Trauma in Native Children

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Trauma in Native Children

• Dolores Subia BigFoot, PhD
• Barbara L. Bonner, PhD
• Indian Country Child Trauma Center
• Center on Child Abuse and Neglect
• University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
• Oklahoma City, OK

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Native American Children

• 4.1 million American Indians/Alaska Natives in
  the United States 1 of the population
• 562 federally recognized tribes, 225 Alaska
  Native entities
• Approximately 1.4 million American Indian/Alaska
  Native (AI/AN) children under the age of 18 in
  the United States

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What is Trauma?

• A unique individual experience associated with a
  traumatic event or enduring conditions, which can
  involve an actual death or other loss, serious
  injury, or threat to a childs well-being.

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How Trauma is Experienced in Indian Country

• As a historical event with prolonged impact
  (relocation)
• As a personal event that continues to impact over
  several generations (boarding school)
• As a prolonged experience (removal)
• As a single event (car accident)
• As a cumulative effect (violence)

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Trauma in Indian Country
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Factors that Increase Vulnerability in Native
Youth

• Breakdown of cultural values and belief systems
• Poverty
• AI/AN children live in single-parent families at
  the highest rates in the country
• About 26 of AI/AN live in poverty, compared with
  13 of the general population and 10 of white
  Americans
• Chronic Health Problems
• 2.8 times more likely to have diagnosed diabetes
  than white children

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Factors that Increase Vulnerability in Native
Youth

• Violent Crime
• On average, American Indians experience an
  estimated 1 violent crime for every 10 residents
  age 12 or older
• Victimization
• 2 of the foster care population are AI/AN
  children they are at increased risk for mental
  health problems
• Youth victims are at high risk for subsequent
  victimizations
• Victimization rate of AI/AN children is 2/100,
  compared to 1/100 of non-Hispanic white children

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Major Mental Health Problems in Native Youth

• Lack of Mental Health Services
• 100 AI/AN mental health professionals available
  per 100,000 AI/ANs, compared to 173 per 100,000
  for whites
• In 1996, fewer than 30 psychiatrists in the U.S.
  were of AI/AN heritage
• Depression
• Depression among AI/AN children ranges from
  10-30
• Substance Abuse
• 50 of Indian youth in treatment for substance
  abuse have significant untreated psychiatric
  comorbidity. Children of substance abusing
  parents have increased risks for car accidents,
  behavioral problems, neglect, suicide, and
  personal substance abuse.

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Major Mental Health Problems in Native Youth

• Suicide
• Survey of AI adolescents (N13,000), 22 of
  females and 12 of males reported having
  attempted suicide at some point
• Highest rate of suicide in the 15 to 24 age group
  
• Child Abuse and Neglect
• In 2002, only group to experience increases in
  the rate of abuse or neglect was AI/AN children
  under age 15
• Data indicates approximately 1 substantiated
  report of abuse or neglect for every 30 AI/AN
  child

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Protective Factors

• Strong traditional culture
• Tribal identity and involvement
• Prior and next generation focus
• Spiritual practices and ceremonies
• Collective orientation
• Oral traditions and history

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Innovative Approaches to Mental Health Care in
AI/AN Communities

• Indian Country Child Trauma Center
• Honoring Children Evidence-Based Treatment
• Circles of Care initiatives
• Systems of Care
• Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services
  for Children Their Families Program
• Life Skills Development Curriculum for American
  Indian Youth Suicide Prevention

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Indian Country Child Trauma Center(ICCTC)

• Established at the Center on Child Abuse and
  Neglect at OUHSC in 2003
• Mission of ICCTC Improve treatment and services
  for Native children and adolescents in Indian
  Country who have experienced traumatic events
• Member of the National Child Traumatic Stress
  Network

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Recommendations

• Increase awareness that tribal children are
  suffering.
• Focus on prevention of mental health problems.
• Sustained focus and commitment by federal
  government, state governments, and tribes.