This bill creates a new grant program in the Public Health Service Act called the Community Mental Wellness and Resilience program. The Department of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) would award two types of grants: planning grants (up to $250,000) for nonprofit or community-based organizations that have support from at least three similar groups, and program grants (up to $500,000 per year for up to four years) to networks that organize and run community mental wellness and resilience programs. At least 20 percent of yearly funds must be reserved for programs in rural areas. The program requires a public health approach to mental health: collecting local data, identifying protective and risk factors, strengthening protective factors, building community skills and leadership, and using developmentally, linguistically, and culturally appropriate evidence-based, evidence-informed, promising, or indigenous practices. A “resilience coordinating network” must include representatives from at least five different categories (for example, community groups, schools, youth organizations, health professionals, faith groups, businesses, emergency response, or justice and safety agencies). The Secretary must provide technical assistance and share best practices, and must report to Congress by December 31, 2030 on results of the planning grants. The bill authorizes $36,000,000 for fiscal years 2025–2029 and limits spending on technical assistance to no more than 5 percent of annual funds.
Supporters of the bill would point to its direction in the statute to promote mental wellness and resilience through community-based, developmentally and culturally appropriate programs; to use a public health approach that focuses on prevention, early intervention, and community healing; to fund planning and program grants; to reserve funds for rural areas; and to provide technical assistance and a required report to Congress.
No publicly available information.