The purpose of the National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Child, Youth, and Family Mental Health (NTTAC) is to provide training and technical assistance to increase the access to, effectiveness of, and dissemination of evidence-based mental health services for children, youth and young adults (through age 21) with Serious Emotional Disturbances (SED)/Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and their families and to promote the coordination of these services.

NTTAC provides specific education and training on evidence-based practices related to treatment of SED and SMI, developing and deploying a broad base of strategic and specialized training and technical assistance through multiple media, such as webinars, podcasts, online toolkits, produced curriculum, on-site consultations, or other avenues to engage active and sustained participation.

As a partner in the project, Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health (TIEMH), within the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, provides vision, direction and guidance to the National Training and Technical Assistance Center leadership to ensure the provision of universal, targeted, and intensive training and technical assistance related to community recovery support services and support for families in the treatment of children and young adults.

The Center is a key component of SAMHSA Children’s Mental Health Initiative and serves as the national training and technical assistance provider on addressing SED and SMI in individuals age 21 and younger.