catholic social services

What catholic social services does

Catholic Social Services of Montana (CSSM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit chartered in 1953 and headquartered in Helena, Montana. The organization operates statewide and provides social, family, and mental health services to Montana residents across four program areas: (i) adoption services; (ii) mental health counseling; (iii) the Baby Boutique, a free program distributing essential baby items to families in need; and (iv) disaster relief. Adoption services are supported by a proprietary "My Adoption Portal" (MAP), while mental health counseling operations rely on the Power Diary client/EMR platform and a telehealth platform for remote delivery. The organization maintains three physical offices — Helena (main office and counseling), Bozeman (counseling), and Billings (satellite office and Baby Boutique) — supplemented by telehealth delivery across Montana's low-density geography. Service recipients include prospective adoptive parents, birth parents, individuals and families seeking counseling, low-income families needing material support, and Montana communities affected by disaster.

The business model is a mixed nonprofit revenue structure. Earned revenue is generated through adoption service fees and mental health counseling fees, the latter drawn from a diversified payer mix including private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, employee assistance programs (EAP), and a sliding-scale fee schedule for uninsured clients. Contributed revenue comes from parish and individual donations, grants (notably from Catholic Charities USA and the Foundation for the Diocese of Helena), and fundraising events including an annual charity golf tournament and dueling pianos benefit concert. The organization also coordinates episodic disaster-relief contributions in partnership with Montana dioceses, as demonstrated by the approximately $60,000 in flood-related relief coordinated in 2022. Distribution occurs through direct walk-in and referral traffic at the three physical offices, the diocesan parish referral network across Montana, and the telehealth channel for counseling clients.

Strategically, the organization has shifted from a traditional adoption-and-material-assistance posture toward broader service diversification. The November 2023 launch of a formal mental health services program — staffed with licensed counselors and supported by Power Diary and telehealth — represents the most material recent strategic move, followed by the 2023 geographic expansion of the Baby Boutique to Billings. The technology stack remains conventional third-party SaaS; there is no disclosed AI/ML, proprietary model, or data-asset capability in the input. Governance and capacity expansion in 2023 — including internal promotions into program coordinator and leadership roles — indicate organizational build-out aligned with the new service lines.

Name

catholic social services

Legal name

Catholic Social Services of Montana

Website

https://cssmt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Catholic Social Services of Montana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit chartered in 1953 that provides statewide adoption services, mental health counseling, a free Baby Boutique for families in need, and disaster relief to Montana residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAG

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGACAF

Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

Keywords

• Adoption services
• Mental health counseling
• Disaster relief
• Family services
• Community social work

Headquarters

HQ city

Helena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and parish contributions support the organization's charitable missions. Monthly giving option available through website.
2. Grants: Received grants from Foundation for the Diocese of Helena, Catholic Charities USA, and other foundations for specific programs including Baby Boutique, disaster relief, and eviction prevention.
3. Adoption Service Fees: Fees for adoption services including home studies, counseling, placement services, and post-placement support. Fee schedules available through the organization; costs kept affordable and below national averages.
4. Mental Health Counseling Fees: Fees for mental health counseling sessions. Accepts private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, in-network EAP, and private pay. Sliding fee scale available for qualifying clients. Initial consultation is free.
5. Fundraising Events: Revenue from annual charity golf tournaments ($400 per team registration), hole sponsorships, and event donations. 27th annual tournament scheduled for June 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Catholic Social Services of Montana (CSSM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing adoption services (infant, domestic, international, and direct parental placement), licensed mental health counseling (CBT, DBT, Psychodynamic, IFS, EFT) via in-person offices and statewide telehealth, a free Baby Boutique distributing essential items to families in need, and disaster relief support through the Catholic Charities USA network. The organization serves the entire state of Montana through offices in Helena, Bozeman, and Billings.

Product overview

Catholic Social Services of Montana is a nonprofit social services organization (501(c)(3)) offering a portfolio of interconnected community services. The core offerings include: Adoption Services (infant, domestic, international, and direct parental placement), Mental Health Counseling Services, Baby Boutique (free essential items for families), and Disaster Relief. The organization operates as a unified service provider rather than a platform product, with services available statewide via offices in Helena, Bozeman, and Billings, plus telehealth options. Founded in 1953, it is a licensed Montana adoption agency and member of Catholic Charities USA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Baby Boutique: Ministry providing diapers and essential items for babies and toddlers to families in need, free of charge. Available in Helena and Billings locations.

Products and services

• Adoption Services Comprehensive adoption services covering the full process including applications, home studies, counseling, birth parent support, placement, and post-placement services. Serves birth parents, prospective adoptive parents, and adoptive families across Montana with infant, domestic, international, and direct parental placement programs.
• Mental Health Counseling Services Licensed individual therapy for Montana residents using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT). Available in-person in Helena, Bozeman, and Billings plus statewide telehealth. Includes abortion grief therapy at no cost; accepts insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, EAP, and sliding fee scale.
• Baby Boutique Free distribution of diapers, clothing, wipes, formula, and other essential baby items to families in need. Locations at the Cathedral of St. Helena in Helena (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00am-1:00pm) and St Patrick Co-Cathedral in Billings (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30am-11:30am). Operated by CSSM with no cost to recipient families.
• Disaster Relief Program Disaster recovery support coordinated through the Catholic Charities USA network providing funds for home rebuilding, essential item replacement, professional cleaning, mold mitigation, and appliance replacement. Contributed $60,000+ to support Montana flood victims in Carbon, Park, and Stillwater Counties.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70+ years of service helping thousands of children join families through adoption
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, minor and emerging.

• Catholic Charities USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2022CSSM is a member agency of Catholic Charities USA. This affiliation enables access to national disaster relief funds and programs including the Francis Fund for Eviction Prevention ($10,000 grant received). Catholic Charities USA coordinates disaster relief efforts and provides grant funding to member agencies.
• Roman Catholic Diocese of HelenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSSM works alongside the Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena. The diocese provides spiritual and organizational support, and CSSM operates in alignment with Catholic social teaching.
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-BillingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSSM works alongside the Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings. Combined contribution of $107,000 for flood relief ($60,000 from CSSM, $47,000 from diocese parishes) demonstrates collaborative disaster response.
• Red Lodge Area Community FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered for disaster relief efforts. CSSM contributed $50,000 to the Carbon County Disaster Relief Fund, an initiative of the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation, to support 2022 flood victims.
• Bill Roberts Municipal Golf CourseminorOthersVenue partner for annual charity golf tournaments. Located in Helena, MT. The 27th annual tournament scheduled for June 19, 2026 at this venue.
• Bighorn ResortminorOthersEvent venue for dueling pianos benefit in Billings, MT. Hosts annual fundraising events for CSSM.
• St Patrick Co-CathedralminorOthersBillings parish provides space for Baby Boutique location at 215 N 31st St. Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30am-11:30am.
• Cathedral of St. HelenaminorOthersHelena cathedral provides space for Baby Boutique location in the Cathedral Center. Accepts donations Monday-Thursday, 9am-2pm at Parish Center.
• Mental Health Professionals NetworkemergingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCSSM is actively hiring mental health professionals to expand statewide mental health services. Currently accepting in-network EAP referrals and insurance from multiple providers.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bethany Christian Services: Faith-based nonprofit providing adoption, foster care, and family support services nationwide. Closely comparable to CSSM in mission (open adoption, counseling, family services) and Catholic/Christian-aligned identity, though operating at much larger scale across multiple states.
• Nightlight Christian Adoptions: Faith-based licensed adoption agency offering domestic, international, and embryo adoption with open adoption focus. Highly comparable to CSSM's adoption service line, with similar religious-affiliated operating model.
• Adoption Services (private Montana adoption agencies): Private, licensed adoption agency facilitating domestic and international adoptions. Comparable to CSSM's adoption line in service mix and licensing requirements, though operates as a for-profit private entity rather than a faith-based nonprofit.
• Lutheran Social Services of Montana: Faith-based social services nonprofit serving Montana with refugee resettlement, adoption, and family services. Closely comparable to CSSM in operating model, geography, and faith-based social services portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National umbrella organization of Catholic Charities agencies; CSSM is a member agency. Provides grant funding (e.g., Francis Fund), disaster coordination, and national policy advocacy that channels resources to member agencies like CSSM.
• Catholic Relief Services: International Catholic humanitarian agency providing disaster relief and development aid. Comparable to CSSM in faith identity and disaster relief operations, though operating globally rather than within a single state.

Regional players

• YWCA Helena: Helena-based community nonprofit offering domestic violence, sexual assault, and family support services. Comparable to CSSM in serving Montana families in need, though mission-aligned with broader gender-equity rather than faith identity.
• Children's Home Society of California (and similar state CHS agencies): State-chartered, nonprofit adoption and family services agencies that operate as the de-facto state adoption infrastructure. Comparable to CSSM in being a long-tenured licensed nonprofit adoption agency, though operating in different states.

Emerging players

• Catholic Charities of Spokane: Sister Catholic Charities agency operating in the Pacific Northwest offering adoption, mental health, refugee, and disaster support services. Comparable in service portfolio and funding model to CSSM, though at somewhat larger scale and in adjacent geography.

Others

• Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services - Child and Family Services Division: State government entity responsible for child welfare, foster care, and adoption oversight in Montana. Comparable as the regulatory counterpart and funder/referral source for licensed agencies like CSSM in adoption and family services.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CSSMT

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 catholic social services