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.

Summary: Coming Together for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2007 - 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.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Coming Together for National Guard 
and Reserve Families Act of 2007''.

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.