Requires the Secretary, in awarding such grants, to: (1) ensure equitable geographic and urban/rural distribution; (2) give preference to entities with high levels of cultural competence and strong ties to minority communities; and (3) provide technical assistance.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1809 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1809
To provide grants for mental health and substance abuse services for
women and children who have been victims of domestic or sexual
violence.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 31, 2003
Mr. Daschle (for Mr. Edwards) introduced the following bill; which was
read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide grants for mental health and substance abuse services for
women and children who have been victims of domestic or sexual
violence.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Counseling in Shelters Act of
2003''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Nearly \1/3\ of American women report being physically
or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in
their lives.
(2) Fifty-six percent of women who experience any partner
violence are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. Twenty-nine
percent of all women who attempt suicide were battered, 37
percent of battered women have symptoms of depression, 46
percent have symptoms of anxiety disorder, and 45 percent
experience post-traumatic stress disorder.
(3) Children who witness domestic violence are more likely
to exhibit behavioral and physical health problems including
depression, anxiety, and violence toward peers. They are also
more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, run
away from home, engage in teenage prostitution, and commit
sexual assault crimes.
(4) Each year, at least 6 percent of all pregnant women,
equal to about 240,000 pregnant women, are battered by the men
in their lives.
(5) Complications of pregnancy, including low weight gain,
anemia, and first and second trimester bleeding are
significantly higher for abused women, as are maternal rates of
depression, suicide attempts, tobacco, alcohol, and illicit
drug use.
(6) A major domestic violence program in St. Petersburg,
Florida, reports that 70 percent of the families that come to
their shelter have substance abuse in their family--either the
woman, her children, or her batterer. One study of a low-income
Chicago neighborhood found that 42 percent of women
experiencing severe abuse in the past 12 months reported
depression.
SEC. 3. SHELTER GRANTS.
(a) Grants Authorized.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(in this section referred to as the ``Secretary''), acting
through the Assistant Secretary for the Administration on
Children, Youth, and Families, shall make grants to eligible
entities for the purpose of providing on site mental health and
substance abuse counseling and referral services.
(2) Definitions.--In this section:
(A) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity''
means a public or nonprofit private domestic or sexual
violence program or other community-based entity
including an Indian tribe or tribal organization that
primarily serves victims of domestic violence.
(B) Licensed mental health professional.--The term
``licensed mental health professional'' includes a
psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker,
licensed or certified alcohol and drug addictions
professional, or an otherwise qualified individual who
has appropriate training in the diagnosis or treatment
of mental health or substance abuse problems with
expertise in the dynamics of domestic or sexual
violence.
(3) Duration of awards.--The Secretary shall award grants
under this section for a period not to exceed 5 years. Such
grants may be renewed.
(b) Use of Funds.--An entity awarded a grant pursuant to subsection
(a) shall--
(1) hire licensed mental health professionals to provide on
site mental health and substance abuse counseling to women and
children who have been subjected to domestic or sexual
violence;
(2) hire dedicated staff qualified to coordinate the mental
health and substance abuse services for victims of domestic and
sexual violence and their children including linking them with
more comprehensive treatment programs in their local
communities; and
(3) provide training in the dynamics of domestic violence
and sexual assault, including safety risk, potential lethality,
and appropriate interventions, to those mental health and
substance abuse professionals hired to provide services to
these women and their children.
(c) Application.--
(1) In general.--Each eligible entity that desires to
receive a grant under this section shall submit to the
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(2) Contents.--Each application submitted pursuant to
paragraph (1) shall contain a plan for the rigorous evaluation
of the activities funded under this section, including process
and outcome evaluation, and the submission of an evaluation at
the end of the project period.
(d) Grantmaking Considerations.-- The Secretary, in awarding grants
under this section shall--
(1) ensure that such grants are distributed equitably among
the regions of the country and among urban and rural areas; and
(2) give preference to applicants with strong ties to
minority communities and those that demonstrate high levels of
cultural competence.
(e) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary, acting through the
Assistant Secretary for the Administration on Children, Youth, and
Families, shall provide technical assistance to grant recipients with
respect to the implementation of programs to provide on site mental
health and substance abuse counseling and referral services.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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