The National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth, in partnership with the Indian Country Child Trauma Center and the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention, developed the initial Restoring the Sacred Circle Toolkit in 2020 to provide guidance for Tribal communities and programs. Content and information have been expanded to include stories about children who have received and benefited from treatment interventions and outcomes. Updated information was needed to specifically address treating American Indian/Alaska Native youth and their families. While resources providing culturally relevant services to address problematic sexual behavior among dominant society youth are readily available, this information is lacking for Native families and children. However, information gained from the dominate society may have some helpful lessons for Native youth. Specific additions have been developed from individuals that are involved with these youth at the Tribal and community levels. These youth have often experienced greater levels and severity of traumatic events, which require increased and culturally specific interventions. Ceremony and celebrations from traditional teachings are often employed in this process. Some Native people have developed new ceremonies or added to previous practices in these areas. Stages of healing have also been identified from the traditional teachings of various Tribal groups. Healing is often a slow process that requires several steps, much like the recovery path for individuals who engage in substance use recovery efforts. We currently recognize the connection between traumatic reactions, or sometimes what is labeled post-trauma experiences, and remembering these traumatizing events.
Restoring the Sacred Circle: A Toolkit for American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes (Second Edition)
NCJ Number
309888
Date Published
November 2024
Length
128 pages
Abstract
Date Published: November 1, 2024