creative support alternatives

What creative support alternatives does

Creative Support Alternatives is a San Diego-based non-profit organization founded in 1992 that provides Supported Living Services (SLS), Independent Living Services (ILS), and Self-Determination Services (including Person Driven Planning and Independent Facilitation) to adults with developmental disabilities. Services are delivered on a one-on-one, person-driven basis in clients' own homes and communities throughout San Diego County, with the stated objective of enabling independent living and full community inclusion rather than institutional placement.

The organization operates as a program within the Interwork Institute at San Diego State University and is administered through the SDSU Research Foundation, which provides academic oversight, administrative infrastructure, and recruiting systems (including iCIMS-based hiring for Community Support Facilitator positions). Referral and funding flow primarily through the San Diego Regional Center and the California Department of Developmental Disabilities, with service fees determined via regional-center vendor contracts rather than direct consumer pricing.

There is no proprietary technology platform, mobile application, or AI/ML capability disclosed. Outreach is conducted through an Instagram presence, San Diego Regional Center Resource Fairs, and SDSU classroom presentations to future special-education teachers. The disclosed leadership team consists of Director Joshua Bellfy, Community Living Coordinator Janet Estrada, and team members Denise Martinez and Derly Castillo; broader headcount and financial data are not publicly reported.

Name

creative support alternatives

Legal name

Creative Support Alternatives

Website

https://creativesupport.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Creative Support Alternatives is a San Diego-based non-profit founded in 1992 that provides one-on-one Supported Living Services, Independent Living Services, and Self-Determination Services to adults with developmental disabilities in San Diego County, operating as a program within SDSU's Interwork Institute.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Supported living services
• Independent living services
• Developmental disability support
• Self-determination services
• Disability community support

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

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, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Creative Support Alternatives is a non-profit organization that provides Supported Living Services (SLS) and Independent Living Services (ILS) to adults with developmental disabilities in San Diego County. Services are delivered as one-on-one, person-driven supports that help individuals live in a home of their own, complemented by Self-Determination Services including Person Driven Planning and Independent Facilitation.

Product overview

Creative Support Alternatives is a non-profit organization offering a unified portfolio of disability support services, primarily Supported Living Services (SLS) and Independent Living Services (ILS). Both services provide one-on-one, person-driven supports to help individuals with developmental disabilities live independently in their own homes. Additionally, the organization offers Self-Determination Services including Person Driven Planning and Independent Facilitation, which complement the core SLS and ILS offerings by emphasizing individual choice and control over support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supported Living Services (SLS) One-on-one, Person Driven Supported Living Supports that assist adults with developmental disabilities to live in a home of their own in San Diego County.
• Independent Living Services (ILS) One-on-one, Person Driven Independent Living Supports that assist adults with developmental disabilities to live in a home of their own in San Diego County.
• Self-Determination Services Person Driven Planning and Independent Facilitation services that give individuals with developmental disabilities more control over their own support services, delivered under California's Self-Determination Program.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Interwork Institute (SDSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative Support Alternatives is a program within the Interwork Institute at San Diego State University. This partnership provides academic oversight, research integration, and community education focus aligned with the institute's mission of supporting full inclusion of people with developmental disabilities.
• San Diego State University Research FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative Support Alternatives is a program within the SDSU Research Foundation, a non-profit organization. The foundation provides administrative infrastructure, employment services, and recruiting systems for staff positions.
• San Diego Regional CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSan Diego Regional Center is a key referral and funding partner. The Regional Center connects individuals with developmental disabilities to Creative Support Alternatives' services and provides regional resources page links for client support.
• SDSU Research Foundation (Employment)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAll recruiting for Community Support Facilitator positions is conducted through the SDSU Research Foundation's online recruitment system (iCIMS platform), serving as the primary hiring channel for the organization.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• BrightSpring Health Services: Large diversified provider of home and community health services, including IDD services through its ResCare segment. Comparable in serving IDD populations with supported/independent living offerings, but operates at national scale across many adjacent service lines.
• Easterseals Southern California: Large regional non-profit providing a broad portfolio of disability services including supported living, adult day programs, and self-determination supports across Southern California. Comparable customer base and funding mix (Regional Center contracts), though it offers a wider service portfolio.

Direct peers

• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): National provider of home- and community-based services, including supported living and independent living services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Operates California MENTOR as a California subsidiary and is the most direct scaled competitor to CSA's SLS/ILS model.
• PRIDE Industries: Non-profit organization providing supported employment, job coaching, and community-based disability services. Comparable as a non-profit serving individuals with developmental disabilities through person-centered supports and Regional Center funding channels in California.
• The Arc of San Diego: Local San Diego non-profit providing supported living, independent living, and community-based supports to adults with developmental disabilities. Direct regional competitor operating in the same San Diego County catchment with similar SLS/ILS-style service offerings.
• LifeBridge (San Diego): San Diego-based non-profit providing supported and independent living services to adults with developmental disabilities. Competes directly with CSA for Regional Center-referred clients in San Diego County and operates a similar person-driven service model.
• UCP of San Diego County (LifeBridge): San Diego-area non-profit supporting children and adults with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities through supported living, therapy, and community programs. Comparable customer population, funding model, and geographic footprint.

Emerging players

• Community Catalysts of California: California-focused provider of supported and independent living services for adults with developmental disabilities, often affiliated with Regional Centers. Comparable service model focused on self-determination and community-based supports.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/creativesupportalternatives
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creativesupportalternatives

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 creative support alternatives