National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative (NCTSI)
The NCTSI, created in 2000, raises the standard of care and increase access to services for children, adolescents, and their families who experience or witness traumatic events. The NCTSI is comprised of programs organized into Category I, II, and III:
- NCTSI Category I – The National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (NCCTS)
A cooperative agreement that develops and maintains a collaborative structure, supports resource and policy development and dissemination, and coordinates NCTSN's national child trauma education and training efforts. The NCCTS supports SAMHSA in the organization of the NCTSN. - NCTSI Category II – Treatment and Service Adaptation Centers (TSA)
Provides national expertise for specific types of traumatic events, population groups, and service systems, and supports the specialized adaptation of effective evidence-based treatment and service approaches for communities across the nation. - NCTSI Category III – Community Treatment and Service Centers (CTS)
Provides and increases access to effective trauma-focused treatment and services systems in communities for children, adolescents, and their families who experience traumatic events throughout the nation.
About NCTSI
The National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative (NCTSI) raises awareness about the impact of trauma on children and adolescents as a behavioral health concern.
Congress, recognizing the serious mental health impact of traumatic events on children, adolescents, and families, authorized in 2000 the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative (NCTSI), as part of the Children’s Health Act. NCTSI’s goal is to transform mental health care for children and adolescents affected by trauma throughout the country by improving the quality of community-based trauma treatment and services and increasing access to effective trauma-focused interventions.
NCTSI develops and implements:
- Evidence-based interventions to reduce the debilitating mental health impact of traumatic experiences on children and adolescents
- Collaborations with all systems of care where children and adolescents who have experienced trauma receive services
- Successful education and training approaches, including training practitioners in trauma-informed and evidence-based treatment and services
- Data collection and evaluation activities
- Education and awareness raising with policymakers regarding trauma, resilience, and recovery
- Product development for professionals, policymakers, families, youth, and the public
- Partnerships with youth, families, and other consumers
Download the trifold brochure, National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative: Helping Kids Recover and Thrive (PDF | 9 MB). This brochure is also available in single-page form (PDF | 944 KB).
A Collaborative Approach
Through this initiative, a collaborative network of experts was created to further the development and dissemination of evidence-based clinical interventions for systems that serve children, adolescents, and families.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) includes the Category I, II, and III grantees as well as any NCTSN affiliates. Current NCTSI grantees are automatically a part of the NCTSN. Affiliates are former NCTSI grantees, including individuals and/or organizations from previous NCTSI grants, who continue their involvement in the NCTSN. Affiliate members, made up of more than 160 formerly funded NCTSN members, continue to contribute to the national mission and ongoing work in their states and local communities.
To find a network member site near you, visit NCTSN's member finder.
For More Information
- Learn more about child trauma, the signs of child traumatic stress in different age groups, the impact on children, treatment options, and how families and caregivers can help.
- Please visit The National Child Traumatic Stress Network for resources on child trauma.
- For specific questions about the NCTSI programs, e-mail: NCTSI@samhsa.gov.
- For specific questions about child-trauma-related resources, e-mail info@nctsn.org.
- Contact SAMHSA