Cadence Care Network Expands by Acquiring Youth Advocate Services in Columbus

Cadence Care Network Expands Reach with Acquisition of Youth Advocate Services

NILES, Ohio – Cadence Care Network has announced its acquisition of Youth Advocate Services (YAS), a Columbus-based nonprofit organization that specializes in treatment foster care and behavioral health services. This strategic move not only broadens Cadence Care’s operational territory into central Ohio, but it also enhances the agency’s capacity to address the pressing behavioral health and child welfare needs of the region’s children and families.

Founded over four decades ago, Youth Advocate Services has a longstanding history of impact, having served more than 52,000 children and families since its inception. The organization ranks among the top ten most-frequently utilized service providers for Franklin County Children Services, attesting to its pivotal role in the community.

Through this merger, Cadence Care Network anticipates adding more than 20 professionals to its existing workforce of 300, thereby strengthening its commitment to providing comprehensive care. This expansion not only signifies growth in personnel but also extends the agency’s operational range, enhancing services in Niles, Boardman, Ashtabula, Toledo, and now into the heart of central Ohio. According to Cadence Care Network, this acquisition positions the agency to serve a larger number of children and families than at any previous time in its 35-year history.

Matt Kresic, CEO of Cadence Care Network, expressed enthusiasm about the merger, stating, “We are extremely excited to partner with Youth Advocate Services to expand our mission of helping children and families live their best possible lives. This acquisition allows us to build on the solid foundation of foster care, early intervention, and behavioral health services currently provided by YAS in Franklin County by incorporating our expertise in developing innovative home and community-based behavioral health services.”

In the past year, Cadence Care has reported significant achievements, including providing mental health treatment to over 2,400 children and their families. The agency also documented a 10% increase in the number of foster care families engaged and a marked doubling in foster child adoptions compared to the previous year. Moreover, over 3,000 students have benefited from services offered by Cadence Care’s social workers and therapists across 15 school districts and technical centers.

Looking ahead, Sarah Steuer, CEO of Youth Advocate Services, remarked on the potential transformative impact of the merger. “As we begin this new chapter, I reflect on how amazing it is to say that YAS has served the Central Ohio community for more than 46 years,” she noted. “This merger allows us to do things we have dreamed of in expanding our programs, adding services, increasing our resources, and providing more opportunities for our staff.”

This acquisition reflects a growing trend in the nonprofit sector, where organizations are increasingly collaborating to enhance service delivery and resource utilization in response to complex community needs. As Cadence Care Network and Youth Advocate Services forge ahead together, they are poised to make a significant, positive impact on the lives of children and families throughout Central Ohio.