To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment or operation of a center to be known as the Emergency Mental Health and Substance Use Training and Technical Assistance Center.

To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment or operation of a center to be known as the Emergency Mental Health and Substance Use Training and Technical Assistance Center. 1. Emergency mental health and substance use training and technical assistance center Subpart 3 of part B of title V of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 290bb–31 42 U.S.C. 290bb–32 520B. Emergency mental health and substance use training and technical assistance center (a) Establishment The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary, shall establish or operate a center to be known as the Emergency Mental Health and Substance Use Training and Technical Assistance Center (referred to in this section as the Center (1) to public or nonprofit entities seeking to establish or expand access to mental health and substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery support services, and increase awareness of such services; and (2) to public health professionals, health care professionals and support staff, essential workers (as defined by a State, Tribe, locality, or territory), and members of the public to address the trauma, stress, and mental health needs associated with an emergency period. (b) Assistance and support The assistance and support provided under subsection (a) shall include assistance and support with respect to— (1) training on identifying signs of trauma, stress, and mental health needs; (2) providing accessible resources to assist individuals and families experiencing trauma, stress, or other mental health needs during and after an emergency period; (3) providing resources for substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery designed to assist individuals and families during and after an emergency period; (4) the provision of language access services, including translation services, interpretation, or other such services for individuals with limited English speaking proficiency or individuals with disabilities; and (5) evaluation and improvement, as necessary, of the effectiveness of such services provided by public or nonprofit entities. (c) Best practices The Center shall periodically issue best practices for use by organizations seeking to provide mental health services or substance use disorder prevention, treatment, or recovery services, including best practices for the following special populations: (1) Incarcerated individuals. (2) Children. (3) Pregnant women. (4) Underserved populations. (5) Communities of color. (6) Health care providers and essential workers. (d) Emergency period In this section, the term emergency period (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021. .

Summary: This bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to provide technical assistance to certain organizations to expand access to and awareness of mental health and substance use prevention and treatment services during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency.