National Native Childrens Trama Center



History of NNCTC
The National Native Children’s Trauma Center (NNCTC) is the result of a cooperative agreement funded by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative. The NNCTC is a Category II Treatment and Service Adaptation Center with the charge of providing national expertise on childhood trauma among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children with a particular focus on working with school communities across the United States.

The Center is affiliated with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) and is housed within The University of Montana’s Institute for Educational Research and Service (IERS) in Missoula, Montana. NNCTC staff offer trainings and consultations to community agencies, tribal programs, clinicians, school personnel, technicians, and families on the impacts and prevention of childhood traumatic stress.

Our commitment is to:

• Respect tribal sovereignty through all phases of program implementation
• Respond to tribes’ identified community needs for raising the standard of care of children who are experiencing traumatic stress, loss, grief or bereavement
• Follow the guidance of tribes in establishing a collaborative process to implement, adapt, and evaluate trauma interventions.

Why NNCTC?
Approximately 1 in 4 children will experience a significant traumatic event by the age of 16. Research suggests that Native American youth are at a greater risk of trauma, depression,
and PTSD as a result of grief and exposure to violence. Most Native children possess strong resilience and do not develop traumatic stress symptoms. However, some need additional care.
When exposure to traumatic events occurs frequently, or when traumatic stress is left unaddressed, children are susceptible to:

• Relationship problems
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Violent behavior
• Suicide and depression
• Lower grades, increased school suspensions, and dropout
• Bullying and victimization