National Child Traumatic Stress Network

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) was created by Congress in 2000 as part of the Children’s Health Act to raise the standard of care and increase access to services for children and families who experience or witness traumatic events. This unique network of frontline providers, family members, researchers, and national partners is committed to changing the course of children’s lives by improving their care and moving scientific gains quickly into practice across the U.S. The NCTSN is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and coordinated by the UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (NCCTS), which guides NCTSN collaborative efforts. The NCTSN has grown from 17 funded centers in 2001 to 79 currently funded centers and over 100 affiliate (formerly funded) centers and individuals, working in hospitals, universities, and community based programs in 43 states. These grantees and affiliates work to accomplish the NCTSN mission by:

• providing clinical services
• developing and disseminating new interventions and resource materials
• offering education and training programs
• collaborating with established systems of care
• engaging in data collection and evaluation
• informing public policy and awareness efforts

The continued work of the NCTSN supports the further development of treatment and services to prevent mental health problems among children and families who have experienced trauma and reduce its impact on adult health and productivity. The NCTSN also develops resources aimed at creating trauma informed child- and family services systems, which involves recognizing and responding to the impact of traumatic stress on all those who have contact with the system including children, caregivers, and services providers.

The NCTSN’s website provides a range of resources for professionals and the public about child traumatic stress, including products, fact sheets, training opportunities, and access to the latest research and resources. For more information about child traumatic stress and the NCTSN, visit www.nctsn.org.