Center for Survivors of Torture

What Center for Survivors of Torture does

Center for Survivors of Torture (CST) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1997 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, providing culturally competent wraparound rehabilitation services to survivors of torture and their families. The organization operates four offices across Texas — Dallas (headquarters, opened 1997), Austin (2005), San Antonio, and Fort Worth — with telehealth and virtual group capabilities added in 2020 that enable statewide coverage. CST delivers an integrated service suite across counseling (individual, family, and group therapy using Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused approaches), medical care (diagnosis, treatment, pain reduction, wound care, physiotherapy, prescriptions), social services (case management, ESL, housing, basic needs, self-sufficiency support), and the APB Education Program for community college entry. In FY2025, CST served 1,450 clients and family members spanning 32 countries, 37 ethnicities, and ages 4-72, with 27% of clients being children.

CST's business model is grant- and donation-funded; all client services are provided free of charge, with no revenue earned from service delivery. The organization is supported by a diversified mix of foundation and corporate grants (Big Lots Foundation, Dreyfus Foundation, Meadows Foundation, North Texas Cares), federal and international government sources (Office of Refugee Resettlement, United Nations Voluntary Fund), faith-based refugee agencies (Episcopal Migration Ministries, Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service), and individual donations. CST has held continuous accreditation from the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Treatment (IRCT) since 1997 and is a founding member of the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs (NCTTP), anchoring its methodology and funding eligibility. Technology infrastructure is limited to a standard website platform (cstnet.org) with telehealth and Zoom-based virtual group delivery, with no disclosed proprietary AI or data systems. The organization is led by Executive Director Celia VanDeGraaf (20-year tenure, 2025) and governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Jeanne Stamp.

Name

Center for Survivors of Torture

Legal name

Center for Survivors of Torture

Website

https://cstnet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Center for Survivors of Torture is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded 1997, providing free wraparound rehabilitation — counseling, medical care, social services, and education — to 1,450 torture survivors and families across Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian and Refugee Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Child and Youth Services (624110), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH), Grief, Trauma & PTSD-Focused Teletherapy Platforms (HLALAEAL), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Services (EDALAFAD)

Keywords

• Torture survivor rehabilitation
• Refugee mental health services
• Trauma counseling programs
• Wraparound social services
• Humanitarian nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Grants: CST receives funding from multiple foundations and corporate donors listed on their Funding and Accreditation page, including Big Lots Foundation, Dreyfus Foundation, Meadows Foundation, and others. These are typically multi-year or annual grant commitments.
2. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to CST through direct donations, including former Board Chair Paige Gibson who describes ongoing personal giving. The organization has a 501(c)(3) status enabling tax-deductible donations.
3. Government Funding: CST receives funding from government sources including Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Episcopal Migration Ministries, Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service, and United Nations Voluntary Fund.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Center for Survivors of Torture provides free, culturally competent wraparound services to torture survivors in Texas. Core offerings include counseling (individual, family, and group therapy using Trauma-Focused CBT and Solution-Focused approaches), medical care (diagnosis, treatment, pain reduction, wound care, physiotherapy, prescriptions), social services (case management, ESL, housing stability, basic needs), the APB Education Program for community college entry, and training for refugee community leaders and mainstream providers on trauma-informed care.

Product overview

Center for Survivors of Torture is a nonprofit service organization providing integrated wraparound services to torture survivors in Texas since 1997. The organization offers a coordinated suite of services through its core products: Counseling Services (individual, family, and group therapy using Trauma-Focused CBT), Medical Care Services, Social Services, the APB Education Program for employment and college access, Training Services for professionals, and various Group Offerings. Complementary Support Services including transportation assistance, technology devices, and basic needs provision support the core service delivery. All services are provided free of charge and in a culturally competent manner.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Counseling Services
• Medical Care Services
• Social Services
• APB Education Program
• Training Services
• Group Offerings

Quantifiable outcome

• 83% of clients meet counseling goals within 6 months
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Treatment (IRCT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRCT is a global organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of torture survivors. CST has been accredited by IRCT since 1997, providing international standards and recognition for torture treatment programs.
• National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs (NCTTP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCST is a founding member of NCTTP, collaborating with other torture treatment programs across the United States to share best practices and advocate for survivors.
• Physicians for Human RightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCST is a member of Physicians for Human Rights, an organization using medicine and science to document and advocate against human rights violations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs (NCTTP): Coalition of U.S.-based torture treatment programs of which CST is a founding member. Functions as an industry association and policy advocate — not a competitor, but a strategic counterpart that channels referrals, best practices, and federal advocacy on behalf of CST and similar peers.
• Physicians for Human Rights: International org using medicine and science to document and address human rights abuses, including torture. CST is a member; PHR provides forensic documentation, advocacy, and training that complements CST's clinical rehabilitation services.

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Global humanitarian organization providing refugee resettlement, health, and protection services across the U.S. including Texas. Much larger scale and broader scope than CST, but overlapping in serving refugee/torture populations and competing for similar federal and foundation funding.
• Catholic Charities USA: National network of social service agencies providing refugee resettlement and case management across multiple states including Texas. Broader in scope than CST but operates in the same funding and client ecosystem.
• Heartland Alliance: Chicago-based anti-poverty and humanitarian organization providing refugee and immigrant services, including mental health and trauma care. Comparable in serving refugee populations with trauma-informed care, but at materially larger scale.

Regional players

• Refugee Services of Texas: Texas-based refugee resettlement and social services agency with offices across the state. While broader in scope (resettlement, employment, education), shares CST's geographic focus and serves overlapping client populations — a potential referral partner and competitor for the same donor pool.

Direct peers

• Survivors of Torture International: San Diego-based nonprofit offering torture survivor rehabilitation including mental health, medical, and social services. NCTTP member with comparable geographic focus on a major refugee resettlement state.
• Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture: New York City-based program affiliated with NYU/Bellevue Hospital providing comprehensive rehabilitation services to torture survivors. NCTTP member with comparable wraparound clinical model and training programs.
• Center for Victims of Torture: St. Paul, Minnesota-based nonprofit providing torture rehabilitation services across the U.S. Headquartered organization of the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs (NCTTP), of which CST is a founding member. Closest direct peer — same mission, IRCT-accredited, similar wraparound model.
• Program for Torture Victims (PTV): Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing medical, psychological, and social services to torture survivors. NCTTP member offering the same core counseling/medical/social wraparound model as CST, with similar IRCT-aligned clinical approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cstnetorg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Center for Survivors of Torture