National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
Mental Health CareCalifornia, United States51-200 Employees
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) is a federally established network in the mental health care field created by Congress in 2000 as part of the Children's Health Act to improve care and expand access for children and families exposed to trauma. It brings together frontline providers, family members, researchers, and national partners to move scientific advances into everyday practice across the United States. Based in Los Angeles, California, the network is administered by SAMHSA and coordinated by the UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (NCCTS), overseeing collaboration among 82 funded centers and more than 130 affiliate centers and individuals across 45 states and the District of Columbia. The NCTSN's work targets children and families who experience or witness traumatic events, supporting hospitals, universities, and community-based programs to raise the standard of care and expand access to services. A 2026 development includes a collaboration to translate the network's core concepts into American Sign Language to improve access for deaf youth.