Coming Together for Guard and Reserve Families Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to enhance and improve Department of Defense (DOD) programs to provide family support for families of members of the National Guard and Reserve undergoing deployment (members). Requires such support to include post-deployment assistance for spouses and parents of returning members.
Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a pilot program of family-to-family support for families of such members; and (2) contract for support services for children, infants, and toddlers of such members.
Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to jointly expand and enhance access to mental health services for families of members who are disabled during military service.
Requires a report from the Comptroller General to Congress on barriers to access to mental health services through TRICARE (a DOD managed health care program), including the number of providers under TRICARE that are located more than 40 miles from a military installation.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1541 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1541
To provide support and assistance for families of members of the
National Guard and Reserve who are undergoing deployment, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 15, 2007
Mr. Braley of Iowa (for himself, Mr. Loebsack, and Mr. Boswell)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide support and assistance for families of members of the
National Guard and Reserve who are undergoing deployment, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Coming Together
for Guard and Reserve Families Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Family support for families of members of the National Guard
and Reserve undergoing deployment.
Sec. 4. Pilot program on family-to-family support for families of
members of the National Guard and Reserve
undergoing deployment.
Sec. 5. Support services for children, infants, and toddlers of members
of the National Guard and Reserve
undergoing deployment.
Sec. 6. Mental health services for family members of disabled members
of the National Guard and Reserve.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) More than 700,000 children have had a parent deployed
overseas as a member of the Armed Forces since September 11,
2001, and more than such 2,700 children have had a parent
killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
(2) Forty-one percent of the members of the National Guard
and Reserve who have been deployed overseas report mental
health symptoms within three to six months of returning home
from deployment, compared with 32 percent of the members of the
regular military who have been so deployed. Fifteen percent of
the members of the National Guard and Reserve have been
identified as at risk for post traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), compared with 9 percent of the members of the regular
military. Research suggests that increased stress in the family
can trigger symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder.
(3) Military families face significant challenges
throughout the deployment cycle of members of the Armed Forces.
Families of members of the National Guard and Reserve are
particularly vulnerable because of their distance from military
bases and their lack of access to the services upon which
military families typically draw. In addition, many families of
members of the National Guard and Reserve are currently
experiencing multiple extended deployments, and do not have the
necessary support available to them.
(4) Uncertainty and separation can create high levels of
stress for parents, spouses, and children. Stress can put
children at greater risk for behavioral problems, academic
difficulties, anxiety, and depression. Family separations many
times result in marital problems, financial difficulties, and
stress on family relationships.
(5) Research suggests that military families who receive
community and social support while members of the National
Guard and Reserve are undergoing deployment have the most
positive outcomes. Supporting families and children affected by
deployment can ease transitional stress, help members of the
National Guard and Reserve and their families cope during and
after deployment, prevent mental health problems, and assist in
a smooth transition of members of the National Guard and
Reserve back to civilian life.
SEC. 3. FAMILY SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD
AND RESERVE UNDERGOING DEPLOYMENT.
(a) Family Support.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall enhance and
improve current programs of the Department of Defense to
provide family support for families of members of the National
Guard and Reserve in order to improve the assistance available
for families of members of the National Guard and Reserve who
are deployed throughout their deployment cycle.
(2) Specific enhancements.--In enhancing and improving
programs under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall enhance and
improve the availability of the following:
(A) Support staff to assist families of the members
of the National Guard and Reserve who are deployed
throughout their deployment cycle, including staff to
assist such families in--
(i) preparing and updating family care
plans; and
(ii) securing information on health care
benefits and services and on other community
resources.
(B) Support staff to provide referrals for such
families for--
(i) crisis services; and
(ii) marriage counseling and family
counseling.
(b) Post-Deployment Assistance for Spouses and Parents of Returning
Members.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall provide
spouses and parents of members of the National Guard and
Reserve who are returning from deployment assistance in--
(A) understanding issues that arise in the
readjustment of such members to civilian life;
(B) identifying signs and symptoms of mental health
issues; and
(C) encouraging such members and their families in
seeking assistance for such issues.
(2) Information on available resources.--In providing
assistance under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide
information on local resources for mental health services,
family counseling services, or other appropriate services,
including services available from both military providers of
such services and community-base providers of such services.
(3) Timing.--The Secretary shall provide resources under
paragraph (1) with respect to a member of the National Guard or
Reserve returning from deployment approximately six months
after the date of the return of such member from deployment.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is hereby authorized to
be appropriated for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2008,
$4,000,000 to carry out this section.
SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM ON FAMILY-TO-FAMILY SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES OF
MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE UNDERGOING
DEPLOYMENT.
(a) Pilot Program Required.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall, in
consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
carry out a pilot program to--
(A) assess the effectiveness of family-to-family
support programs in--
(i) the early identification and prevention
of family problems for families of members of
the National Guard and Reserve who are
deployed;
(ii) the provision of peer support for such
families;
(iii) reducing adverse outcomes for
children of such families, including poor
academic performance, behavioral problems, and
the adverse consequence of stress and anxiety;
and
(iv) improving family readiness and post-
deployment transition for such families; and
(B) assess the feasability and advisability of
utilizing spouses of members of the Armed Forces to act
as counselors for spouses and families of members of
the National Guard and Reserve who are deployed in
order to assist such spouses and families in coping
with the deployment of such members throughout their
deployment cycle.
(2) Construction with other assistance.--The pilot program
shall be in addition to any assistance programs carried out by
the Secretary of Defense.
(b) Counseling Duties.--The duties of spouses who act as counselors
under the pilot program shall include--
(1) the provision of assistance to spouses and families of
members of the National Guard and Reserve who are deployed with
respect to family readiness, health care, and crisis referral;
and
(2) the provision of outreach to such spouses and families
on mental health matters such as marriage and family
counseling.
(c) Training in Counseling.--In carrying out the pilot program, the
Secretary shall provide appropriate training to spouses who act as
counselors under the pilot program, including training on the matters
set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) of subsection (a)(1)(A).
(d) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to
Congress a report on the pilot program. The report shall include--
(1) a description of the activities under the pilot
program;
(2) an assessment of the effectiveness of family-to-family
support programs in achieving the results set forth in
subsection (a)(1)(A);
(3) an assessment of the feasability and advisability of
utilizing spouses of members of the Armed Forces to act as
counselors as described in subsection (a)(1)(B); and
(4) such other matters as the Secretary considers
appropriate in light of the pilot program.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is hereby authorized to
be appropriated for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2008,
$1,000,000 to carry out this section.
SEC. 5. SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, INFANTS, AND TODDLERS OF MEMBERS
OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE UNDERGOING DEPLOYMENT.
(a) Enhancement of Support Services for Children.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall, in
consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
enter into a contract or other agreement with a private sector
entity having expertise in the health and well-being of
families and children in order to enhance and develop support
services for children of members of the National Guard and
Reserve who are deployed.
(2) Support services.--In enhancing and developing support
services pursuant to paragraph (1), the entity referred to in
that paragraph shall--
(A) develop materials for parents and other
caretakers of children of members of the National Guard
and Reserve who are deployed to assist such parents and
caretakers in responding to the adverse implications of
such deployment (and the death or injury of such
members during such deployment) for such children,
including the role such parents and caretakers can play
in addressing and mitigating such implications;
(B) develop programs and activities to increase
awareness throughout the military and civilian
communities of the adverse implications of such
deployment (and the death or injury of such members
during such deployment) for such children and their
families and to increase collaboration within such
communities to address and mitigate such implications;
(C) develop training for early child care and
education, mental health, health care, and family
support professionals to enhance the awareness of such
professionals of their role in assisting families in
addressing and mitigating the adverse implications of
such deployment (and the death or injury of such
members during such deployment) for such children; and
(D) conduct research on best practices for building
psychological and emotional resiliency in such children
in coping with the deployment of such members.
(b) Enhancement of Support Services for Infants and Toddlers.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall, in
consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
enter into a contract or other agreement with a private sector
entity having expertise in the health and well-being of infants
and toddlers in order to enhance and develop support services
to address the special needs of infants and toddlers of members
of the National Guard and Reserve who are deployed.
(2) Support services.--In enhancing and developing support
services pursuant to paragraph (1), the entity referred to in
that paragraph shall--
(A) develop materials for parents and other
caretakers of infants and toddlers of members of the
National Guard and Reserve who are deployed to assist
such parents and caretakers in responding to the
adverse implications of such deployment (and the death
or injury of such members during such deployment) for
such infants and toddlers, including the role such
parents and caretakers can play in addressing and
mitigating such implications;
(B) develop programs and activities to increase
awareness throughout the military and civilian
communities of the adverse implications of such
deployment (and the death or injury of such members
during such deployment) for such infants and toddlers
and their families and to increase collaboration within
such communities to address and mitigate such
implications;
(C) develop training for education, mental health,
health care, and family support professionals to
enhance the awareness of such professionals of their
role in assisting families in addressing and mitigating
the adverse implications of such deployment (and the
death or injury of such members during such deployment)
for such infants and toddlers; and
(D) conduct research on best practices for building
psychological and emotional resiliency in the families
of such infants and toddlers in coping with the
deployment of such members.
(c) Reports.--
(1) Reports required.--At the end of the 18-month period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, and at the
end of the 36-month period beginning on that date, each entity
with which the Secretary of Defense enters into a contract or
agreement under subsection (a) or (b) shall submit to the
Secretary, and to Congress, a report on the activities of such
entity under such contract.
(2) Elements.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) An assessment of the extent to which outreach
to parents and other caretakers of children, or infants
and toddlers, as applicable, of members of the National
Guard and Reserve was effective in reaching such
parents and caretakers and in mitigating the adverse
effects of the deployment of such members on such
children or infants and toddlers.
(B) An assessment of the effectiveness of the
programs and activities under such contract in
increasing collaboration and service provision in
community agencies serving family members of the
National Guard and Reserve undergoing deployment.
(C) An assessment of the effectiveness of training
materials for education, mental health, health, and
family support professionals developed under such
contract in increasing awareness of their role in
assisting families in addressing and mitigating the
adverse effects on children, or infants and toddlers,
of the deployment of members of the National Guard and
Reserve.
(D) A description of best practices identified
under such contract for building psychological and
emotional resiliency in children, or infants and
toddlers, in coping with the deployment of members of
the National Guard and Reserve.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) Support services for children.--There is hereby
authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense for
fiscal year 2008, $6,000,000 to carry out subsection (a).
(2) Support services for infants and toddlers.--There is
hereby authorized to be appropriated for the Department of
Defense for fiscal year 2008, $6,000,000 to carry out
subsection (b).
SEC. 6. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF DISABLED MEMBERS
OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE.
(a) Expansion of Availability of Mental Health Services.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the
Secretary of Defense shall jointly take appropriate actions to
expand and enhance access to mental health services for family
members of members and former members of the National Guard and
Reserve who are disabled during military service.
(2) Services.--Access to mental health services shall be
expanded under paragraph (1) by the provision of mental health
services through the following:
(A) Community-based outpatient clinics of the
Department of Veterans Affairs staffed by personnel of
the Department.
(B) Referral to appropriate facilities of the
Department of Veterans Affairs for the receipt of such
services.
(C) Referral to appropriate mental health
professionals in the community for receipt of such
services.
(D) Providers of telemental health services.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is hereby
authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Veterans
Affairs for fiscal year 2008, $8,000,000 to carry out this
section.
(b) Comptroller General Report on Access to Mental Health Services
Through TRICARE.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
United States shall submit to Congress a report on barriers to
access to mental health services through the TRICARE program,
including the number of mental health services providers under
the TRICARE program that are located more than 40 miles from a
military installation.
(2) Recommendations.--The report under paragraph (1) shall
include recommendations for--
(A) increasing access to mental health services
providers under the TRICARE program for members of the
National Guard and their families; and
(B) increasing the number of mental health services
providers under the TRICARE program in areas located
more than 40 miles from a military installation.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
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