Centro SOL

What Centro SOL does

Centro SOL (Center for Health and Opportunities for Latinos / Center for Health and Opportunity for Latinxs) is a non-profit academic center operating within Johns Hopkins University, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Southeast Baltimore, Maryland. The organization delivers free, culturally and linguistically tailored health, mental health, and youth development programs to the Latino immigrant community of Baltimore, with all programming offered in Spanish and grounded in a community health worker (promotora) model. Its core offerings span mental health support groups (Testimonios for adults, Radiante mindfulness via Zoom), suicide prevention (the PALOMA telephone intervention for caregivers of adolescents, plus a community-based Suicide Prevention Program), youth pipeline programming (Summer Scholars Program for bilingual high school students interested in healthcare careers), chronic disease prevention (Active and Healthy Families for pediatric obesity, Diabetes Prevention Program), refugee health (HEAL Refugee Health and Asylum Collaborative with Esperanza Center and Loyola University Maryland), and a professional peer learning space (SABER Circle based on the ECHO Model). Distribution is mixed: virtual delivery via Zoom for mental health programs, in-person sessions at community venues such as Paterson Park Public Charter School and Bayview Medical Center, and community outreach through churches, schools, pediatric practices, and Spanish-language media.

The underlying technology is intentionally lightweight: program delivery through Zoom, a digital blog (Fortalece Tu Bienestar), and a COVID-19 research recruitment registry using electronic medical record data. There is no proprietary software platform; the technology functions as a delivery and outreach layer over a community-trust moat. Revenue is non-commercial: participants receive all programs free of charge, and the center is funded by a diversified mix of grants from the NIH, American Psychological Foundation, Bloomberg American Health Initiative, Eudowood, Thomas Wilson Foundation, Abell Foundation, Goldseker Foundation, Straus Foundation, Stulman Charitable Foundation, and corporate philanthropy (Rite Aid Healthy Futures), supplemented by tax-deductible donations processed by Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Disclosed donation impact tiers ($1,250 Summer Scholars sponsorship, $900/month for mental health support groups for up to 200 participants, $75 per Embajadores de Salud physical activity session) indicate a sponsorship/units-of-impact donation model rather than a traditional pricing structure. The organization has 9 listed employees and operates under the Johns Hopkins Pediatrics department, with co-leadership from Dr. Sarah Polk (MD, ScM) and affiliate faculty including Dr. Kiara Alvarez (PhD) at the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Name

Centro SOL

Legal name

Centro SOL (Center for Health and Opportunities for Latinos)

Website

https://jhcentrosol.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Centro SOL is a non-profit community health center within Johns Hopkins University that delivers free, culturally and linguistically tailored mental health, youth development, and wellness programs to Latino immigrant families in Southeast Baltimore.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAL

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYEDAAADAI

Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Citizenship & Immigrant Integration Education

SECONDARYEDAAAFAB

Community Center Education Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

SECONDARYBPADAHAC

Refugee Camp Coordination & Management (CCCM)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Refugee, Migration & Displacement Services

Keywords

• Community health programs
• Mental health support
• Latino health services
• Youth mentorship programs
• Refugee health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tax-deductible donations: Donations from individuals are processed by the Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Donations support community outreach, health programs, youth mentoring, and mental health support.
2. Grant funding: Funded by NIH, American Psychological Foundation, Eudowood, Thomas Wilson Foundation, Bloomberg American Health Initiative, and private foundations (Aaron and Lillie Straus Foundation, Abell Foundation, Goldseker Foundation, Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Charitable Foundation).
3. Tax-deductible donations: Donations from individuals and foundations supporting research, community programs, and youth pipeline initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Centro SOL (Center for Health and Opportunities for Latinos) is a Johns Hopkins University-affiliated non-profit center that delivers free, culturally and linguistically tailored community health, mental health, suicide prevention, youth development, and refugee health programs to the Latino immigrant community in Southeast Baltimore. Programs are offered in Spanish and English via virtual (Zoom) and in-person formats, supported by community health workers and academic clinical staff.

Product overview

Centro SOL is a community health organization at Johns Hopkins that offers a portfolio of mental health, wellness, youth development, and research programs for the Latino community in Baltimore. The core offerings include peer support groups (Testimonios, Teen Testimonios), mindfulness and stress reduction programs (Radiante), suicide prevention initiatives (PALOMA, Suicide Prevention Program), youth pipeline programs (Summer Scholars), community health worker services, and research collaborations. The organization operates primarily through virtual sessions (Zoom) and community partnerships, with programs offered in both English and Spanish. These services are standalone community programs rather than a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PALOMA: Partnering with Parents of Adolescent Latines on Mental Health Assistance - a five-session telephone intervention delivered by community health workers for parents of adolescents with suicidal ideation
• Testimonios Program
• Radiante
• Fortalece Tu Bienestar
• Summer Scholars Program
• HEAL Refugee Health and Asylum Collaborative
• Active and Healthy Families
• Suicide Prevention Program

Products and services

• Testimonios Program Community support group for Latino adults offered in Spanish, providing a safe space to share experiences, identify sources of strength, and promote culturally appropriate approaches to stress reduction. Moderated by a mental health expert fluent in Spanish and held via Zoom.
• Radiante Mindfulness Program Mindfulness program promoting culturally appropriate stress reduction approaches based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), offered in Spanish. Targets Latino immigrants aged 18+ experiencing stress, with priority to Baltimore City residents. Sessions conducted via Zoom.
• Suicide Prevention Program Program informing the Latino community about stress reduction and providing resources focused on suicide prevention. Partners parents and caregivers with youth to share together, facilitated by Centro SOL in collaboration with community-based organizations and mental health professionals. Held weekly at Paterson Park Public Charter School in Baltimore.
• PALOMA (Partnering with Parents of Adolescent Latines on Mental Health Assistance) Five-session telephone intervention delivered to parents by Community Health Workers (CHWs) focused on suicide prevention for Latino families. Adapts evidence-based suicide prevention to support Spanish-speaking Latine caregivers of adolescents referred for suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury, and/or suicidal behavior.
• Summer Scholars Program Five-week (up to 130 hours) pipeline program exposing bilingual (English/Spanish) and bicultural Latinx high school students (grades 9-12) to careers in medicine, research, and healthcare. Includes professional development, college readiness, and community outreach workshops. Free to participate with monetary compensation for attending students.
• Mental Health Ambassadors Program Multi-tier network bridging the gap between the community, leaders, and healthcare practice to support Latinxs in their mental health care. Sponsors training, presentations, and activities for clinical and non-clinical providers and community leaders.
• SABER Circle Peer learning and support space for community-based professionals serving Latine immigrant families, based on the ECHO Model. Promotes shared wisdom, mutual support, and emotional well-being among frontline professionals such as promotores, navigators, and community health workers.
• HEAL Refugee Health and Asylum Collaborative Partnership among Johns Hopkins University, Esperanza Center/Catholic Charities, and Loyola University Maryland to increase access to forensic physical and psychological evaluations, mental health care, and services for survivors of torture and trauma seeking asylum in the United States.
• Diabetes Prevention Program CDC-recognized lifestyle program designed to address the main risks of developing type 2 diabetes, providing culturally responsive support for the Latino community.
• Active and Healthy Families Family-centered pediatric overweight group appointment program for overweight/obese Latino children. Draws on evidence-based national guidelines and was culturally tailored through interviews with Latino parents, including a promotora (community health worker) component. Piloted at Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore.
• Fortalece Tu Bienestar Campaign to end stigma around mental health and depression in the Latinx community in Baltimore. Objectives include improving knowledge about depression and its treatment, reducing stigma, promoting prevention actions, and encouraging care-seeking for depression among uninsured Latinx in Baltimore.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of referred caregivers enrolled in PALOMA intervention; 84% completed all 5 sessions; statistically significant increase in parent self-efficacy for suicide prevention (d=1.19, p<.001)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Contra Costa Health Services (California)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContra Costa Health Services developed the Active and Healthy Families (AHF) program, a family-centered pediatric overweight group appointment program for overweight/obese Latino children. Centro SOL adapted and piloted this program at the Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore.
• Esperanza Center / Catholic CharitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the HEAL Refugee Health and Asylum Collaborative to increase access to forensic physical and psychological evaluations, mental health care, and services to survivors of torture and trauma seeking refuge in the United States.
• Loyola University MarylandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the HEAL Refugee Health and Asylum Collaborative, providing academic collaboration alongside JHU and Esperanza Center/Catholic Charities.
• Johns Hopkins University School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentro SOL is affiliated with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Pediatrics department). Research is conducted in partnership with the School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health.
• Cross Street PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue partner for the annual research dissemination event 'Bienestar y Avances' held at the A. Hoen & Co. Lithograph Campus.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MHP Salud: MHP Salud is a national nonprofit that implements and evaluates Community Health Worker programs serving Hispanic communities. Comparable to Centro SOL in its core promotora/CHW model, focus on Latino health outcomes, and role bridging community and clinical care.
• La Clinica del Pueblo: La Clinica del Pueblo is a DC-area federally qualified health center serving Latino immigrants with integrated medical, mental health, and social services. Directly comparable to Centro SOL in its mission of culturally responsive care for Spanish-speaking immigrants, with a similar community health worker model and bilingual service delivery.
• Visión y Compromiso: Visión y Compromiso is a California-based nonprofit that trains and supports promotoras (community health workers) serving Latino communities. Comparable to Centro SOL in its investment in the CHW/promotora workforce, focus on community-led mental and physical health interventions, and bilingual capacity-building.
• Mary's Center: Mary's Center is a DC-metro community health center providing medical, dental, and social services to predominantly Latino immigrant families. Comparable to Centro SOL in its whole-family, multi-generational approach, bilingual service model, and integration of health with youth education and community support.
• Casa de Maryland: Casa de Maryland is a Maryland-based nonprofit serving Latino immigrants through workforce development, health navigation, and community education programs. Highly comparable to Centro SOL in target population, geographic proximity, and integrated service approach combining social services with health-focused community programming.
• Latino Health Access: Latino Health Access is an Orange County, CA-based nonprofit that uses a promotora (community health worker) model to address health disparities in Latino communities. Highly comparable to Centro SOL's CHW-integrated programming and its focus on chronic disease, mental health, and obesity in Latino immigrant populations.
• Esperanza Center / Catholic Charities: Esperanza Center is a Baltimore-based immigrant services program within Catholic Charities that provides clinical and social services, including forensic evaluations for asylum seekers through the HEAL Collaborative. Directly comparable to Centro SOL as a co-partner in HEAL and as a fellow Baltimore-based Latino immigrant service provider.

Broad incumbents

• Hispanic Federation: Hispanic Federation is a national nonprofit supporting Latino communities through grantmaking, advocacy, and direct services. Comparable to Centro SOL in its mission focus on Latino community empowerment, including health and mental health programming, but operates primarily as a federation/funder rather than a direct service provider.
• UnidosUS (formerly NCLR): UnidosUS is a large national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization operating health, education, and economic programs across the country. Comparable to Centro SOL at a macro level in its focus on Latino health equity, but operates at much greater scale and breadth rather than delivering direct community health services.

Emerging players

• Su Clínica de Guadalupe: Su Clínica de Guadalupe is a small community health organization serving Latino immigrants in the Midwest with culturally responsive health and social services. Comparable to Centro SOL as a smaller, faith/community-based direct service provider for Spanish-speaking immigrant populations, though with a different geographic and institutional context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/jhcentrosol
• Facebookfacebook.com/jhcentrosol
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jhcentrosol
• Instagraminstagram.com/jhcentrosol

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centro SOL