Helping Kids Cope Act of 2021

To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to support pediatric behavioral health care integration and coordination, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Helping Kids Cope Act of 2021 2. Grant programs to support pediatric behavioral health care Subpart V of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 256 340A–1. Grants to support pediatric behavioral health care integration and coordination (a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall award grants to eligible entities for the purpose of supporting pediatric behavioral health care integration and coordination within communities to meet local community needs. (b) Eligible entities Entities eligible for grants under subsection (a) include— (1) pediatricians; (2) children’s hospitals; (3) pediatric behavioral health providers with the capacity to organize and implement activities working with community organizations and providers; and (4) other entities as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (c) Prioritization In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall prioritize applicants that demonstrate the highest needs at the local level along the care continuum for strengthening children’s behavioral health crisis care and access. (d) Use of funds Activities that may be funded through a grant under subsection (a) include— (1) the recruitment and retention of community health workers or navigators to coordinate family access to pediatric mental, emotional, and behavioral health services; (2) training the pediatric mental, emotional, and behavioral health care workforce, relevant stakeholders, and community members; (3) expanding evidence-based, integrated models of care for pediatric mental, emotional, and behavioral health services; (4) pediatric practice integration for the provision of pediatric mental, emotional, and behavioral health services; (5) addressing surge capacity for pediatric mental, emotional, and behavioral health needs; (6) providing pediatric mental, emotional, and behavioral health services to children as delivered by behavioral, emotional, and mental health professionals utilizing telehealth services; (7) establishing or maintaining initiatives to decompress emergency departments, including partial hospitalization, step down residency programs, and intensive outpatient programs; (8) supporting, enhancing, or expanding pediatric mental, emotional, and behavioral health preventive and crisis intervention services; (9) establishing or maintaining pediatric mental, emotional, and behavioral health urgent care; (10) establishing or maintaining community-based initiatives, such as school-based partnerships; and (11) addressing other access and coordination gaps to mental, emotional, and behavioral health services in the community for children. (e) Funding To carry out this section, there is hereby appropriated, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise obligated, $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 340A–2. Pediatric behavioral health workforce training program (a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall award grants to eligible entities for the purpose of supporting evidence-based pediatric behavioral health workforce training. (b) Eligible entities Entities eligible for grants under subsection (a) include— (1) children’s hospitals; and (2) other pediatric health care providers as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (c) Use of funds The training that may be supported through a grant under subsection (a) includes expanded training in pediatric behavioral health for physicians and nonphysician practitioners, including the following practitioner types: (1) Child and adolescent psychiatrists. (2) Psychiatric nurses. (3) Psychologists. (4) Advanced practice nurses. (5) Family therapists. (6) Social workers. (7) Mental health counselors. (8) Other practitioner types as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (d) Funding To carry out this section, there is hereby appropriated, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise obligated, $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. .

Summary: Helping Kids Cope Act of 2021 This bill provides funding through FY2026 to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for grants to enhance access to and provider training in pediatric behavioral health care. Specifically, HRSA must award grants to pediatricians, children's hospitals, and other providers to support pediatric behavioral health integration and coordination within communities. Grant-funded activities may include hiring community navigators to assist families in accessing appropriate services, incorporating behavioral health services in pediatric practices, and delivering services via telehealth. In addition, HRSA must award grants to children's hospitals to expand training for providers in the pediatric behavioral health workforce.