Addressing Trauma in American Indian and Alaska Native Youth
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Resource Type: Documents and Publications
Focus Population: BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), People experiencing Suicidal Urges, People in Recovery from Substance Use, People who have experienced Trauma, Youth, Youth of Transition Age
Topics: Culturally Specific Strengths and Resilience, Experience of Racism, Discrimination, and Oppression, Mental Health Treatment, Recovery from Mental Health or Substance Use Disorders, Schools, School-based Services, Suicide Prevention, Trauma-informed
Despite the high prevalence of trauma among AI/AN youth, little is known about interventions targeted specifically for this population. To address this information gap, Mathematica Policy Research conducted an environmental scan of practices and programs for addressing trauma and related behavioral health needs in AI/AN youth. Our goal was not to document where or the extent to which programs are implemented in Indian Country but, rather, to identify which models have been tested and documented in the literature. In this report, we describe the interventions identified through our scan and summarize the evidence base for each. We include several interventions that AI/AN communities are currently using but that have not yet been systematically evaluated. Drawing from recommendations in the literature, we also discuss research and policy implications for advancing existing and developing new programs that can improve outcomes for AI/AN youth.