Bureau of Indian Education Behavioral Health and Wellness Program

Part B of title XI of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2000 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1139 (25 U.S.C. 2019) the following: 1139A. Behavioral Health and Wellness Program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible recipient The term eligible recipient means any student or staff or faculty member at a Bureau-funded school. (2) Program The term program means the Behavioral Health and Wellness Program established under subsection (b). (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Indian Education. (b) Establishment The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the Behavioral Health and Wellness Program, to fill existing behavioral health gaps across Bureau-funded schools, including dormitories. (c) Services In carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall provide to eligible recipients, subject to the availability of funding, and at the discretion of the leadership of the applicable Bureau-funded school— (1) virtual counseling services; (2) a hotline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for immediate crisis support relating to behavioral health; (3) crisis response and support services; and (4) such other behavioral health services as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (d) Contracting authority For purposes of providing any service described in subsection (c), the Secretary may enter into a contract, memorandum of understanding, or interagency agreement, as applicable, with— (1) a relevant Federal partner; or (2) an entity that has a demonstrated record of providing behavioral health services and working with tribes, Bureau-funded schools, and Indian students. (e) Training and technical assistance The Secretary may provide training and technical assistance to Bureau-funded schools that implement services described in subsection (c) or any other additional behavioral health services. (f) Continuation of program The program carried out under this section shall be a continuation of the Behavioral Health and Wellness Program carried out by the Bureau of Indian Education that terminated on January 31, 2026. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032..