proprietary social agencies

Organizations or facilities that are usually owned or staffed by social workers and other professionals and that are intended to make a profit by providing a specified social service. These agencies provide essentially the same services as traditional nonprofit agencies, except that the charges to the recipient or recipient's agent may be higher. Examples of such organizations are private halfway houses, residential and educational facilities, camps, inpatient mental health facilities, training centers, research institutes, consultation services, privatized prisons, and social action and community organization programs.