I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9366 
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to identify, review, 
and implement effective interventions in Head Start programs, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 16, 2024 
Mr. DESAULNIER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 
identify, review, and implement effective interventions 
in Head Start programs, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Early Childhood Men-
tal Health Support Act’’. 
SEC. 2. IDENTIFICATION OF EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS IN 
HEAD START PROGRAMS. 
(a) INTERVENTIONS THAT IMPROVE SOCIAL-EMO-
TIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:38 Sep 07, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9366.IH
H9366
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services acting through the Assistant Sec-
retary for the Administration for Children and Fam-
ilies (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) 
shall identify and review interventions, best prac-
tices, curricula, and staff trainings— 
(A) that improve the behavioral health of 
children; and 
(B) that are evidence based. 
(2) FOCUS.—In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall focus on interventions, best practices, 
curricula, and staff trainings that— 
(A) can be delivered by a provider or other 
staff member in or associated with a Head 
Start program or Early Head Start center; 
(B) are demonstrated to improve or sup-
port healthy social, emotional, or cognitive de-
velopment for children in Head Start or Early 
Head Start programs, with an empirical or the-
oretical relationship to later mental health or 
substance abuse outcomes; 
(C) involve changes to center-wide policies 
or practices, or other services and supports of-
fered in conjunction with Head Start programs 
or Early Head Start centers, including services 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:38 Sep 07, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9366.IH
H9366
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
provided to adults or families (with or without 
a child present) for the benefit of the children; 
(D) demonstrate effectiveness across ra-
cial, ethnic, and geographic populations or dem-
onstrate the capacity to be adapted to be effec-
tive across populations; 
(E) offer a tiered approach to addressing 
need, including— 
(i) universal interventions for all chil-
dren; 
(ii) selected prevention for children 
demonstrating increased need; and 
(iii) indicated prevention for children 
demonstrating substantial need; 
(F) incorporate trauma-informed care ap-
proaches; or 
(G) have a proven record of improving 
early childhood and social emotional develop-
ment. 
(b) 
INTERVENTIONS
THAT
SUPPORT
STAFF 
WELLNESS.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall identify and review interventions, best practices, cur-
ricula, and staff trainings that support staff wellness and 
self-care. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:38 Sep 07, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9366.IH
H9366
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(c) CREDENTIALS.—In carrying out subsections (a) 
and (b), the Secretary, in consultation with relevant ex-
perts, shall determine the appropriate credentials for indi-
viduals who deliver the interventions, best practices, cur-
ricula, and staff trainings identified by the Secretary. 
(d) CONSULTATION; PUBLIC INPUT.—In carrying out 
this section, the Secretary shall— 
(1) consult with relevant agencies, experts, aca-
demics, think tanks, and nonprofit organizations 
with expertise in early childhood, mental health, and 
trauma-informed care, including the National Insti-
tute of Mental Health, the Administration for Chil-
dren and Families, the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration, the Institute of 
Education Sciences, and the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention; and 
(2) solicit public input on— 
(A) the design of the reviews under sub-
sections (a) and (b); and 
(B) the findings and conclusions resulting 
from such reviews. 
(e) TIMING.—The Secretary shall— 
(1) complete the initial reviews required by sub-
sections (a) and (b) not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:38 Sep 07, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9366.IH
H9366
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(2) update such reviews and the findings and 
conclusions therefrom at least every 5 years. 
(f) REPORTING.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, 
the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress on 
the results of implementing this section. 
SEC. 3. IMPLEMENTING THE INTERVENTIONS IN HEAD 
START PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary for the 
Administration for Children and Families shall award 
grants to participating Head Start agencies to implement 
the interventions, best practices, curricula, and staff 
trainings that are identified pursuant to section 2. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The Assistant Secretary shall 
ensure that grants awarded under this section are award-
ed to grantees representing a diversity of geographic areas 
across the United States, including urban, suburban, and 
rural areas. 
SEC. 4. EVALUATING IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERVEN-
TIONS IN HEAD START PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary 
for Planning and Evaluation and in coordination with the 
Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children 
and Families, shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:38 Sep 07, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H9366.IH
H9366
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS