Cruz Azul no Brasil

What Cruz Azul no Brasil does

Cruz Azul no Brasil is a non-profit civil association founded on June 23, 1995, in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, and recognized as a Centro de Referência em Dependência Química (CEREDEQ) — a Reference Center in Chemical Dependency. Affiliated with the International Blue Cross (IBC), the organization is interdenominational Christian and operates across at least five Brazilian states (Santa Catarina, Pará, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, and São Paulo). Its mission is the prevention, treatment support, and rehabilitation of people affected by alcohol and other drug use, with a reported cumulative reach of over 300,000 beneficiaries since founding.

The organization operates six core service lines: free community-based support groups (Grupos de Apoio e Mútua Ajuda), individual psychological care (adults since 2012, children/adolescents since 2019), institutional advisory (Assessoramento), rights advocacy (Defesa de Direitos), publishing (Editora Cruz Azul since 1995), and school-based prevention programs (Prevenção). A Continuing Education unit (Educação Continuada) delivers a portfolio of paid EAD courses and seminars through the Hotmart marketplace, with course fees ranging from R$50 to R$500 per participant and certifications recognized by SENAD, CONFENACT, and the International Blue Cross. Technology infrastructure is intentionally minimal — the organization does not operate a proprietary technology product, relying instead on Hotmart (EAD), Google Meet (live online classes), WhatsApp (communications), and a virtual bookstore at cruzazulstore.org.br.

The revenue model is non-commercial and diversified across four streams: individual and corporate donations (including FIA income tax donation campaigns), institutional and government cooperation agreements (e.g., R$8,170.72 agreement with the Juizado Especial Criminal de Blumenau in 2026 and a 24-month national-scope cooperation agreement with MDS), paid professional education course fees, and book sales through Editora Cruz Azul. The organization's distribution relies on a community-led model with weekly meetings held in churches and community spaces, formal government partnerships, and institutional endorsements rather than traditional commercial sales channels.

Name

Cruz Azul no Brasil

Legal name

Cruz Azul no Brasil

Website

https://cruzazul.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cruz Azul no Brasil is a non-profit civil association founded in 1995 in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, recognized as a Reference Center in Chemical Dependency (CEREDEQ). It delivers free community support groups, psychological care, professional education, and prevention programs for people affected by alcohol and drug use across five Brazilian states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chemical Dependency Treatment and Prevention Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE) (EDAAALAD)

Keywords

• Chemical dependency treatment
• Substance abuse prevention
• Recovery support groups
• Continuing professional education
• Addiction counseling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Blumenau

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and charitable contributions: The organization raises funds from individual donors, corporate partners, and income tax donation campaigns (FIA — Fundo da Infância e Adolescência). Donors can contribute monthly, one-time, or toward specific projects. The organization states it has benefited more than 300,000 people through its programs.
2. Professional education and training fees: Revenue generated from paid courses, seminars, and training programs for therapeutic community professionals and related practitioners. Course fees range from R$ 50 to R$ 500 per participant, with group discounts available. Courses are delivered via Hotmart (recorded EAD) and Google Meet (live online/presential).
3. Institutional partnerships and government agreements: The organization receives financial support through formal agreements with government bodies, such as the R$ 8,170.72 agreement with the Juizado Especial Criminal de Violência Doméstica e Familiar contra a Mulher de Blumenau (Agreement No. 08/2026), for psychological care services and facility qualification.
4. Publishing — Editora Cruz Azul: Revenue from the sale of books, guides, and digital publications produced by its own publishing house (Editora Cruz Azul), established in 1995. Sales occur through its virtual bookstore (cruzazulstore.org.br) and institutional channels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cruz Azul no Brasil is a non-profit civil association and Chemical Dependency Reference Center (CEREDEQ) affiliated with the International Blue Cross. It provides free mutual-help support groups, individual psychological care, prevention programs in schools and communities, rights advocacy for people with chemical dependency, professional continuing-education courses delivered online via Hotmart, and publishes books and educational materials through its Editora Cruz Azul imprint.

Product overview

Cruz Azul no Brasil is a non-profit organization focused on drug prevention, treatment support, and harm reduction. Its service portfolio consists of six core service lines — Assessoramento (advisory for individuals and institutions), Atendimento Psicológico Individual (individual psychological care), Defesa de Direitos (rights advocacy), Editora Cruz Azul (publishing), Grupos de Apoio e Mútua Ajuda (support and mutual aid groups), and Prevenção (prevention programs) — supplemented by an Education Continuada (Continuing Education) unit that delivers a suite of EAD (self-paced online) courses and seminars via Hotmart for professionals in therapeutic communities. Prevention projects such as Projeto Cuidado e Prevenção Escolar and Projeto Movimento Vida – Gaspar extend the organization's reach into schools. The portfolio is not a single unified software product; it is a service-based ecosystem combining in-person care, group support, publishing, and digital learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Editora Cruz Azul: Publishing arm of Cruz Azul no Brasil, responsible for producing educational materials, books, and content related to drug prevention and addiction treatment.

Products and services

• Grupos de Apoio e Mútua Ajuda (Mutual-Help Support Groups) Free mutual-help groups for individuals affected by chemical dependency, including people who use substances, family members, and codependents. The groups provide peer support and recovery orientation at no cost.
• Atendimento Psicológico Individual (Individual Psychological Care) Individual psychological counseling and therapeutic care for people impacted by chemical dependency and related issues, delivered by trained professionals.
• Prevenção (Prevention Programs) Chemical-dependency prevention programs aimed at schools, companies, and communities to raise awareness and reduce risk behaviors related to substance use.
• Assessoramento (Advisory and Consulting) Technical advisory and consulting services for organizations, groups, and professionals working in the field of chemical dependency, drawing on nearly three decades of organizational experience.
• Defesa de Direitos (Rights Advocacy) Rights advocacy service that defends and promotes the rights of individuals with chemical dependency, supporting their access to dignity, healthcare, and social inclusion.
• Educação Continuada (Continuing Professional Education) Continuing-education online courses for professionals in the field of chemical dependency, distributed through the Hotmart digital course platform.
• Editora Cruz Azul (Cruz Azul Publishing) In-house publishing imprint that produces and distributes books, educational materials, and resources on chemical dependency, prevention, and recovery.

Quantifiable outcome

• 210 students completed the Cruz Azul nas Escolas prevention project in Pomerode, SC in the first semester of 2026 — 160 collective interventions and 77 individual sessions across 8 schools.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Juizado Especial Criminal de Violência Doméstica e Familiar contra a Mulher de BlumenaucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2026Termo de Convênio e Responsabilidade nº 08/2026, providing R$ 8,170.72 (Destinação nº 5010323-04.2026.8.24.0008/SC) to support psychological care for people affected by alcohol and drug disorders and to qualify Cruz Azul's psychological care facilities. Signed in Blumenau, with Judge Rubens Ribeiro da Silva Neto presiding.
• MDS — Ministério do Desenvolvimento e Assistência Social, Família e Combate à FomecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2026Acordo de Cooperação nº 3/2026 between the Union (through MDS) and Cruz Azul no Brasil, with a 24-month term and national scope. The cooperation involves training activities for managers, monitors, coordinators, professionals, and residents in entities with federal agreements, through courses, seminars, lectures, and workshops in both in-person and online formats. Execution involves DEPAD/MDS. No financial transfer involved — activities are developed under mutual cooperation.
• Município de Blumenau / SENAPRED — Secretaria Nacional de Cuidado e Prevenção às DrogascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Municipality of Blumenau and the Ministério da Cidadania through SENAPRED for prevention projects, including 'Movimento Vida – Gaspar' and 'Cuidado e Prevenção Escolar', targeting children and adolescents in public schools in situations of social vulnerability due to substance use.
• FOPECT-CE — Fórum Permanente das Comunidades Terapêuticas do Estado do CearáminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCruz Azul no Brasil participated in the founding of the FOPECT-CE (Permanent Forum of Therapeutic Communities of the State of Ceará), a historic initiative bringing together representatives of therapeutic communities, public managers, and specialists to strengthen drug policy in the state.
• International Blue Cross (IBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCruz Azul no Brasil is affiliated with the International Blue Cross (IBC), an international network of organizations dedicated to alcohol and drug prevention and treatment. IBC affiliation provides international legitimacy, network access, and alignment with global best practices in the field.
• Faculdade Luterana de Teologia (FLT) — São Bento do Sul, SCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with FLT for the offer of extension and lato sensu postgraduate courses (pós-graduação Lato Sensu) in Chemical Dependency and Therapeutic Community, in alignment with the Education Continued program established in 1995.
• NokiaminorOthersCorporate partner listed on the organization's partner page. Nature of partnership not specified in detail on the website.
• NubankminorOthersCorporate partner listed on the organization's partner page. Nature of partnership not specified in detail on the website.
• SamsungminorOthersCorporate partner listed on the organization's partner page. Nature of partnership not specified in detail on the website.
• SantanderminorOthersCorporate partner listed on the organization's partner page. Nature of partnership not specified in detail on the website.
• TokopediaminorOthersCorporate partner listed on the organization's partner page. Nature of partnership not specified in detail on the website.
• FIA — Fundo da Infância e Adolescência de BlumenaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCruz Azul executes FIA-approved prevention projects for children and adolescents, enabling individual and corporate donors to allocate up to 6% (PF) or 1% (PJ) of their income tax to these projects at no additional cost, facilitating tax-deductible donations that fund school-based prevention activities.
• DEPAD — Departamento de Entidades de Apoio e Acolhimento Atuantes em Álcool e Drogas / MDScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDEPAD director Sâmio Falcão presented at the FOPECT-CE forum on monitoring, social indicators, and therapeutic community transparency. Alexandre Drummond Kuroiva addressed CEBAS certification requirements. DEPAD is the government body responsible for overseeing entities working in alcohol and drug support and reception.
• Secretaria Municipal de Educação e Formação Empreendedora de PomerodecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Municipal Secretariat of Education and Entrepreneurial Training of Pomerode for the 'Cruz Azul nas Escolas — Prevenção Escolar' project, which served 210 students in 8 municipal schools in the first semester of 2026 through 160 collective interventions and 77 individual sessions.
• Prefeitura Municipal de Campina Grande/PR — Secretaria Especial de Políticas Públicas sobre DrogasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government leadership from Campina Grande/PR visited Cruz Azul to learn about its prevention methodology, exchange experiences on municipal drug policy construction, and discuss the need for municipal drug plans and continued prevention networks.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights13 records

Direct peers

• Alcoólicos Anônimos do Brasil (AA): Alcoholics Anonymous Brazil operates free, community-based mutual-aid support groups for individuals affected by alcohol dependency — the same core service model Cruz Azul provides for alcohol and other drugs. AA is the most direct functional peer in Brazil, with a longer history and broader geographic footprint.
• International Blue Cross (IBC): IBC is the global federation of organizations dedicated to alcohol and drug prevention and treatment, of which Cruz Azul is an affiliated member. IBC provides curriculum recognition and aligns Cruz Azul with international standards, making it both parent-network and direct peer in mission and content.
• Pastoral da Sobriedade: Pastoral da Sobriedade is the Catholic Church's sobriety ministry in Brazil, offering faith-based support groups for people affected by alcohol and drug dependence. It is a close functional peer to Cruz Azul's Christian-evangelical mutual-aid groups, sharing the religious-foundation model but serving a different denomination.
• AL-ANON Family Groups: AL-ANON provides free mutual-aid support groups for families and friends of alcoholics — directly overlapping with Cruz Azul's primary segment of 'families and indirect victims.' Comparable delivery model (peer-led weekly meetings in donated community spaces) and beneficiary profile make this a clear functional peer.
• Narcóticos Anônimos (NA Brasil): Narcotics Anonymous runs free, community-based mutual-aid recovery groups for people affected by drug dependency. It directly parallels Cruz Azul's Grupos de Apoio e Mútua Ajuda in target population, delivery model (peer-led meetings), and abstinence-oriented recovery philosophy.

Emerging players

• Cruz Vermelha Brasileira: The Brazilian Red Cross is a similarly structured non-profit delivering community health, social assistance, and humanitarian programs. While not focused exclusively on chemical dependency, it operates in overlapping social-services territory in Brazil and shares the non-profit, donation-dependent, federal-engagement business model.

Others

• CEBRID — Centro Brasileiro de Informações sobre Drogas Psicotrópicas: CEBRID is Brazil's leading academic research center on psychotropic drugs, based at UNIFESP. It supplies the scientific evidence base that Cruz Azul's courses cite and represents the research/thematically-related segment of Brazil's chemical-dependency ecosystem, adjacent to rather than directly competing with Cruz Azul.

Broad incumbents

• CONFENACT — Confederação Nacional das Comunidades Terapêuticas: CONFENACT is the national umbrella federation of Brazilian therapeutic communities, and recognizes Cruz Azul's improvement courses. While not a single provider, it represents the broader category of therapeutic communities whose managers Cruz Azul trains — making it both an endorser and a broader incumbent in the same space.
• SENAD — Secretaria Nacional de Cuidado e Prevenção às Drogas: SENAD is Brazil's national drug-policy secretariat and recognizes Cruz Azul's courses. As the federal counterpart shaping drug-prevention training standards nationwide, SENAD is both a partner (Cooperation Agreement No. 3/2026) and the broader incumbent setting the rules Cruz Azul operates within.
• UNODC — United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: UNODC is the global UN entity responsible for drug prevention and treatment standards and trains prevention practitioners worldwide — Cruz Azul's prevention staff (e.g., Alana Sieves Wendhausen) cite UNODC courses in their credentials. UNODC represents the international policy and standards incumbent in the same field.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cruzazulnobrasil
• Instagraminstagram.com/cruzazulnobrasil_cab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cruz-azul-no-brasil

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cruz Azul no Brasil