Children's Research Triangle

What Children's Research Triangle does

Children's Research Triangle (CRT) is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1998 that delivers trauma-informed behavioral health services to children and youth ages 0-18, with particular specialization in those affected by prenatal and environmental trauma, including prenatal substance exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). CRT's core service portfolio comprises comprehensive developmental and psychological evaluations (including multidisciplinary pediatric assessments), individual/dyadic/family/group therapy, pre-adoptive consultation services, professional and community training (including Youth Mental Health First Aid), and federally funded research and program evaluation. The organization's evidence-based therapy offerings include Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), SPARCS, PCIT, Theraplay, EMDR, and Circle of Security, administered by clinicians trained in these modalities.

CRT operates through a hybrid delivery model anchored by its Loop clinic at 70 E. Lake Street in Chicago, supplemented by 15+ community partner sites including schools, domestic violence shelters, and the Evanston Vet Center where services are provided at no cost to clients. A teletherapy channel extends reach via a HIPAA-compliant platform. CRT's revenue model is heavily grant-dependent, with over 90% of funding sourced from federal grants (SAMHSA, CDC, ACF, MCHB), foundations (Bob Woodruff, Crown Family Philanthropies, Robert R. McCormick Foundation), and individual donations; the remainder comes from insurance reimbursement (Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, TRICARE, United HealthCare, Medicaid) and client fees on a sliding scale. The signature Camp SOAR program provides overnight adaptive recreation for children ages 7-19 with developmental disabilities.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by CEO Linda D. Schwartz, PhD, supported by a clinical-operations leadership team that includes Therapy, Training, Research, Evaluation, Clinical Operations, Development, and Project Directors. CRT maintains a 96% Charity Navigator rating with Gold-level Candid (GuideStar) transparency, a certified National Health Service Corps site designation, and a longstanding research arm publishing outcomes research from federally funded studies.

Name

Children's Research Triangle

Legal name

Children's Research Triangle

Website

https://childrensresearchtriangle.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Children's Research Triangle is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 that provides trauma-informed behavioral health evaluations, therapy, training, and research for children and youth experiencing complex trauma and prenatal substance exposure, serving Chicagoland through a central clinic and 15+ community partner sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAKAMAE

Behavioral Health & MTSS/RTI Tiered SEL Supports

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Mental Health Supports (School-Based)

SECONDARYEDACAFAO

Mental Health & Infant/Early Childhood Consultation (0–5)

Education/Early Childhood Education/Early Intervention & Developmental Services (0–5)

SECONDARYEDACAFAA

Developmental Screening & Assessment (0–5)

Education/Early Childhood Education/Early Intervention & Developmental Services (0–5)

SECONDARYEDAMALAO

Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Summer & Holiday Enrichment Camps (Multi-Activity, Academic)

Keywords

• Pediatric behavioral health
• Child therapy services
• Behavioral health evaluations
• Clinical training programs
• Trauma-informed research

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: The majority of CRT's budget is funded by grants, foundations, and individual donors. Federal grants include SAMHSA, CDC, ACF, MCHB funding for various programs including Early Mental Health Program, Project LAUNCH, Trauma Treatment Program, and Gun Violence Prevention Program.
2. Insurance Reimbursement: CRT accepts private insurance including Aetna PPO, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Cigna PPO, TRICARE PPO, United HealthCare/Optum PPO. Also bills Medicaid and BCBS PPO for physical examinations.
3. Client Fees: Fee-for-service model for evaluations, therapy, and pre-adoptive consultations with sliding scale options for those requiring financial assistance. Initial interview $275, hourly rate $200, physical examination $350, individual therapy $175/hour.
4. Individual Donations: CRT relies on donations from individuals to support operations and programs. More than 90% of CRT's work is funded by donations and grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Children's Research Triangle is a nonprofit behavioral health organization that provides clinical evaluations, therapy, and trauma-informed services to children and families. In parallel, it conducts professional training, behavioral health research, and operates Camp SOAR, a specialized camp program for children served by the organization.

Product overview

Children's Research Triangle (CRT) operates as a behavioral health services organization offering a coordinated portfolio of clinical, research, training, and recreational programs. The core clinical services include comprehensive evaluations (developmental and psychological) and therapy services for children ages 0-18 with complex trauma histories. CRT provides specialized pre-adoptive consultation for families considering adoption. The training division offers professional and community trainings plus Youth Mental Health First Aid certification. The research arm conducts federally-funded projects and program evaluation. A signature program, Camp SOAR, provides overnight summer camp for children with developmental disabilities ages 7-19. CRT also runs clinical and research internship programs for graduate and undergraduate students. All services are grounded in trauma-informed, evidence-based practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camp SOAR: An overnight summer camp for children and youth ages 7-19 with significant developmental disabilities who require intensive supports. Established around 1999-2000.
• Youth MIND (Youth Moving in New Directions)

Products and services

• Behavioral Health Evaluations Clinical evaluations of children and adolescents to identify behavioral, developmental, and trauma-related challenges, supporting diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Therapy Services Ongoing therapeutic interventions for children and families, including trauma-informed approaches to address behavioral and developmental concerns.
• Professional Training Training programs for behavioral health professionals, clinicians, and partner organizations focused on pediatric behavioral health and trauma-informed care practices.
• Behavioral Health Research Applied research activities examining behavioral health interventions and outcomes for children and adolescents, supporting evidence-based practice and contributing to the broader field.
• Camp SOAR A specialized summer camp program for children served by Children's Research Triangle, providing a supportive community experience that complements clinical services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of clients decreased trauma symptoms
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Partnership for Resilience (P4R)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019CRT collaborated with Partnership for Resilience on Project LAUNCH to promote wellness of young children in Chicago's Southland area.
• Evanston Vet CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRT team members located at Evanston Vet Center providing mental health services to veterans and their families in the community.
• Mary's House (Domestic Violence Shelter)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRT provides on-site therapy services at Mary's House, a domestic violence shelter, for children and families experiencing trauma.
• Johnson College Prep High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRT provides school-based mental health services and behavioral health support at Johnson College Prep High School.
• Wendell Smith Elementary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRT provides on-site therapy services and school-based behavioral health support at Wendell Smith Elementary School.
• Fort Dearborn Elementary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRT provides school-based mental health services at Fort Dearborn Elementary School.
• North Lawndale College PrepcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRT provides trauma-informed mental health services and violence prevention programming at North Lawndale College Prep.
• Al Raby High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRT provides school-based mental health services and behavioral health support at Al Raby High School.
• Cook County HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRT partners with Cook County Health on the Stronger Together program, addressing insufficient mental health services for low income, Black and Brown youth.
• SOS Children's Villages IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRT worked with SOS Children's Villages Illinois on Project Thrive to provide screening, evaluation, and therapeutic services for children in foster care.
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRT served as a Community Treatment and Service Center for the NCTSN, participating in data collection and evidence-based practice development.
• UChicago MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRT partners with UChicago Medicine for mental health referrals and coordinated care for children and adolescents.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI): Statewide Illinois social services nonprofit serving children, youth, and families through counseling, foster care, and behavioral health programs — comparable in scope and population focus.
• Metropolitan Family Services: Chicago-area human services nonprofit delivering behavioral health, family support, and youth development programs — overlapping service lines and community-based delivery model.
• Children's Home & Aid: Illinois nonprofit providing child welfare, foster care, behavioral health, and early childhood services — comparable in serving children with complex trauma and adoption-related needs.
• Jewish Child & Family Services (JCFS): Chicago-area nonprofit offering trauma-informed mental health, evaluation, and family services to children and youth — closely comparable in clinical model and target populations.
• Aunt Martha's Health & Wellness: Illinois community-based integrated health and social services organization serving children, youth, and families — comparable in community-embedded care delivery and Medicaid billing model.
• Maryville Academy: Chicago-based nonprofit providing residential, behavioral health, and child welfare services to children and families — directly comparable in geography, mission, and trauma-informed service delivery.
• Thresholds: Chicago-based nonprofit providing mental health, substance use, and recovery services including youth programs — comparable in community-based behavioral health model and Medicaid-billing infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Gateway Foundation: Illinois nonprofit behavioral health provider with growing youth and adolescent service lines — comparable in Medicaid-billing, evidence-based treatment focus, and Illinois footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago: Major Chicago children's hospital with extensive pediatric behavioral health, developmental, and trauma services — a broader incumbent that competes for referrals and clinician talent in the same geography.
• UChicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital: Academic pediatric hospital in Chicago providing behavioral health and developmental services — a broader incumbent partner and competitor for complex pediatric mental health cases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/crtchicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/crtchicago

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Children's Research Triangle