Helping Heroes Act of 2022

To improve services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs for veteran families, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Helping Heroes Act of 2022 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Department The term Department (2) Disabled veteran The term disabled veteran (3) Educational service agency; local educational agency; other staff; school leader; specialized instructional support personnel The terms educational service agency local educational agency other staff school leader specialized instructional support personnel 20 U.S.C. 7801 (4) Eligible child The term eligible child (A) is a ward, child (including stepchild), grandchild, or sibling (including stepsibling or halfsibling) of the eligible veteran; and (B) is less than 18 years of age. (5) Eligible veteran The term eligible veteran (6) Family Coordinator The term Family Coordinator (7) Family Support Program The term Family Support Program (8) Non-Department provider The term non-Department provider (9) Secretary The term Secretary (10) Supportive services The term supportive services (A) wellness services, including mental, emotional, behavioral, and physical health and nutritional counseling and assistance; (B) peer-support programs for children; (C) assistance completing college admission and financial aid applications, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid described in section 483(a) of the Higher Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1090 20 U.S.C. 1087vv (D) assistance with accessing workforce development programs, including programs providing the activities authorized under section 129 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3164 29 U.S.C. 720 et seq. (E) sports and recreation; (F) after-school care and summer learning opportunities; (G) dependent care, including home and community-based services; (H) other resources for low-income families; (I) assistance transitioning from active duty in the Armed Forces to veteran status; and (J) any other services or activities the Secretary considers appropriate to support the needs of eligible children. (11) Veteran-connected student The term “veteran-connected student” means a student whose parent or guardian previously served in the Armed Forces, a Reserve component of the Armed Forces, or the National Guard. 3. Requirements for family coordinators (a) In general Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— (1) place at each medical center of the Department not fewer than one Family Coordinator; and (2) ensure adequate staffing and resources at each such medical center to ensure Family Coordinators are able to carry out their duties. (b) Family Coordinators (1) Employment Each Family Coordinator placed at a medical center of the Department under subsection (a) shall be employed full-time by the Department as a Family Coordinator and shall have no other duties in addition to the duties of a Family Coordinator. (2) Qualifications To qualify to be a Family Coordinator under subsection (a), an individual shall— (A) be a social worker licensed in accordance with the requirements of the State in which such individual is employed; and (B) have a graduate degree in social work or a related field. (3) Duties Each Family Coordinator shall— (A) assess the needs of the families of veterans using evidence-based strategies; (B) build positive relationships with such families; (C) refer veterans to local, State, and Federal resources that support veterans and their families; (D) develop and maintain a list of— (i) supportive services offered by the medical center at which the Family Coordinator is placed; and (ii) supportive services offered at reduced or no cost by non-Department providers located in the catchment area of such medical center; and (E) develop and maintain on an internet website a list of family resources that shall be made available for all veterans in the catchment area of such medical center who are enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department established and operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code. 4. Establishment of family support program (a) In general Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program to be known as the Family Support Program to provide and coordinate the provision of supportive services to eligible veterans and eligible children. (b) Implementation of family support program To carry out the Family Support Program, the Secretary shall— (1) provide supportive services through medical centers of the Department; (2) collaborate with relevant Federal agencies to provide supportive services; (3) provide financial assistance to non-Department providers pursuant to subsection (c); and (4) engage in any other activities the Secretary considers appropriate. (c) Financial assistance to non-Department providers (1) In general The Secretary may enter into contracts and award grants to provide financial assistance to eligible non-Department providers to participate in the Family Support Program. (2) Eligibility (A) In general The Secretary shall establish and make publicly available the criteria for a non-Department provider to be eligible for financial assistance under this subsection. (B) Criteria The criteria required by subparagraph (A) shall include requirements for a non-Department provider— (i) to provide a description of— (I) each supportive service proposed to be provided to eligible children; and (II) the demonstrated record of the non-Department provider in providing such supportive service; (ii) to demonstrate the ability to serve families of veterans in a manner that is trauma-informed and culturally and linguistically appropriate; and (iii) to agree to oversight by the Secretary regarding— (I) the use of financial assistance provided by the Department under this subsection; and (II) the quality of supportive services provided. (3) Notice The Secretary shall promptly provide to eligible non-Department providers selected by the Secretary to receive financial assistance under this subsection notice of the award of such financial assistance to ensure such providers have sufficient time to prepare to provide supportive services under the Family Support Program. (4) Authorized activities Financial assistance provided under this subsection shall be used to provide supportive services. (5) Training to recipients of financial assistance For each recipient of financial assistance under this subsection, the Secretary shall provide training and technical assistance regarding the planning, development, and provision of supportive services under the Family Support Program. (d) Coordination with other department of veterans affairs programs The Secretary shall share best practices with and facilitate referrals of eligible veterans and their families, as appropriate, from the Family Support Program to other programs of the Department, such as the program of support services for caregivers of veterans under section 1720G(b) of title 38, United States Code. (e) Reporting requirements (1) Annual report Not later than one year after the date of the commencement of the Family Support Program, and annually thereafter, each non-Department provider in receipt of financial assistance under the Family Support Program shall submit to the Secretary a report describing the supportive services carried out with such financial assistance during the year covered by such report. (2) Report to Congress (A) In general Not later than one year after the commencement of the Family Support Program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the progress of the Family Support Program. (B) Contents The report required by paragraph (1) shall include— (i) the number of eligible veterans and eligible children who received supportive services under the Family Support Program; (ii) the demographic data of eligible veterans and eligible family members, including— (I) the relationship to the eligible veteran; (II) age; (III) race; (IV) ethnicity; (V) gender identity; (VI) sexual orientation; (VII) disability; and (VIII) English proficiency and whether a language other than English is spoken at home; (iii) a summary of the supportive services carried out under the Family Support Program and the costs to the Department of such supportive services; and (iv) an assessment, measured by a survey of participants, of whether participation in the Family Support Program resulted in positive outcomes for eligible veterans and eligible children. 5. Veteran-connected student grant program (a) Authorization of grants (1) In general The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to local educational agencies in order to better meet academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of veteran-connected students. (2) Eligibility A local educational agency shall be eligible for a grant under this section if such agency partners with a nearby medical center of the Department that employs at least one Family Coordinator. (3) Duration A grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of not more than five years. (4) Diversity of projects In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, grants are distributed among local educational agencies that will serve geographically diverse areas, including urban, suburban, and rural areas. (5) Priorities In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall give priority to applications that are submitted by local educational agencies that are in the highest quartile of local educational agencies in a ranking of all qualified local educational agencies in the State, ranked in descending order by the number and percentage of children in each agency counted under section 1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6333(c) (b) Application (1) In general In order to receive a grant under subsection (a), a local educational agency shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. (2) Contents An application submitted by an agency under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) a description of how the agency will identify veteran-connected students such as through survey instruments or data sharing agreements, in accordance with applicable Federal privacy laws; (B) a description of how the agency will collaborate with a Family Coordinator to increase wrap around supports provided to veteran-connected students and families of veterans, including how services will be provided by such agency or a medical center of the Department, as appropriate; (C) a description of how the agency will expand access to evidence-based academic supports for veteran-connected students, such as tutoring or college and career counseling, to improve the academic outcomes of such students; (D) an assurance that the agency will designate an employee of a local educational agency to serve as a liaison to families of veterans to coordinate with Family Coordinators to meet the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of veteran-connected students, including through the Family Support Program; and (E) a description of a preliminary memorandum of understanding signed between the agency and a partnering medical center of the Department detailing the financial, programmatic, and long-term commitments of each party to meet the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of veteran-connected students. (c) Uses of funds A local educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall use such grant to carry out one or more of the following: (1) Support activities to address the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of veteran-connected students. (2) Provide assistance to veteran-connected students to complete college admission applications and financial aid applications, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid described in section 483(a) of the Higher Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1090 20 U.S.C. 1087vv(c)(2) (3) Improve mental health services and supports for veteran-connected students, including meeting the needs of such individuals who have experienced adverse childhood experiences or related trauma. (4) Provide professional development for Family Coordinators and for teachers, school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, liaisons to families of veterans, and other staff employed by local educational agencies on the unique challenges facing veteran-connected students and families of veterans. (5) Conduct outreach and communicate with families of veterans to improve the involvement of veterans who are caregivers in the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of their children. (6) Hire and retain a liaison to families of veterans to provide supports to veteran-connected students and families of veterans. (7) Coordinate with Family Coordinators and support the provision of services through the Family Support Program. (d) Reporting requirements (1) Local reporting Not later than one year after a local educational agency receives a grant under this section, and annually thereafter, such agency shall submit to the Secretary a report containing such information as the Secretary may require, including— (A) the number and percentage of veteran-connected students served by the agency, disaggregated by demographic data; (B) information required under paragraph (1)(C)(ii) of section 1111(h) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6311(h) (C) a description of the academic, social, emotional, and mental health services provided to veteran-connected students, including whether such services were provided by the agency or through the Family Support Program. (2) Secretary reporting Not later than one year after receiving a report described in paragraph (1), the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, shall— (A) prepare and submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a report that summarizes the report submitted under paragraph (1); and (B) make the report submitted under paragraph (1) publicly available on an internet website of the Department. (e) Supplement not supplant Grant funds provided under this section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal or State funds available to carry out activities described in this section. (f) Disaggregation of data Disaggregation of data required under this section shall not be required when the number of students described in subsection (d)(1)(A) is insufficient to yield statistically reliable information or the results would reveal personally identifiable information about an individual student. 6. Outreach on availability of services The Secretary shall conduct an outreach program to ensure veterans who are enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department established and operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code, employees of the Department, and potential State, local, and Federal partners are informed of the Family Support Program and the availability of Family Coordinators. 7. Transition assistance Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall include information regarding supportive services available for members of the Armed Forces who are being separated from active duty and their families, including mental health and other services for children, in the transition assistance curriculum offered by the Department. 8. Survey (a) In general Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for five years, the Secretary shall conduct a survey of disabled veterans and their families to identify and better understand the needs of such disabled veterans and their families. (b) Content The survey required under subsection (a) shall include questions with respect to— (1) the types and quality of support disabled veterans receive from the children of such disabled veterans; and (2) the unmet needs of such children. 9. Nondiscrimination Programs or activities receiving funds under this Act may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or age. 10. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such funds as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

Summary: Helping Heroes Act of 2022 This bill implements programs and procedures related to the provision of support services for veterans and their families. First, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must place at least one Family Coordinator at each of its medical centers and ensure adequate staffing and resources at each such medical center so the coordinators are able to carry out their duties. Family Coordinators must, among other duties, assess the needs of the families of veterans using evidence-based strategies and refer veterans to support resources. The VA must also establish the Family Support Program to provide and coordinate the provision of supportive services to veterans who have a service-connected disability rated at 70% or more and eligible children (i.e., individuals who are under 18 years of age and are wards, children, stepchildren, grandchildren, or siblings of the eligible veteran). Next, the VA must coordinate with the Department of Education to award competitive grants to local educational agencies to better meet academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of students whose parent or guardian previously served in the Armed Forces (including reserve components) or the National Guard. The VA must include information regarding supportive services available in the transition assistance curriculum for members of the Armed Forces who are being separated from active duty (and their families). Finally, the VA must conduct an annual survey of disabled veterans and their families to identify and better understand the needs of such persons.