Grants for increasing racial and ethnic minority access to high-quality trauma support services and mental health care

(a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary), acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall award grants to eligible entities to establish or expand programs for the purpose of increasing racial and ethnic minority access to high-quality trauma support services and mental health care. (b) Eligible entities To seek a grant under this section, an entity shall be a community-based program or organization that— (1) provides culturally and linguistically appropriate programs and resources that are aligned with evidence-based practices for trauma-informed care; and (2) has demonstrated expertise in serving communities of color or can partner with a program that has such demonstrated expertise. (c) Use of funds As a condition on receipt of a grant under this section, a grantee shall agree to use the grant to increase racial and ethnic minority access to high-quality trauma support services and mental health care, such as by— (1) establishing and maintaining community-based programs providing evidence-based services in trauma-informed care and culturally specific services and other resources; (2) developing innovative, culturally specific strategies and projects to enhance access to trauma-informed care and resources for racial and ethnic minorities who face obstacles to using more traditional services and resources (such as obstacles in geographic access to providers, insurance coverage, and access to audio and video technologies); (3) working with State and local governments and social service agencies to develop and enhance effective strategies to provide culturally specific services to racial and ethnic minorities; (4) increasing communities’ capacity to provide culturally specific resources and support for communities of color; (5) working in cooperation with the community to develop education and prevention strategies highlighting culturally specific issues and resources regarding racial and ethnic minorities; (6) providing culturally specific programs for racial and ethnic minorities exposed to law enforcement violence; and (7) examining the dynamics of culture and its impact on victimization and healing. (d) Priority In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities proposing to serve communities that have faced high rates of community trauma, including from exposure to law enforcement violence, intergenerational poverty, civil unrest, discrimination, or oppression. (e) Grant period The period of a grant under this section shall be 4 years. (f) Evaluation Not later than 6 months after the end of the period of all grants under this section, the Secretary shall— (1) conduct an evaluation of the programs funded by a grant under this section; (2) include in such evaluation an assessment of the outcomes of each such program; and (3) submit a report on the results of such evaluation to the Congress. (g) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.