What Is Child Traumatic Stress?

Learn more about what trauma is, why it occurs, and what to look for in a child after a trauma.

Trauma Types

Find brief descriptions of different types of trauma and links to further resources.

Treatments That Work

Find information about clinically sound treatments for trauma as well as a table of treatments used by NCTSN sites.

Finding Help

Find guidance for providing support to children and adolescents, and on seeking professional mental health services.

Culture and Trauma

Resources that make the case for and promote the delivery of culturally-informed services to children and families.

Military Children and Families

Resources about military families for caregivers, service providers, and children.

Special Populations and Trauma

Find guidance from NCTSN experts on serving developmentally disabled children, children in the Deaf community, and homeless children who are survivors of trauma.

Adolescence and Substance Abuse

Resources for mental health and substance abuse treatment providers, caregivers, and adolescents on the connections between drug and alcohol abuse and traumatic stress.

Creating Trauma-Informed Systems

Find resources aimed at fostering knowledge about child trauma in a wide range of child-serving systems, including education, child welfare, juvenile justice, and law enforcement.

Child Welfare System

Find tools and materials to help child welfare administrators, caseworkers, and frontline staff understand and respond to the needs of traumatized children.

Juvenile Justice System

Find fact sheets describing trauma in the juvenile justice system, especially among girls; the impact of victimization and exposure to trauma; and the need for effective trauma-focused assessment and interventions for court-involved.

Youth and Family Partnerships

Input from youth and families, too often overlooked, can contribute greatly to the success of treatment. The resources featured here can guide mental health providers and consumers alike to develop fruitful partnerships.

Facts and Figures

Find statistics on children's and adolescents' exposure to trauma, the prevalence of PTSD in this population and links to other data sources.

Grant Applicants

Resource materials for 2007/2008 grant applicants