Sec. 101. Mental health crisis assessment, prevention, and education grant program
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/bill/113/s/2872/is/section-101A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
In this section: The term eligible entity means a State, political subdivision of a State, or nonprofit private entity. The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The term State means each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian tribe. The Secretary shall establish a program to award grants to eligible entities to carry out the activities described in paragraph (2).
Grants awarded under this section may be used to carry out programs that— expand early intervention and treatment services to improve access to mental health crisis assistance and address unmet mental health care needs; expand the continuum of services to address crisis intervention and crisis stabilization; reduce recidivism due to mental health crises and mitigate unnecessary expenditures by local law enforcement; and reduce unnecessary hospitalizations by appropriately utilizing community-based services and improving access to timely mental health crisis assistance.
The programs described in subparagraph
(A)may include any or all of the following activities: Mental health crisis intervention and response training for law enforcement (to increase officers’ understanding and recognition of mental illnesses). Mobile support that provides field-based behavioral health assistance to law enforcement and members of the community and links individuals in crisis to appropriate services. School- and community-based early intervention and prevention programs that provide mobile response, screening and assessment, training and education, and peer-based and family services. To be considered for a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. At minimum, such application shall include a description of— the activities to be funded with the grant; community needs; the population to be served; and the interaction between the activities described in subparagraph
(A)and public systems of health and mental health care, law enforcement, social services, and related assistance programs. Grants shall be awarded to eligible entities on a competitive basis. The Secretary shall evaluate applicants based on such criteria as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, including the ability of an applicant to carry out the activities described in paragraph (2). As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall agree to submit a report to the Secretary, on an annual basis, describing the activities carried out with the grant and assessing the effectiveness of such activities. The Secretary shall, on an annual basis, and using the reports received under clause (i), report to Congress on the overall impact and effectiveness of the grant program under this section. Not later than January 15, 2019, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a final report that includes recommendations with respect to the feasibility and advisability of extending or expanding the grant program. The Secretary shall collect data on the grant program to determine its effectiveness in reducing the social impact of mental health crises and the feasibility and advisability of extending the grant program. Data described in subparagraph
(A)shall be collected and analyzed using a scientific peer-reviewed system and valid and reliable results-based research methodologies. The Secretary shall determine the amount of each grant awarded under this section in an amount that is not more than $100,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.