Community Translational Research Institute

What Community Translational Research Institute does

Community Translational Research Institute (CTRI) is a California-based nonprofit translational research organization founded in 2014 to bridge academic research and community health practice for underserved populations in the Inland Empire and beyond. The institute operates as a living translational laboratory that takes evidence-based interventions into schools, neighborhoods, and community settings, then iterates findings back into research. Its core operational footprint is anchored by Vital Space, a community wellness hub co-located within Jurupa Unified School District in Jurupa Valley, California, staffed by bilingual community health workers (CHWs) fluent in Spanish, Hmong, and Afghan languages.

CTRI's product surface comprises several interlocking programs: Enhanced Care Management (ECM) delivered in partnership with Inland Empire Health Plan for Medi-Cal beneficiaries; a Community Health Worker program providing care navigation, health education, and social-determinants support; school-based mental health interventions embedded in JUSD and Corona-Norco Unified School District; the Community Mental Health Worker (CMHW) Training Program funded by HRSA BHWET launching its Fall 2026 cohort; and a PRATS prevention program. Technology overlays include an AI-Driven Mental Health Navigation Pilot developed with Claremont Graduate University and an unnamed AI company, plus a Vital Space AI Phone Booth piloting voice-based community engagement. International research collaborations extend the model to Brazil through CEUMA University and UNIFAMAZ partnerships.

CTRI's revenue model is grant-dependent and nonprofit: federal grants (NIH R01, HRSA BHWET), state funding (California Department of Health Care Services ACEs Aware PRACTICE grants, California Health and Welfare Agency), foundation support (UniHealth, Robert Wood Johnson), and since 2024 Medi-Cal clinical reimbursement following Community Provider certification. Heluna Health provides administrative, fiscal, and grant management back-office support under a partnership dating to 2016. The customer base spans Medi-Cal managed care plans, school districts, federally qualified health centers, academic institutions, and community-based organizations, with primary end beneficiaries being low-income immigrant families, Medi-Cal enrollees, and trauma-exposed youth in the Inland Empire.

Name

Community Translational Research Institute

Legal name

Community Translational Research Institute

Website

https://ctris.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Community Translational Research Institute is a California nonprofit founded in 2014 that translates academic research into community health services for low-income immigrant families, Medi-Cal beneficiaries, and youth in the Inland Empire through Vital Space, Enhanced Care Management, CHW programs, and a CMHW Training Program funded by federal and state grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health Promotion, Prevention & Wellness Education (EDALAFAF), Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

Keywords

• Community health services
• Translational research
• Behavioral health workforce
• Community health workers
• Health equity programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Riverside

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Research Funding: CTRI operates through grants and research funding from NIH, HRSA, state agencies, and foundations. The organization has received 40+ years of NIH R01 support, NIH P50 awards, and HRSA BHWET funding.
2. Medi-Cal Clinical Services: CTRI achieved certification as a Medi-Cal Community Provider in 2024, allowing delivery of preventive and clinical services alongside research and training, with sustainable reimbursement through Medi-Cal.
3. Workforce Development Training: CTRI's CMHW Training Program is a no-cost, stipend-supported workforce development program funded under HRSA BHWET Program for Paraprofessionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CTRI delivers community-based health programs and translational research to underserved populations in the Inland Empire. Its core offerings include the Vital Space community wellness hub co-located inside Jurupa Unified School District, Enhanced Care Management (ECM) services delivered with Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), Community Health Worker (CHW) services, school-based mental health interventions, the no-cost Community Mental Health Worker (CMHW) Training Program, and the PRATS prevention and outreach program.

Product overview

CTRI operates as a translational research institute offering community health programs rather than a traditional SaaS product. Its core offerings include the Vital Space (physical community hub), Enhanced Care Management (ECM) services, Community Health Worker (CHW) Program, and School-Based Mental Health Interventions. Supporting these are the CMHW Training Program (workforce development), AI-Driven Mental Health Navigation Pilot (technology initiative), Vital Space AI Phone Booth (community engagement tool), PRATS prevention program, and Health Disparity Research. These programs work together: CHWs staff Vital Space and school sites delivering ECM and prevention services, CMHW training builds the workforce pipeline, while the AI pilots explore technology-enhanced navigation. The institute also conducts translational research informing all programs through an iterative cycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving communities across the Inland Empire including Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties through partnerships with 25+ organizations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universidade CEUMA (CEUMA University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026CTRI-CEUMA Mangrove Pilot Study examining intersection of environmental context, displacement experiences, and adolescent mental/behavioral health in São Luís, Brazil. Field data collection in two schools.
• Karma TMS / Karma Doctors & AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026CTRI visited Karma TMS Brain Wellness Center in Palm Springs to explore partnership for behavioral health care innovation. Potential for CMHW workforce to complement TMS clinical services through patient education and care navigation.
• UNIFAMAZcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025International academic and practice partnership through COP30 workshop in Belém, Brazil. Connected CGU's School of Community & Global Health with CEUMA and UNIFAMAZ for environmental health and sustainability solutions.
• Claremont Graduate University School of Community & Global Health (SCGH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025International workshop at COP30 Brazil featured SCGH faculty including Dr. C. Anderson Johnson, Dr. Bree Hemingway, Dr. Eusebio Alvaro, and Dr. Alexandra Auslander as key contributors.
• Inland Cyber Defense Clinic (ICDC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration on HIPAA compliance in AI systems discussion, helping safeguard patient information while using AI to improve patient care.
• East Valley Community Health Center (EVCHC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022$1M ACEs Aware PRACTICE grant partnership to expand access to families in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
• Tri-City Mental HealthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022$1M ACEs Aware PRACTICE grant partnership to expand access to families in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
• Cal Poly PomonaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022$1M ACEs Aware PRACTICE grant partnership to expand access to families in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
• Heluna HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Aligned for fiscal, HR, and grant management support since 2016. Strengthened CTRI's ability to expand research, training, and community-based clinical services. CHW Program developed in partnership with Heluna Health for Medi-Cal integration.
• Claremont Graduate University (CGU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013CTRI was developed by CGU professors and operates as a network with CGU's School of Community & Global Health. Provides internship opportunities for DrPH, PhD students, and foreign trained physicians.
• Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVital Space partnership co-located inside JUSD schools. IEHP (a Medi-Cal plan) provides funding and support for Enhanced Care Management services. CTRI helps IEHP members navigate healthcare and community resources.
• Jurupa Unified School District (JUSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-location of Vital Space inside JUSD schools. CTRI embeds CHWs and behavioral health staff directly on school campuses to increase access to mental health screening and referral pathways for students and families.
• Riverside University Health System (RUHS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner link on Translational Research page. DeFeR (Diabetes Free Riverside) project partnership with RUHS Department of Public Health.
• Inland Empire Community Health CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner link on Translational Research page for community health collaboration across the Inland Empire.
• Corona-Norco Unified School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for PEDS (Prevention of Emotional Distress and Suicide in Schools) program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Heluna Health: A California nonprofit that provides fiscal sponsorship, HR, and grant management support to public health programs and CBOs. Direct administrative partner to CTRI and an analogous organizational model serving community health through grant-funded infrastructure.
• California Health Collaborative: California nonprofit operating community health, CHW, and prevention programs across the state. A peer in the same community health + workforce development category as CTRI, with comparable funding sources and downstream Medi-Cal alignment.
• East Valley Community Health Center (EVCHC): Federally Qualified Health Center serving the Inland Empire with primary care, behavioral health, and CHW services. Co-recipient with CTRI on the CDHCS ACEs Aware PRACTICE grant and an obvious delivery-side peer in the same geography.
• Tri-City Mental Health: Community mental health provider serving the Inland Empire region with direct clinical services. Co-partner on the $1M ACEs Aware PRACTICE grant and an overlapping peer for CTRI's school-based and community mental health work.
• Public Health Institute: Large California-based nonprofit that conducts public health research, workforce training, and program deployment through a network of affiliated projects. Closest large-scale analog to CTRI's translational research + community service model.

Broad incumbents

• Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP): Large Medi-Cal managed care plan serving the Inland Empire. CTRI is a contracted ECM/CHW provider to IEHP, making IEHP both a customer and a peer in the broader community health ecosystem.
• LA Care Health Plan: Largest Medi-Cal managed care plan in California, operating its own CHW/ECM programs and community resource centers. A broader incumbent peer to CTRI's payer-aligned community health model.

Emerging players

• Borrego Health: Federally Qualified Health Center network with CHW and behavioral health services in Southern California. A regional emerging peer delivering comparable community-based services via Medi-Cal reimbursement.
• Partners in Care Foundation: California-based nonprofit providing community-based care management, CHW programs, and social support services for older adults and high-need populations. Comparable service model, target population, and funding mix.

Others

• RAND Health: Major nonprofit research organization with a strong community health portfolio. Not a delivery peer, but a relevant research-side comparable for CTRI's translational research and grant-funded academic collaboration model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CTRI_Health
• Facebookfacebook.com/Community-Translational-Research-Institute-317645688628630
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/communitytranslationalresearchinstitute

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Community Translational Research Institute