Native Children’s Research Exchange Network & Conference

The mission of the Native Children’s Research Exchange (NCRE) is to bring together researchers studying child and adolescent development in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities. We gather biennially to share in an open exchange of information and ideas, build collaborative relationships, mentor new scholars, and disseminate knowledge about Native child and adolescent development.

NCRE was founded in 2008 with funding from the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD). With SRCD support, the first conference was held in 2008 and the second in 2009. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA; R13DA029391) awarded five additional years of funding to support annual conferences from 2010 to 2014, with a specific focus on understanding Native children’s development within the context of substance use. Subsequent NIDA funding (R13DA051122) has provided support for this continued emphasis in the 2021-2025 conferences. 

From 2015 to present, NCRE has received additional support from the Tribal Early Childhood Research Center (TRC), which is funded by the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (90PH0017, 90PH0027, and 90PH0030). With TRC support, NCRE has expanded to include an additional focus on early childhood in Native communities and a broader network of participants working in/with tribal Head Start; Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting; Child Care Development Fund; and Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) programs.

In 2025, we were honored to receive additional support from the Bezos Family Foundation, the Indigenous Early Learning Collaborative, the Clyfford Still Museum, and Lakeshore Learning for the conference’s 15th anniversary.

Collectively, NCRE members work to address the following priorities:

• Development of scientifically and culturally grounded theories and methodologies for Native child development research prenatally through emerging adulthood.
• Critical evaluation of measurements and assessments for Native youth.
• Development of culturally adapted and culturally based interventions for Native youth.
• Training and mentorship of students and early career scholars whose work focuses on Native child and adolescent development.
• Engagement of funders and the research community regarding the unique context of research in Native communities and the critical importance of community-engaged and Indigenous research methodologies.
• Building collaboration among researchers and practitioners committed to the health, wellbeing and thriving of Native children and adolescents.

NCRE 2025 Conference

2025 Conference Theme

Supporting Native American Children's Health, Wellbeing, and Thriving Through Indigenous Connectedness: Learning from Current Research and Practice

Dates

Thursday and Friday, September 18-19, 2025

• Opening reception Wednesday evening, September 17
• Special event at the Clyfford Still Museum on Thursday evening, September 18

Location

The conference will be held on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Registration

Registration for the 2025 conference is now closed. 

If you are interested in attending the 2027 conference, please contact Michelle Sarche ([email protected]) to be added to the distribution list for registration information.  

Get in touch with NCRE Network and Conference