Grants to improve trauma support services and mental health care for children and youth in educational settings

The Secretary, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, is authorized to award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, State educational agencies, local educational agencies, Indian Tribes (as defined in section 5304 of title 25) or their tribal educational agencies, a school operated by the Bureau of Indian Education, a Regional Corporation, or a Native Hawaiian educational organization, for the purpose of increasing student access to evidence-based trauma support services and mental health care by developing innovative initiatives, activities, or programs to link local school systems with local trauma-informed support and mental health systems, including those under the Indian Health Service. With respect to a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement awarded or entered into under this section, the period during which payments under such grant, contract or agreement are made to the recipient may not exceed 4 years. An entity that receives a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section shall use amounts made available through such grant, contract, or cooperative agreement for evidence-based activities, which shall include any of the following: To provide professional development to teachers, teacher assistants, school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, and mental health professionals that— To be eligible to receive a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section, an entity described in subsection (a) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, which shall include the following: An assurance that— To ensure the provision of the services described in subsection (c), a recipient of a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section, or their designee, shall establish a local interagency agreement among local educational agencies, agencies responsible for early childhood education programs, Head Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies), juvenile justice authorities, mental health agencies, child welfare agencies, and other relevant agencies, authorities, or entities in the community that will be involved in the provision of such services. In ensuring the provision of the services described in subsection (c), the local interagency agreement shall specify with respect to each agency, authority, or entity that is a party to such agreement— The Secretary shall reserve not more than 3 percent of the funds made available under subsection (l) for each fiscal year to— The Secretary shall ensure that grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements awarded or entered into under this section are equitably distributed among the geographical regions of the United States and among tribal, urban, suburban, and rural populations. Nothing in this section shall be construed— Any services provided through programs carried out under this section shall supplement, and not supplant, existing mental health services, including any special education and related services provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.). In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall, in a timely manner, meaningfully consult with Indian Tribes and their representatives to ensure notice of eligibility. In this section: The term “elementary school” has the meaning given such term in section 7801 of title 20. The term “evidence-based” has the meaning given such term in section 7801(21)(A)(i) of title 20. The term “Native Hawaiian educational organization” has the meaning given such term in section 7517 of title 20. The term “local educational agency” has the meaning given such term in section 7801 of title 20. The term “Regional Corporation” has the meaning given the term in section 1602 of title 43).11 So in original. The term “school” means a public elementary school or public secondary school. The term “school leader” has the meaning given such term in section 7801 of title 20. The term “secondary school” has the meaning given such term in section 7801 of title 20. The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Education. The term “specialized instructional support personnel” has the meaning given such term in section 7801 of title 20. The term “State educational agency” has the meaning given such term in section 7801 of title 20. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.