Program to increase mental health and substance use disorder care providers in schools and school-based health centers

(a) Findings Congress finds that the lack of access to mental health and substance use disorder care in schools and school-based health centers has a negative impact on the health of children in the United States, including children who are eligible for coverage under the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program. (b) Grant authority Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary), in consultation with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Secretary of Education, shall award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to increase the number of mental health and substance use disorder care providers in schools and school-based health centers served by such entities. (c) Application An eligible entity seeking an award under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a description of— (1) the mental health and substance use disorder needs of the student population served by the eligible entity; and (2) with respect to the student population served by the eligible entity, how the eligible entity will ensure that the mental health and substance use disorder care providers supported by the eligible entity, and the services administered by such providers, are culturally competent and linguistically appropriate. (d) Restriction No funds made available through an award under this section may be used for a threat assessment team. (e) Reporting (1) Eligible entity reporting Eligible entities receiving an award under this section shall submit an annual report to the Secretary accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require, including— (A) the number of mental health and substance use disorder care providers working at the schools or school-based health centers served by the eligible entity, and the number of such providers supported through the award; (B) the types of services provided by the mental health and substance use disorder care providers and the efficacy of such services; (C) the practices used by the schools or school-based health centers served by the eligible entity to recruit and retain mental health and substance use disorder care providers; and (D) the rates of retention of mental health and substance use disorder care providers at the school or school-based health center. (2) Secretary Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this section, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of the awards under this section. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means— (A) a local educational agency, as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801); (B) an institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001); (C) a school operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; or (D) a school-based health center, as defined in section 399Z–1(a)(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280h–5(a)(3)). (2) Mental health and substance use disorder care provider The term mental health and substance use disorder care provider means an individual who is licensed or credentialed to provide mental health and substance use disorder services, including— (A) a school counselor; (B) a school psychologist or any other psychologist; (C) a psychiatrist who specializes in child or adolescent psychiatry; (D) a school social worker; (E) a peer support specialist or peer recovery coach; (F) a licensed clinical social worker; (G) an addiction medicine specialist; and (H) other providers, as the Secretary determines appropriate.