Welcome to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Collaboration for Impact: Accomplishments and Challenges of a M

1. Welcome to the National Child Traumatic Stress NetworkCollaboration for Impact: Accomplishments and Challengesof a Maturing Network Robert S. Pynoos, M.D., M.P.H. John A. Fairbank, Ph.D. Friday Sept. 21, 2007

2. Introduction and Welcome by NCCTS Co-Directors Robert S. Pynoos, M.D., M.P.H. NCCTS Co-Director UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences John Fairbank, Ph.D. NCCTS Co-Director Duke University Medical Center

3. NCTSN Mission • The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) is a unique Congressional initiative whose mission is to improve the quality, effectiveness and availability of care and services for children and families who are exposed to and affected by a wide range of traumatic experiences, including: • physical and sexual abuse • domestic, school and community violence • natural disasters and terrorism • accidental or violent death of a loved one • refugee and war experiences • life-threatening injury and illness

4. NCTSN Expertise • Combining knowledge of child development, expertise in child traumatic stress, and attention to cultural perspectives, the NCTSN supports the development and broad adoption of evidence-based and trauma-informed treatments. • The NCTSN is a collaboration of 70 academic, clinical and community service centers, including UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and Duke University Medical Center, which co-direct the Network through the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress.

5. - Rembrandt, Family Teaching Child to Walk

6. Disruption of the Protective Shield “ ‘Give her to me. I can run faster.’ … I looked back and there was nothing to think about. I’ve got to give her a chance.” “ ‘Smoke, smoke, fire, fire, hurry mommy pick me up. Run, run to my bed.’ I’d plop her on her bed and she’d say, ‘Now we are safe. Whew. That was close.’ We’d do that a million times.” Mother of five-year-old daughter, caught in the evacuation of a preschool across from the World Trade Center on 9/11 - Raphael, detail, Fire in the Borgo

7. “My mother …beseeched, exhorted and commanded me to escape as best I can.” Pliny, the Younger -Account his experience, at age 17, of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, 79 A.D. - Raphael, detail, Fire in the Borgo

8. “You don’t shoot at children.”

9. NCTSN Vision • The NCTSN will raise public awareness of the scope and serious impact of child traumatic stress on the safety and healthy development of our nation’s children and their families. • We will improve the standard of care by integrating developmental and cultural knowledge to advance a broad range of effective services and interventions that will preserve and restore the future of our nation’s traumatized children.

10. NCTSN Vision • The NCTSN will work with established systems of care, including the health, mental health, education, law enforcement, child welfare and juvenile justice systems, to ensure that there is a comprehensive continuum of care available and accessible to all traumatized children and their families. • We will be a community dedicated to collaboration within and beyond the Network to ensure that widely shared knowledge and skills create a national resource to address the problem of child traumatic stress.

11. Challenges of a Maturing Network • Moving from an established Network identity toward becoming an authoritative voice • Moving from training curricula toward broad dissemination though modern, innovative learning platforms • Moving from general principles to tailored trauma-informed services • Moving from the development of first-class products to their broad utilization • Moving to incorporate shared cultural knowledge and wisdom into everyday skills

12. Challenges of a Maturing Network • Moving from defining our data to its application in promoting systematic progress • Becoming integral to state and national response to disasters • Moving toward a critical mass in state transformation initiatives • Enriching our network personality through mutually respected partnerships that enhance our Network efficacy • Sustaining and strengthening the Network through embracing all generations of Network participants

13. Involvement, Collaboration and Cooperation • We look forward to a rewarding partnership with you in our national efforts to enhance the recovery of traumatized children and their families. • Please rely on us to help your site become engaged in the wide-range of exciting opportunities available through our Network. • We invite you to contact the staff at the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress for assistance and support. We are always here for you.