Our History
Center for Survivors of Torture has been providing integrated services to torture survivors in Texas since 1997. CST initially began as a project of Proyecto Adelante, a Dallas non-profit that provided legal services to seekers of political asylum. While addressing the legal needs of its clients, the staff of Proyecto Adelante found that as many as one-third of the clients had personally suffered torture, had witnessed torture or knew someone who had been tortured. The legal staff was unable to address the mental health needs of the clients, which impeded the staff’s legal representation of the torture survivors.
In 2000, Center for Survivors of Torture became an independent 501(c)(3), based in Dallas. In 2005, we opened a second office in Austin. In addition to main offices in Austin and Dallas, CST maintains satellite offices in San Antonio with Our Lady of the Lake University. CST clients also receive services from pro-bono professionals who are trained by CST to be culturally competent and linguistically diverse professionals to meet the health, mental health, legal and other needs of torture and trauma survivors.
1997 – CST started as a project of Proyecto Adelante in Dallas, Texas
2000 – CST becomes a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
2005 – CST opens an office in Austin, Texas
2010 – Celia VanDeGraaf was awarded the Ed Wendler Award in Austin for outstanding service in the refugee community
2012 – CST was one of the two agencies to present client testimony at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in Washington, DC
2013 – CST facilitates two-day training for 160 professionals who want to provide treatment services in Texas
2013 – CST provides mental health services for any resettled refugee here less than five years
2013 – CST provides assistance for all clients that require disability services
2013 – CST increases capacity to provide services to children
2014 – CST is recognized nationally for excellence in service provision
2015 – CST initiates free community college education program for clients as part of our social services
2016 – CST represents North America at IRCT Assembly and Scientific Symposium in Mexico City
2017 – CST provides Eight-Hour Mental Health First Aid Training (MHFA) class for Bhutanese leaders and Texas community leaders
2018 – CST provides free two-day training for Texas in Mental Health and Wellness to educate the community and follow-up monthly brown bag luncheons
2019 – CST provided a comprehensive training for those professionals are interested in providing pro-bono trauma-informed counseling
2020 – CST quickly implemented: basic needs and food provision (over 26,000 meals), telehealth and over 200 technology devices, COVID-19 training in twelve languages, and extended hours to include nights and weekends
2021 – CST provided three free six-hour Mental Health First Aid trainings to the community
2022 – CST’s 25th Anniversary serving survivors of torture with all free services.
Our History
Center for Survivors of Torture has been providing integrated services to torture survivors in Texas since 1997. CST initially began as a project of Proyecto Adelante, a Dallas non-profit that provided legal services to seekers of political asylum. While addressing the legal needs of its clients, the staff of Proyecto Adelante found that as many as one-third of the clients had personally suffered torture, had witnessed torture or knew someone who had been tortured. The legal staff was unable to address the mental health needs of the clients, which impeded the staff’s legal representation of the torture survivors.
In 2000, Center for Survivors of Torture became an independent 501(c)(3), based in Dallas. In 2005, we opened a second office in Austin. In addition to main offices in Austin and Dallas, CST maintains satellite offices in San Antonio with Our Lady of the Lake University. CST clients also receive services from pro-bono professionals who are trained by CST to be culturally competent and linguistically diverse professionals to meet the health, mental health, legal and other needs of torture and trauma survivors.
1997 – CST started as a project of Proyecto Adelante in Dallas, Texas
2000 – CST becomes a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
2005 – CST opens an office in Austin, Texas
2010 – Celia VanDeGraaf was awarded the Ed Wendler Award in Austin for outstanding service in the refugee community
2012 – CST was one of the two agencies to present client testimony at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in Washington, DC
2013 – CST facilitates two-day training for 160 professionals who want to provide treatment services in Texas
2013 – CST provides mental health services for any resettled refugee here less than five years
2013 – CST provides assistance for all clients that require disability services
2013 – CST increases capacity to provide services to children
2014 – CST is recognized nationally for excellence in service provision
2015 – CST initiates free community college education program for clients as part of our social services
2016 – CST represents North America at IRCT Assembly and Scientific Symposium in Mexico City
2017 – CST provides Eight-Hour Mental Health First Aid Training (MHFA) class for Bhutanese leaders and Texas community leaders
2018 – CST provides free two-day training for Texas in Mental Health and Wellness to educate the community and follow-up monthly brown bag luncheons
2019 – CST provided a comprehensive training for those professionals are interested in providing pro-bono trauma-informed counseling
2020 – CST quickly implemented: basic needs and food provision (over 26,000 meals), telehealth and over 200 technology devices, COVID-19 training in twelve languages, and extended hours to include nights and weekends
2021 – CST provided three free six-hour Mental Health First Aid trainings to the community
2022 – CST’s 25th Anniversary serving survivors of torture with all free services.