Community Resilience Initiative

What Community Resilience Initiative does

Community Resilience Initiative (CRI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 in Walla Walla, Washington, that delivers trauma-informed education to educators, healthcare and mental health providers, parents, and community organizations. Its core offering is a certification-anchored curriculum built on two proprietary frameworks: the KISS Framework (Knowledge, Insight, Strategies, Structure) for organizational implementation and the NEAR Sciences foundation (Neuroscience, Epigenetics, ACE Studies, Resilience). The product portfolio includes live Zoom courses, on-demand certifications delivered through The Learning Center (TLC), physical educational kits (card decks, coloring books, games kits, storybooks), digital eBooks, and bespoke organizational training. Multiple credentialing tiers—Trauma-Informed Educator I/II, Certified Trauma-Informed Specialist (CTIS), the Neuro Series leadership pathway, and Train the Trainer—are structured with prerequisites that create a progression from foundational awareness to facilitator certification.

CRI operates a hybrid direct-to-consumer and event-driven go-to-market: courses and products are sold through criresilient.org and TLC on a pay-as-you-go basis ($35–$750 per course, $10–$150 per product), while custom organizational training and annual events such as the Summer Learning Series for Educators drive enterprise and event revenue. Pricing is supplemented by PayPal-based donations and a freemium layer of downloadable tip sheets and parent guides. Distribution relies on organic content marketing (blog, email newsletter, Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn) and institutional credibility partners including SAMHSA, Gonzaga University (CEUs), OSPI (Clock Hours), and the University of the Incarnate Word. The team of 15 is led by founder Theresa Barila, Master Trainer Rick Griffin, and Director of Community Engagement Becky Turner, with a board spanning clinical social work, nonprofit finance, and sociology.

The organization is national in reach, having moved from a local grassroots origin to delivering training online and in person across North America, and its work has been formally recognized by U.S. Congress House Resolution 443 and through SAMHSA's published Walla Walla CRI Overview. Customer references span K-12 education, higher education, corrections, and federally qualified health centers, with bilingual (English/Spanish) materials supporting broader accessibility. Revenue, funding, and full financial metrics are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Community Resilience Initiative

Legal name

Community Resilience Initiative

Website

https://criresilient.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community Resilience Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers science-based trauma-informed training, certifications, and educational products to educators, healthcare providers, mental health professionals, and families. Its KISS Framework and NEAR Sciences methodology power a tiered certification catalog and physical/digital learning tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trauma-Informed Education and Professional Training

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Trauma-Informed Care & Crisis Response (School-Based) (EDAKAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trauma-Informed & Resilience-Building Programs (Early Childhood) (EDACAOAD), Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE) (EDAAALAD)

Keywords

• Trauma-informed training
• Resilience education
• Professional certification
• Adverse childhood experiences
• Community mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Walla Walla

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Course Sales: Revenue from live and on-demand training courses including certifications. Courses range from $35-$750 depending on depth and format.
2. Product Sales: Sale of physical and digital educational products including card decks, books, posters, coloring books, games kits, and magnet kits.
3. Donations: The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accepts donations to support training and community programs.
4. Customized Training Services: Organization-specific training and consultation services tailored to client needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CRI delivers trauma-informed education through live instructor-led courses, self-paced on-demand certification programs, and a physical/digital product ecosystem grounded in the KISS Framework and NEAR Sciences. Offerings include Foundations of Resilience, Train the Trainer, Trauma-Informed Educator and Professional micro-credentials, the Neuro-Informed Leadership Series, customized organizational training, card decks, storybooks, coloring books, eBooks, and games kits for educators, mental health providers, healthcare organizations, and parents.

Product overview

Community Resilience Initiative operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering a comprehensive portfolio of trauma-informed education products and training programs. The core offerings include Live Courses and On-Demand Courses delivered through The Learning Center (TLC), covering trauma-informed practices, resilience building, and specialized certifications. Supporting these are Physical Products (card decks, storybooks, coloring books, posters, banners, games kits, magnet kits) and Digital Products (eBooks, digital card decks, journals, free downloadable resources). Signature certification programs include Foundations of Resilience, Train the Trainer, Trauma-Informed Educator (with levels I and II), Certified Trauma-Informed Specialist (CTIS), and Trauma-Informed Leadership Series (Neuro sub-series). The KISS framework (Knowledge, Insight, Strategies, Structure) and NEAR Sciences (Neuroscience, Epigenetics, ACE Studies, Resilience) underpin the curriculum. Products are available in English and Spanish, serving educators, healthcare providers, parents, and community organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Resilience Trumps ACEs: A registered trademark product line featuring educational materials including guides, coloring books, card decks, and posters about trauma and resilience

Products and services

• Foundations of Resilience Live 2-session instructor-led course using the KISS framework (Knowledge, Insight, Strategies, Structure) that explores NEAR Sciences (Neuroscience, Epigenetics, ACE Studies, Resilience) and self-regulation practices. Provides 5 Clock Hours through OSPI or .5 CEUs through Gonzaga University. Serves educators, parents, and professionals as the foundational CRI course and prerequisite for Train the Trainer certification.
• Train the Trainer: Foundations of Resilience Advanced certification course for participants who have completed Foundations of Resilience, focusing on trauma-informed teaching strategies, psychological safety, regulation modeling, and adapting delivery for diverse participant needs. Targets educators and practitioners who want to deliver CRI's curriculum themselves.
• Customized Training Bespoke training programs tailored to organizational needs covering self-care, de-escalation, burnout prevention, resilience mapping, neuroscience for DEI, and social determinants of health. Delivered by CRI experts to organizations such as schools, healthcare systems, correctional agencies, and community providers.
• Certified Trauma-Informed Specialist (CTIS) On-Demand Self-paced Training for Trainers certification preparing school personnel, faculty, and graduate students to deliver Trauma-Informed Educator training with neuroscience and trauma-informed facilitation skills. Priced at $750.
• Trauma-Informed Educator On-Demand Self-paced micro-credential training co-developed with the University of the Incarnate Word Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program, equipping educators with neuroscience knowledge and trauma-informed strategies for supportive classroom environments. Priced at $250.
• Trauma Informed Educator II Recordings and Assessment On-Demand Advanced educator training focused on neuroscience and psychology of trauma's impact on learning, providing expert knowledge, practical skills, and micro-credential certification for fostering resilient learning environments. Priced at $100.
• Trauma-Informed Leadership Series (Neuro Series) Comprehensive leadership certification series comprising Neuro sub-series courses: The Science Behind the Series, Neuro-Mechanisms, Neuro-Tasking, Neuro-Insight, Neuro-Accountability, Neuro-Learning, Neuro-Collaboration, and Neuro-Communication. Organized in three tiers with prerequisites; serves leaders and educators seeking neuro-informed leadership practice.
• Resilience Building Blocks Adult/Child Focused Deck of Cards & Handbook 52-card decks featuring 42 resilience building blocks and 10 ACE cards with accompanying handbook explaining ACEs and resilience. Available in adult-focused and child-focused versions in English and Spanish. Used in workshops, classrooms, and home settings.
• Real Life Super Heroes Story Book & Child Focused Deck of Cards Interactive storybook introducing ten children facing challenging experiences with graphics showing brain stress responses and resilience strategies, paired with 42 resilience strategy cards from a child's perspective. Designed for children and the adults supporting them.
• Resilience Trumps ACEs Coloring Book Elementary-aged coloring book using age-appropriate language to teach 42 Resilience Building Blocks with child-friendly graphics; serves as a companion to card decks and magnet kits.
• Resilience Trumps ACEs Community Action Manual Comprehensive guide to community mobilization for reducing ACEs and fostering resilience, including a Community Action Toolbox with lessons learned and a Building a Work Plan section with templates and sample documents.
• Resilience Trumps ACEs Resilience Guide for New Parents Parent guide offering tips for healthy brain development and positive experiences for new parents, available in English and Spanish. Published under the Children's Resilience Initiative legacy brand.
• Deluxe Resilience Games Kit Comprehensive games kit with 9 hand-drawn games on heavy duty cardstock, 2 decks of Resilience Trumps ACEs cards, markers, die, blocks, puzzle, party favor box, muslin storage bag, and 11 total games including Go Fish. Priced at $59.
• Neuro Series On-Demand Courses Eight pre-recorded leadership training sessions in the Neuro Series: Neuro-Mechanisms, Neuro-Tasking, Neuro-Insight, Neuro-Accountability, Neuro-Learning, Neuro-Collaboration, Neuro-Communication, and supporting courses for the Trauma-Informed Leadership Series. Priced at $50 per individual course.
• The Science Behind the Series On-Demand Foundational prerequisite course providing understanding of neuroscience influencing human behavior and decision-making for the Certified Trauma-Informed Leadership Series.
• Beyond Trauma Informed eBook (Book 1) First book in the Neuro Informed Movement series written for leaders, educators, caregivers, and human-centered professionals seeking to understand trauma-informed work beyond surface level.
• The Case for Principles eBook (Book 2) Second book in the Neuro Informed Movement series addressing the need for organizational foundations and principles to sustain movements, building on the big-picture concepts from Book 1.
• The Predict Principle eBook (Book 3) Third book exploring the brain's predictive networks and how nervous system responses shape trauma understanding, continuing the neuro-informed approach from previous books.

Quantifiable outcome

• CRI Trainings Meet Evidence-Based Criteria (documented)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SAMHSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration published a Walla Walla CRI Overview (SMA17-5020), recognizing CRI's community-based approach to addressing ACEs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN): A federally funded network of academic and treatment centers developing and disseminating trauma-informed interventions for children — a much larger, federally-backed incumbent in the same domain as CRI's educator and youth-focused programs.
• National Council for Mental Wellbeing: A large national membership organization offering trauma-informed care training, certification, and implementation resources to behavioral health providers — an established incumbent in adjacent trauma-informed training with broader reach and deeper resources than CRI.

Direct peers

• Trauma-Informed Schools Network: A practitioner network delivering trauma-informed training specifically for K-12 educators and school staff — directly comparable to CRI's Trauma-Informed Educator certification pathway and Educator I/II micro-credential offerings.
• Trauma Informed Care Institute: A training and certification provider focused on trauma-informed care across multiple professional audiences — directly comparable to CRI's certification ladder and professional development course portfolio.
• PACEs Connection: A national network community organized around Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACEs) and resilience — directly comparable to CRI's ACEs/resilience community-building mission and educational resource distribution model.

Regional players

• Trauma-Informed Oregon: Oregon's statewide trauma-informed initiative delivering training, certification, and implementation support to schools, healthcare, and justice systems — directly comparable to CRI's training and organizational consulting work but operating in a different geography.
• ACEs Aware: California-led initiative providing ACEs training and certification for Medi-Cal providers and educators — directly comparable to CRI's healthcare and educator training work but operating primarily in California.

Emerging players

• Resilience Research Centre: Dalhousie University-affiliated research and training center focused on resilience in children and families — comparable to CRI's resilience-building and ACEs-informed practice work with a stronger research orientation.
• ACES Too High / ACEs Science: A journalistic/community platform translating ACEs and resilience science for broad audiences — adjacent to CRI's content marketing and free resource strategy, including free downloadable ACEs and resilience materials.
• The Center for Trauma-Informed Innovation (CTI): An organization providing trauma-informed training, coaching, and implementation support to schools and human services agencies — comparable to CRI's customized organizational training and educator certification work at a smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CRIresilient
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-resilience-initiative
• Instagraminstagram.com/criresilient

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Community Resilience Initiative