Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award grants for a period of three years to eligible entities for the provision of suicide prevention services to veterans and their families. Under the bill, eligible entities include tribally designated housing entities, community-based organizations, and other private entities that meet certain requirements.
Entities must submit an application to receive financial assistance that includes a description of the services they propose to provide, among other elements.
The bill requires the VA to equitably distribute grants across geographic regions and areas with the most need. Additionally, the VA shall give preference to entities that are experienced in providing suicide prevention services.
Entities receiving funding must notify service recipients that funding is wholly or partially from the VA.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3495 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3495
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide financial
assistance to eligible entities to provide and coordinate the provision
of suicide prevention services for veterans at risk of suicide and
veteran families through the award of grants to such entities, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 26, 2019
Mr. Bergman (for himself and Ms. Houlahan) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide financial
assistance to eligible entities to provide and coordinate the provision
of suicide prevention services for veterans at risk of suicide and
veteran families through the award of grants to such entities, 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.
This Act may be cited as the ``Improve Well-Being for Veterans
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN ENTITIES TO PROVIDE AND
COORDINATE THE PROVISION OF SUICIDE PREVENTION SERVICES
FOR VETERANS AT RISK OF SUICIDE AND VETERAN FAMILIES.
(a) Distribution of Financial Assistance.--The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall provide financial assistance to eligible
entities approved under this section through the award of grants to
such entities to provide and coordinate the provision services to
veterans and veteran families to reduce the risk of suicide.
(b) Award of Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award a grant to each
eligible entity for which the Secretary has approved an
application under subsection (e) to provide or coordinate the
provision of suicide prevention services under this section.
(2) Grant amounts, intervals of payment, and matching
funds.--In accordance with the services being provided under a
grant under this section and the duration of those services,
the Secretary may establish--
(A) a maximum amount to be awarded under the grant;
(B) intervals of payment for the administration of
the grant; and
(C) a requirement for the recipient of the grant to
provide matching funds in a specified percentage.
(c) Distribution of Financial Assistance and Preference.--
(1) Distribution.--
(A) Geographic.--The Secretary shall ensure that,
to the extent practicable and in compliance with
subparagraph (B), financial assistance under this
section is equitably distributed across geographic
regions, including rural communities and Tribal land.
(B) Areas with need.--The Secretary shall ensure
that, to the extent practicable, financial assistance
under this section is distributed--
(i) to provide services in areas of the
United States that have experienced high rates
or a high burden of veteran suicide; and
(ii) to eligible entities that can assist
veterans at risk of suicide that are not
currently receiving health care furnished by
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2) Preference.--The Secretary shall give preference in the
provision of financial assistance under this section to
eligible entities providing or coordinating, or who have
demonstrated the ability to provide or coordinate, suicide
prevention services or other services that improve the quality
of life of veterans and their families and reduce the factors
that contribute to veteran suicide.
(d) Requirements for Receipts of Financial Assistance.--
(1) Notification that services are from department.--Each
entity receiving financial assistance under this section to
provide suicide prevention services to veterans at risk of
suicide and veteran families shall notify the recipients of
such services that such services are being paid for, in whole
or in part, by the Department.
(2) Development of plan with beneficiaries.--
(A) In general.--If an entity receiving financial
assistance under this section provides temporary cash
assistance under subsection (k)(5)(K), the entity shall
develop a plan to ensure that any beneficiary of such
temporary cash assistance is self-sustaining at the end
of the period of eligibility for such temporary cash
assistance.
(B) Consultation with beneficiary.--Any plan
developed under subparagraph (A) with respect to a
beneficiary shall be developed in consultation with the
beneficiary.
(3) Reports.--The Secretary--
(A) shall require each entity receiving financial
assistance under this section to submit to the
Secretary an annual report that describes the projects
carried out with such financial assistance during the
year covered by the report;
(B) shall specify to each such entity the
evaluation criteria and data and information, which
shall include a mental health measurement of each
veteran served, to be submitted in such report; and
(C) may require such entities to submit to the
Secretary such additional reports as the Secretary
considers appropriate.
(e) Application for Financial Assistance.--
(1) In general.--An eligible entity seeking financial
assistance under this section shall submit to the Secretary an
application therefor in such form, in such manner, and
containing such commitments and information as the Secretary
considers necessary to carry out this section.
(2) Matters to be included.--Each application submitted by
an eligible entity under paragraph (1) shall contain the
following:
(A) A description of the suicide prevention
services proposed to be provided by the eligible entity
and the identified need for those services.
(B) A detailed plan describing how the eligible
entity proposes to coordinate and deliver suicide
prevention services to veterans not currently receiving
care furnished by the Department, including--
(i) an identification of the community
partners with which the eligible entity
proposes to work in delivering such services;
(ii) a description of the arrangements
currently in place between the eligible entity
and such partners; and
(iii) an identification of how long such
arrangements have been in place.
(C) A description of the types of veterans at risk
of suicide and veteran families proposed to be provided
suicide prevention services.
(D) An estimate of the number of veterans at risk
of suicide and veteran families proposed to be provided
suicide prevention services and the basis for such
estimate, including the percentage of those veterans
who are not currently receiving care furnished by the
Department.
(E) Evidence of the experience of the eligible
entity (and the proposed partners of the entity) in
providing suicide prevention services to individuals at
risk of suicide, particularly to veterans at risk of
suicide and veteran families.
(F) A description of the managerial and
technological capacity of the eligible entity--
(i) to coordinate the provision of suicide
prevention services with the provision of other
services;
(ii) to assess continuously the needs of
veterans at risk of suicide and veteran
families for suicide prevention services;
(iii) to coordinate the provision of
suicide prevention services with the services
of the Department for which the beneficiaries
are eligible;
(iv) to tailor suicide prevention services
to the needs of veterans at risk of suicide and
veteran families;
(v) to continuously seek new sources of
assistance to ensure the continuity of suicide
prevention services for veterans at risk of
suicide and veteran families as long as the
veteran is determined to be at risk of suicide;
and
(vi) to measure, over a long-term period,
the improved mental resiliency and mental
outlook of the veteran served.
(G) Such additional application criteria as the
Secretary considers appropriate.
(f) Technical Assistance.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide training and
technical assistance to eligible entities in receipt of
financial assistance under this section regarding--
(A) the data required to be collected and shared
with the Department;
(B) the means of data collection and sharing;
(C) familiarization with and appropriate use of any
tool to be used to measure the effectiveness of the use
of the financial assistance provided; and
(D) the requirements for reporting under subsection
(d)(3) on services provided via such financial
assistance.
(2) Provision of training and technical assistance.--The
Secretary may provide the training and technical assistance
described in paragraph (1) directly or through grants or
contracts with appropriate public or nonprofit entities.
(g) Administration of Grant Program.--
(1) Selection criteria.--The Secretary, in consultation
with entities specified in paragraph (3), shall establish
criteria for the selection of eligible entities that have
submitted applications under subsection (e).
(2) Development of measures and metrics.--The Secretary
shall develop, in consultation with entities specified in
paragraph (3), the following:
(A) A framework for collecting and sharing
information about entities in receipt of financial
assistance under this section for purposes of improving
the discovery of services available for veterans at
risk of suicide and veteran families, set forth by
service type, locality, and eligibility criteria.
(B) The measures to be used by each entity in
receipt of financial assistance under this section to
determine the effectiveness of the programming being
provided by such entity in improving mental resiliency
and mental outlook of veterans at risk of suicide and
veteran families.
(C) Metrics for measuring the effectiveness of the
provision of financial assistance under this section.
(3) Coordination.--In developing a plan for the design and
implementation of the provision of financial assistance under
this section, including criteria for the award of grants, the
Secretary shall consult with the following:
(A) Veterans service organizations.
(B) National organizations representing potential
community partners of eligible entities in providing
supportive services to address the needs of veterans at
risk of suicide and their families, including national
organizations that--
(i) advocate for the needs of individuals
with or at risk of behavioral health
conditions;
(ii) represent mayors;
(iii) represent first responders; or
(iv) represent chiefs of police and
sheriffs.
(C) Organizations with which the Department has a
current memoranda of agreement or understanding related
to mental health or suicide prevention.
(D) State departments of veterans affairs.
(E) National organizations representing members of
the reserve components of the Armed Forces.
(F) Vet Centers.
(G) Organizations with experience in creating
measurement tools for purposes of determining
programmatic effectiveness.
(H) Such other organizations as the Secretary
considers appropriate.
(4) Report on grant criteria.--Before notifying eligible
entities of the availability of funding under this section, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing--
(A) criteria for the award of a grant under this
section;
(B) the tool to be used by the Department to
measure the effectiveness of the use of financial
assistance provided under this section; and
(C) a framework for the sharing of information
about entities in receipt of financial assistance under
this section.
(h) Information on Potential Beneficiaries.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may make available to
recipients of financial assistance under this section certain
information regarding potential beneficiaries of services for
which such financial assistance is provided.
(2) Information included.--The information made available
under paragraph (1) with respect to potential beneficiaries may
include the following:
(A) Confirmation of the status of a potential
beneficiary as a veteran.
(B) Confirmation of whether a potential beneficiary
is currently receiving care furnished by the Department
or has recently received such care.
(i) Duration.--The authority of the Secretary to provide financial
assistance under this section shall terminate on the date that is three
years after the date on which the first grant is awarded under this
section.
(j) Reporting.--
(1) Interim report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the
date on which the first grant is awarded under this
section, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report on the provision of
financial assistance under this section.
(B) Elements.--The report submitted under
subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
(i) An assessment of the effectiveness of
the provision of financial assistance under
this section, including the effectiveness of
community partners in conducting outreach to
veterans at risk of suicide and veteran
families.
(ii) A list of grant recipients and their
partner organizations that delivered services
funded by the grant and the amount of such
grant received by each recipient and partner
organization.
(iii) The number of veterans supported by
each grant recipient, including through
services provided to family members.
(iv) The number of veterans supported by
financial assistance under this section,
including through services provided to family
members.
(v) The number of veterans supported by
financial assistance under this section,
including through services provided to family
members, who were not previously receiving care
furnished by the Department.
(vi) The number of veterans whose mental
resiliency and mental outlook received a
baseline measurement assessment under this
section and the number of such veterans whose
mental resiliency and mental outlook will be
measured by the Department or a community
partner over a period of time.
(vii) The types of data the Department was
able to collect and share with partners,
including a characterization of the benefits of
that data.
(2) Final report.--Not later than three years after the
date on which the first grant is awarded under this section,
the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress--
(A) a follow-up on the interim report submitted
under paragraph (1) containing the elements set forth
in subparagraph (B) of such paragraph; and
(B) a report on--
(i) the effectiveness of the provision of
financial assistance under this section,
including the effectiveness of community
partners in conducting outreach to veterans at
risk of suicide and veteran families;
(ii) an assessment of the increased
capacity of the Department to provide services
to veterans at risk of suicide and veteran
families, set forth by State, as a result of
the provision of financial assistance under
this section; and
(iii) the feasibility and advisability of
extending or expanding the provision of
financial assistance under this section.
(k) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the
Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans
Affairs, and Related Agencies of the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the
Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans
Affairs, and Related Agencies of the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) an incorporated private institution or
foundation--
(i) no part of the net earnings of which
incurs to the benefit of any member, founder,
contributor, or individual;
(ii) that has a governing board that would
be responsible for the operation of the suicide
prevention services provided under this
section; and
(iii) that is approved by the Secretary as
to financial responsibility;
(B) a corporation wholly owned and controlled by an
organization meeting the requirements of clauses (i),
(ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A);
(C) a tribally designated housing entity (as
defined in section 4 of the Native American Housing
Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25
U.S.C. 4103)); or
(D) a community-based organization that is
physically based in the targeted community and that can
effectively network with local civic organizations,
regional health systems, and other settings where
veterans at risk of suicide and the families of such
veterans are likely to have contact.
(3) Peer specialist.--The term ``peer specialist'' means a
person eligible to be appointed as a peer specialist under
section 7402(b)(13) of title 38, United States Code.
(4) Risk of suicide.--The term ``risk of suicide'' means
exposure to or the existence of any of the following:
(A) Health risk factors, including the following:
(i) Mental health challenges.
(ii) Substance abuse.
(iii) Serious or chronic health conditions
or pain.
(iv) Traumatic brain injury.
(B) Environmental risk factors, including the
following:
(i) Access to lethal means (such as drugs,
firearms, etc.).
(ii) Prolonged stress.
(iii) Stressful life events.
(iv) Exposure to the suicide of another
person or to graphic or sensationalized
accounts of suicide.
(v) Unemployment.
(vi) Homelessness.
(vii) Recent loss.
(viii) Legal or financial challenges.
(C) Historical risk factors, including the
following:
(i) Previous suicide attempts.
(ii) Family history of suicide.
(iii) History of abuse, neglect, or trauma.
(5) Suicide prevention services.--The term ``suicide
prevention services'' means services to address the needs of
veterans at risk of suicide and veteran families and includes
the following:
(A) Outreach to identify veterans at risk of
suicide, with an emphasis on veterans who are at
highest risk or not receiving health care or other
services furnished by the Department.
(B) A baseline mental health assessment for risk
screening and referral to care.
(C) Education on suicide risk and prevention to
families and communities.
(D) Direct treatment.
(E) Medication management.
(F) Individual and group therapy.
(G) Case management services.
(H) Peer support services.
(I) Assistance in obtaining any benefits from the
Department that the veteran at risk of suicide or
veteran family may be eligible to receive, including--
(i) vocational and rehabilitation
counseling;
(ii) supportive services for homeless
veterans;
(iii) employment and training services;
(iv) educational assistance; and
(v) health care services.
(J) Assistance in obtaining and coordinating the
provision of other benefits provided by the Federal
Government, a State or local government, or an eligible
entity.
(K) Temporary cash assistance (not to exceed 6
months) to assist with emergent needs relating to--
(i) health care services;
(ii) daily living services;
(iii) personal financial planning;
(iv) transportation services;
(v) temporary income support services;
(vi) fiduciary and representative payee
services;
(vii) legal services to assist the veteran
family with issues that may contribute to the
risk of suicide of the veteran; and
(viii) child care (not to exceed $5,000 per
veteran family per fiscal year).
(L) Such other services necessary for improving the
resiliency of veterans at risk of suicide and veteran
families as the Secretary considers appropriate, which
may include--
(i) adaptive sports or in-place
recreational therapy;
(ii) substance use reduction programming;
(iii) individual, group, or family
counseling; and
(iv) relationship coaching.
(6) Vet center.--The term ``Vet Center'' means a center for
readjustment counseling and related mental health services for
veterans under section 1712A of title 38, United States Code.
(7) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given
that term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
(8) Veteran family.--The term ``veteran family'' means,
with respect to a veteran at risk of suicide, any of the
following:
(A) A parent.
(B) A spouse.
(C) A child.
(D) A sibling.
(E) A step-family member.
(F) An extended family member.
(G) Any other individual who lives with the
veteran.
(9) Veterans service organization.--The term ``veterans
service organization'' means any organization recognized by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of
veterans included as part of the annually updated list at
https://www.va.gov/vso/ or a successor website.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Subcommittee on Health Discharged.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 10.
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