This proposed act authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Helping Families Heal Program. The Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, will have the authority to offer grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements to eligible entities. These entities will be tasked with recruiting, hiring, training, and dispatching mental health professionals and community health workers to provide critical mental health services. These services are targeted specifically at individuals who have suffered trauma or grief, or who are at risk of suicide or violence as a result of witnessing or experiencing law enforcement personnel violence.
The bill outlines specific goals and activities for this program, which include: 1. Providing mental health services to those who have directly or indirectly experienced law enforcement personnel violence, including family members and community members. 2. Implementing community-based mental health programs to build awareness around individual, community, and intergenerational trauma. These programs also aim to train staff and volunteers to identify and screen for trauma, mental health disorders, and the risk of suicide following such incidents. 3. Facilitating partnerships between various stakeholders, such as families, mental health providers, and health care providers to create a support network for affected individuals. 4. Establishing reporting mechanisms for individuals who have witnessed or experienced law enforcement personnel violence.
The legislation ensures that these awards are distributed equitably across different regions of the country, including both urban and rural areas. It prioritizes communities with high rates of interaction with law enforcement personnel, especially those under investigation for racial bias or those with high rates of arrest and incarceration of individuals with mental illness or disabilities.
To maintain a high standard of accountability and effectiveness, the Secretary of HHS will develop outcome measures and guidelines for the submission of program data. This will help ensure that the program’s impact can be accurately assessed and improved over time.
In addition to the Helping Families Heal Program, the bill introduces the Healing for Students Program, which operates under similar guidelines but specifically targets students and school personnel. This program will address school-based mental health needs by recruiting and training mental health professionals to support students who have been affected by law enforcement personnel violence. Schools will implement mental health programs to build trauma awareness and train school personnel to identify trauma signs in students.
A notable feature of the legislation is the establishment of a permanent interagency task force comprising the Secretary of HHS, the Secretary of Education, and the Attorney General. This task force is intended to promote coordination and recommend improvements to Federal responses for those affected by law enforcement personnel violence. The task force will gather input from various stakeholders, review statistical data, and streamline grant application processes to ensure better service for impacted communities.
The bill also has a specific clause stating that no funds will be awarded to law enforcement or child protective services entities, emphasizing the focus on community-based and health-oriented approaches rather than policing and security.
With an authorized appropriation of $50 million annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2029, both the Helping Families Heal Program and the Healing for Students Program will have substantial funding to affect meaningful change.
Next on the legislative agenda, this bill will move to be considered by the relevant committees, which include Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, and the Judiciary. If it successfully passes through these committees, it will then be debated in the full House and subsequently the Senate before being presented to the President for approval.
The ramifications of this bill are manifold. On a broader scale, it aligns with ongoing national conversations about the psychological and trauma-related impacts of law enforcement actions. While aimed explicitly at providing mental health services, this legislation moves the needle toward recognizing and remedying the deeper social scars left by violent encounters with law enforcement. For communities and individuals who stand on the frontlines of these experiences, the Helping Families Heal Act of 2024 could serve as a beacon of support and healing.
