitioners in the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach for addressing challenging behavior in children. It serves parents, K-12 schools, clinicians, and organizations through training, certification, organizational implementation partnerships, books, and digital assessment tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Health Training & Consulting

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavior Support, PBIS & Positive Guidance Programs (Early Years) (EDACAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Positive Discipline & Behavior Support Programs (EDACALAD), Assessment, Observation & Documentation Training (Portfolios, DRDP/CLASS/ECERS) (EDACAIAK), Observation, Documentation & Portfolio Systems (Anecdotal, Checklists, Learning Stories) (EDACAJAD), Parent–Child Play & Interaction Programs (EDACALAF)

Keywords

• Behavior intervention training
• Collaborative problem solving
• Child psychology services
• Trauma-informed education
• Professional development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training and Certification Fees: Think:Kids generates revenue through fees for public training programs, certification courses, and professional development. Training includes Introduction to CPS, Essential Foundation, Advanced Concepts, Parent/Caregiver classes, and Certification programs. Training and courses are non-refundable but registration fees can be applied to future training if participants cannot attend.
2. Books and Resource Sales: Sale of published books including 'Changeable', 'The School Discipline Fix', 'Treating Explosive Kids', and 'Collaborative Problem Solving: An Evidence-Based Approach'. Also sells resource materials like Quick Reference Guides, posters, Plan B Conversation Cards, and assessment tools.
3. Organizational Implementation Services: Revenue from the Associate Program and Partnership Program providing customized CPS implementation support to schools, therapeutic programs, and other organizations. Services include training, coaching, and implementation consultation.
4. Donations and Philanthropy: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit within Mass General Brigham, Think:Kids depends on public donations. Tax-deductible donations support financial assistance programs for parents, caregivers, teachers, and clinicians experiencing financial hardship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Think:Kids develops and delivers the evidence-based Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach for understanding and addressing challenging behavior in children. It sells public training courses, certification programs, organizational implementation services (Associate and Partnership Programs), books, and structured assessment and planning tools such as the Thinking Skills Inventory derivatives and the CPS Assessment & Planning Tool (CPS-APT).

Product overview

Think:Kids is a training and certification organization offering the evidence-based Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach for addressing challenging behavior in children. The portfolio consists of a core training and certification program with multiple tracks (Introduction, Essential Foundation, Advanced Concepts, Trainer Certification), supported by books (Changeable, The School Discipline Fix, Treating Explosive Kids, and others), digital assessment tools (CPS-APT, Thinking Skills Assessment, Plan B Organizer), printed resources (Conversation Cards, Posters, Quick Reference Guides), and online learning through the CPS Hub platform. The ecosystem is designed to train and certify parents, educators, clinicians, and organizations in implementing the CPS methodology across home, school, and clinical settings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CPS Training & Certification Program A structured training and certification curriculum teaching the evidence-based Collaborative Problem Solving approach for addressing challenging behavior in children. Includes Introduction, Essential Foundation, Advanced Concepts courses, Parent/Caregiver classes, and Certification and Trainer Certification tracks for individuals and organizations.
• Parent/Caregiver Classes Training courses designed for parents and caregivers to learn and apply the CPS approach at home with children exhibiting behavioral challenges.
• Associate Program Organizational partnership program for schools and agencies seeking to implement CPS within their organization with varying levels of support, training, coaching, and collaboration with Think:Kids.
• Partnership Program Deeper organizational partnership for comprehensive CPS implementation with extensive collaboration, training, coaching, and ongoing support from Think:Kids staff.
• CPS Assessment & Planning Tool (CPS-APT) A structured assessment and planning tool that walks users through evaluating unmet expectations, triggers, thinking skills, and challenging behaviors, and planning CPS interventions. Available in English and Spanish.
• Thinking Skills Assessment A 22-question online assessment based on the Thinking Skills Inventory (TSI) that enables users to evaluate thinking skills in themselves or others and provides results with detailed information about each skill area.
• Plan B Organizer A planning tool to help individuals or teams prepare for and conduct Plan B conversations, stay on track during discussions, and access helpful tips. Available in English and Spanish.
• Plan B Conversation Cards Credit card-sized durable physical cards serving as a quick reference for the three ingredients in a Plan B conversation, including goals, suggested scripts, tools, and tips. Ships within Continental US.
• Collaborative Problem Solving Posters 24x36 inch matte-finish posters displaying core CPS principles, designed for classrooms, offices, training spaces, and team rooms.
• Changeable Book Book by Dr. J. Stuart Ablon exploring why problem behavior is difficult to change and presenting the CPS approach as a solution based on the principle of 'skill, not will.'
• The School Discipline Fix Book A guide for teachers, counselors, coaches, and administrators on implementing CPS for school discipline, providing mindset shifts, assessment processes, and intervention strategies.
• Treating Explosive Kids Book The comprehensive clinical guide for the CPS approach, providing frameworks for individualized intervention with oppositional children and families.
• Collaborative Problem Solving: An Evidence-Based Approach Book The first systematic guide describing key components for successful CPS implementation across mental health and non-mental health settings requiring behavioral management.
• CPS Hub Online portal for CPS-certified practitioners to access resources, training materials, and community features.

Quantifiable outcome

• 73% reduction in oppositional behaviors during school
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of PsychiatrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink:Kids is a program within the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, a top-ranked department in the US and teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. This institutional relationship provides research infrastructure, clinical credibility, and academic affiliation.
• Harvard Medical SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Stuart Ablon serves as Associate Professor and Thomas G. Stemberg Endowed Chair in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, providing academic credibility and research collaboration.
• Oregon Health & Science UniversitystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMargaret Johnson oversaw the Oregon CPS Project at OHSU. Dr. Ajit Jetmalani is Professor and Director of Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at OHSU and serves on Think:Kids Advisory Council.
• Think:Kids Advisory Council MembersstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory council includes professionals from diverse sectors including Microsoft, Ethos Capital, Boys & Girls Clubs, National League of Cities, and MGH providing strategic guidance and connections.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Second Step (Committee for Children): Established SEL curriculum publisher serving K-8 schools with research-backed programs. Competes for school budget allocation toward behavior and SEL programming, though delivered as packaged curriculum rather than a methodology/training pathway.
• Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (RULER): Academic-affiliated SEL framework with school-wide implementation and trainer certification. Competes for K-12 SEL budget and educator professional development spend alongside CPS.
• Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS): Federally supported framework for school-wide positive behavior support, broadly deployed across U.S. K-12 districts. Competes with CPS for the same behavior-management budget line at scale, though as a broader systemic framework rather than a single proprietary methodology.

Direct peers

• Positive Discipline (Jane Nelsen): Long-running parent and educator training program based on Alfred Adler's work, with classroom and certification pathways overlapping Think:Kids' parent/caregiver and teacher offerings.
• Conscious Discipline: Evidence-informed social-emotional learning and discipline program widely adopted in early childhood and K-12 settings, with training, certification, and conferences aimed at the same parent/educator/therapist audience as Think:Kids.
• Love and Logic: Parenting and classroom management training organization selling books, curricula, and facilitator certification. Competes directly for parent and educator training dollars in the same discipline space.
• Lives in the Balance (Ross Greene): Ross Greene's organization promotes Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (formerly also called CPS), the closest methodological sibling to Think:Kids' Collaborative Problem Solving. Both target challenging child behavior in schools, clinics, and homes with overlapping assessment and conversation frameworks.

Emerging players

• Kognito: Provider of simulation-based SEL and mental health training for educators, clinicians, and child welfare professionals — intersecting with Think:Kids' training audience through digital delivery rather than live methodology training.
• Restorative Justice Education: Restorative practices and trauma-informed education programs targeting school discipline reform. Overlaps with CPS in offering alternatives to punitive school discipline and serving the same K-12 buyer.

Regional players

• Handle with Care (Center for Behavioral Education): Behavior management training and curriculum for educators and care providers, with comparable direct-training and certification offerings serving school and residential audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/thinkkidscps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/think-kids-at-mass.-general-hospital

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Think:kids At Massachusetts General Hospital