Sec. 231. Mental health services
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The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary ) shall award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to establish or enhance evidence-based or evidence-informed programs dedicated to improving mental health and resiliency for direct care professionals. To be eligible to receive an award under this subsection, an entity shall be— a State; a labor organization, joint labor management organization, or employer of direct care professionals; a nonprofit entity with experience in aging, disability, or supporting the rights and interests of, the training of, or educating direct care professionals; or an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, or Urban Indian organization.
A recipient of an award under this subsection shall use funds received through the award to implement and evaluate a new program or enhance an existing program to promote mental health among direct care professionals, which may include— improving awareness among direct care professionals about risk factors for, and signs of, suicide and mental health or substance use disorders, in accordance with evidence-based or evidence-informed practices; establishing new, or enhancing existing, evidence-based or evidence-informed programs for preventing suicide and improving mental health and resiliency among direct care professionals; establishing new, or enhancing existing, peer-support programs for direct care professionals; or providing— mental health care; follow-up services or care by a licensed or certified mental health professional (including by means of telehealth); or a referral for such services or care by such a professional, as appropriate.
In awarding grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity in— a rural area; or an area where the number of direct care professional vacancies, in the year of the application, is greater than 30 percent of the total number of direct care professional positions in the area. The Secretary may establish a program to award grants to eligible entities to support the inclusion, in direct care professional preparation programs and in training, continuing education, or professional development programs for direct care professionals, of evidence-based or evidence-informed strategies— to address mental and substance use disorders of direct care professionals; and to improve mental health and resiliency among direct care professionals.
To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall be— an institution of higher education; a State or local government; an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization; a public or private nonprofit entity determined appropriate by the Secretary; or a consortia of entities described in any of subparagraphs
(A)through (D), including such entities promoting multidisciplinary approaches. A grant, contract, or cooperative agreement awarded under subsection
(a)or
(b)shall be for a period of 3 years. An entity seeking an award under subsection
(a)or
(b)shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. An entity receiving an award under subsection
(a)or
(b)shall submit to the Secretary an annual report evaluating the activities supported by the award. To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.