Child Development Research in North American Native Communities—Looking Back and Moving Forward: Introduction

— The study of Native children’s development in the United States and Canada has lagged behind that of other populations. As a result, there is limited research literature to inform efforts to address the challenges faced by Native children and their families, including disparities in mental health problems such as substance abuse, suicide, mental disorders, and academic achievement. This article provides a brief overview of the historical context of children’s development in Native communities and introduces the Native Children’s Research Exchange (NCRE), formed in 2008 to facilitate child development research with tribal communities. The following collection of articles, written by NCRE scholars, reviews existing research, highlights challenges encountered in this work, and points to an agenda for furthering developmental research within Native cultures.

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