Unison Therapy Services: The Intersection of Behavioral Health and School Systems

With behavioral health conditions becoming more common, school systems across the country are increasingly seeking outside assistance to offer specialized services to students that are often legally required.

This dynamic is creating an opportunity for innovative behavioral health providers. A prime example is recent Harris Williams client Unison Therapy Services, which partners with school districts to treat students in need.

In this article, members of our Healthcare & Life Sciences Group discuss the behavioral health supply-and-demand imbalance and how Unison is making a difference in students’ lives.

Getting Students the Right Care

Diagnosis of behavioral health conditions and awareness of treatment options continue to rise across age groups. At the same time, the destigmatization of behavioral health challenges is further boosting demand for a wider range of services in a variety of care settings, including within schools. 

Although more people are looking for behavioral health treatment, the availability of care is often inadequate. “There is a growing opportunity to better support an underserved patient population through more accessible, higher-quality behavioral health services,” says Andy Dixon, a managing director.  

“Providers like Unison Therapy Services are working with school districts to best serve students through clinical support delivered in the school, which often can be a more convenient site of care,” adds Taylor Will, a director. “And since they’re typically contracted by school systems for the entire academic year, these types of providers have long-term revenue visibility and favorable reimbursement dynamics.” 

Such businesses are emblematic of a continuing trend of school districts leaning on outsourced providers to deliver many services outside of core academics, such as transportation, nutrition, and mental and behavioral health. “Companies that specialize in providing these types of services to the education market offer an exciting chance for a broader set of investors to participate in the space,” notes Martin Keck, a managing director in our Technology Group. 

Unison, for instance, is one of the largest outsourced therapy providers for students in school- and community-based settings. The company is a multi-disciplinary provider of therapy services for children with developmental and speech delays, autism, social and emotional developmental needs, and behavioral challenges.  

“Unison’s clinicians work collaboratively to satisfy a child’s special education needs across multiple therapeutic services,” says Will. “And it’s able to reliably meet growing demand thanks to industry leading employee retention and recruitment. It’s very well-positioned for growth in a space with lots of runway.” 

Meeting Growing Demand

The need for behavioral health services continues to grow with little signs of slowing. Businesses that provide superior, more accessible treatment are fertile ground for investors looking to build leading platforms in the segment. Such investors are increasingly drawn to businesses with a strong value proposition and demonstrated clinical outcomes, like Unison, that serve the large and unmet demand for pre-K-12 therapeutic services.

“The fragmented behavioral health landscape gives investors plentiful opportunities to build scaled, professionalized platforms that can deliver better care to more people, attract and retain the best talent, and cultivate strong and lasting patient relationships,” says Dixon. “It’s a space where thoughtful investments, operational expertise, and a focus on smart growth can unlock substantial value while generating better health outcomes. We look forward to watching M&A activity continue in this important sector.”

To further discuss behavioral health M&A opportunities, please contact our senior professionals.