Sec. 5. PILOT PROGRAM ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH

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## SEC. 5 PILOT PROGRAM ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH **[**[38 U.S.C. 1712A note](/us/usc/t38/s1712A)**]** ###

(a)In General The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a pilot program to assist veterans transitioning from serving on active duty and to improve the access of veterans to mental health services. ###

(b)Locations The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program under subsection

(a)at not less than five Veterans Integrated Service Networks that have a large population of veterans who— ####

(1)served in the reserve components of the Armed Forces; or ####

(2)are transitioning into communities with an established population of veterans after having recently separated from the Armed Forces. ###

(c)Functions The pilot program at each Veterans Integrated Service Network described in subsection

(b)shall include the following: ####

(1)A community oriented veteran peer support network, carried out in partnership with an appropriate entity with experience in peer support programs, that— #####

(A)establishes peer support training guidelines; #####

(B)develops a network of veteran peer support counselors to meet the demands of the communities in the Veterans Integrated Service Network; #####

(C)conducts training of veteran peer support counselors; #####

(D)with respect to one medical center selected by the Secretary in each such Veterans Integrated Service Network, has— ######

(i)a designated peer support specialist who acts as a liaison to the community oriented veteran peer network; and ######

(ii)a certified mental health professional designated as the community oriented veteran peer network mentor; and #####

(E)is readily available to veterans, including pursuant to the Veterans Integrated Service Network cooperating and working with State and local governments and appropriate entities. ####

(2)A community outreach team for each medical center selected by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (1)(D) that— #####

(A)assists veterans transitioning into communities; #####

(B)establishes a veteran transition advisory group to facilitate outreach activities; #####

(C)includes the participation of appropriate community organizations, State and local governments, colleges and universities, chambers of commerce and other local business organizations, and organizations that provide legal aid or advice; #####

(D)coordinates with the Veterans Integrated Service Network regarding the Veterans Integrated Service Network carrying out an annual mental health summit to assess the status of veteran mental health care in the community and to develop new or innovative means to provide mental health services to veterans; and #####

(E)conducts outreach to individuals transitioning from serving on active duty in the Armed Forces who are participating in the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense or other similar transition programs to inform such individuals of the community oriented veteran peer support network under paragraph

(1)and other support programs and opportunities that are available to such individuals. ###

(d)Reports ####

(1)Initial report Not later than 18 months after the date on which the pilot program under subsection

(a)commences, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the pilot program. With respect to each Veterans Integrated Service Network described in subsection (b), the report shall include— #####

(A)a full description of the peer support model implemented under the pilot program, participation data, and data pertaining to past and current mental health related hospitalizations and fatalities; #####

(B)recommendations on implementing peer support networks throughout the Department; #####

(C)whether the mental health resources made available under the pilot program for members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces is effective; #####

(D)a full description of the activities and effectiveness of community outreach coordinating teams under the pilot program, including partnerships that have been established with appropriate entities; and #####

(E)the number of veterans who— ######

(i)received outreach from the Department of Veterans Affairs while serving on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces; and ######

(ii)participated in a peer support program under the pilot program for veterans transitioning from serving on active duty. ####

(2)Final report Not later than 90 days before the date on which the pilot program terminates under subsection (e), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives an update to the report submitted under paragraph (1). ###

(e)Construction This section may not be construed to authorize the Secretary to hire additional employees of the Department to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a). ###

(f)Termination The authority of the Secretary to carry out the pilot program under subsection

(a)shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after the date on which the pilot program commences.

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38 USC 1712A

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Sec. 5

PILOT PROGRAM ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Cite38 USC 1712A

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