Investing in Community Healing Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.907 | Sponsor: Rep. Blunt Rochester, Lisa (D-DE)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Investing in Community Healing Act of 2021
This bill requires, with a focus on racial and ethnic minority groups, research on adverse health impacts associated with violent interactions with law enforcement and additional activities to promote access to mental and behavioral health care.
Specifically, the Office of Minority Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must research the health consequences of trauma related to violent interactions with law enforcement.
In addition, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration must award grants to community-based programs or organizations to increase access to trauma-support services and mental health care.
The Department of Health and Human Services must also carry out a campaign to raise awareness of, and reduce stigma associated with, mental and behavioral health conditions.

To address the psychological, social, and emotional needs of racial and 
ethnic minorities who experience trauma associated with law enforcement 
                   violence, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Investing in Community Healing Act 
of 2021''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, African 
        Americans are more likely to have face-to-face contact with law 
        enforcement and are 2.5 times more likely to experience a 
        threat or use of nonfatal force by police.
            (2) Research shows that young men who have experienced 
        these law enforcement practices display higher levels of 
        stress, anxiety, and trauma associated with the interaction.
            (3) Witnessing or experiencing invasive encounters with law 
        enforcement can also be an everyday stressor for racial and 
        ethnic minorities, leading to physiological and psychological 
        strain.
            (4) Racial and ethnic minorities face inequities in 
        accessing mental health services.
            (5) Addressing the stigma in some communities of color 
        associated with receiving mental health services and informing 
        individuals about available treatment can encourage better 
        utilization of these services.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of the Congress that it is imperative that a 
comprehensive public health approach to addressing trauma and mental 
health care be focused on care delivery that is culturally sensitive 
and competent.

SEC. 4. RESEARCH ON ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERACTIONS 
              WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in 
this Act referred to as the ``Secretary''), acting through the Director 
of the Office of Minority Health of the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (established pursuant to section 1707A of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u-6a)), shall conduct research on the adverse 
health effects associated with interactions with law enforcement.
    (b) Effects Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities.--The research under 
subsection (a) shall include research on--
            (1) the health consequences, both individual and community-
        wide, of trauma related to violence committed by law 
        enforcement among racial and ethnic minorities; and
            (2) the disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality 
        associated with such trauma.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall--
            (1) complete the research under this section; and
            (2) submit to the Congress a report on the findings, 
        conclusions, and recommendations resulting from such research.

SEC. 5. GRANTS FOR INCREASING RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY ACCESS TO 
              HIGH-QUALITY TRAUMA SUPPORT SERVICES AND MENTAL HEALTH 
              CARE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Assistant 
Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall award grants to 
eligible entities to establish or expand programs for the purpose of 
increasing racial and ethnic minority access to high-quality trauma 
support services and mental health care.
    (b) Eligible Entities.--To seek a grant under this section, an 
entity shall be a community-based program or organization that--
            (1) provides culturally competent programs and resources 
        that are aligned with evidence-based practices for trauma-
        informed care; and
            (2) has demonstrated expertise in serving communities of 
        color or can partner with a program that has such demonstrated 
        expertise.
    (c) Use of Funds.--As a condition on receipt of a grant under this 
section, a grantee shall agree to use the grant to increase racial and 
ethnic minority access to high-quality trauma support services and 
mental health care, such as by--
            (1) establishing and maintaining community-based programs 
        providing evidence-based services in trauma-informed care and 
        culturally specific services and other resources;
            (2) developing innovative culturally specific strategies 
        and projects to enhance access to trauma-informed care and 
        resources for racial and ethnic minorities who face obstacles 
        to using more traditional services and resources (such as 
        obstacles in geographic access to providers, insurance 
        coverage, and access to audio and video technologies);
            (3) working with State and local governments and social 
        service agencies to develop and enhance effective strategies to 
        provide culturally specific services to racial and ethnic 
        minorities;
            (4) increasing communities' capacity to provide culturally 
        specific resources and support for communities of color;
            (5) working in cooperation with the community to develop 
        education and prevention strategies highlighting culturally 
        specific issues and resources regarding racial and ethnic 
        minorities;
            (6) providing culturally specific programs for racial and 
        ethnic minorities exposed to law enforcement violence; and
            (7) examining the dynamics of culture and its impact on 
        victimization and healing.
    (d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to eligible entities proposing to serve communities 
that have faced high rates of community trauma, including from exposure 
to law enforcement violence, intergenerational poverty, civil unrest, 
discrimination, or oppression.
    (e) Grant Period.--The period of a grant under this section shall 
be 4 years.
    (f) Evaluation.--Not later than 6 months after the end of the 
period of all grants under this section, the Secretary shall--
            (1) conduct an evaluation of the programs funded by a grant 
        under this section;
            (2) include in such evaluation an assessment of the 
        outcomes of each such program; and
            (3) submit a report on the results of such evaluation to 
        the Congress.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2022 through 2026.

SEC. 6. BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH EDUCATION STRATEGY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall, in coordination with advocacy 
and behavioral and mental health organizations serving racial and 
ethnic minority groups, develop and implement an outreach and education 
strategy to promote behavioral and mental health, and reduce stigma 
associated with mental health conditions, among racial and ethnic 
minorities.
    (b) Design.--The strategy under this section shall be designed to--
            (1) meet the diverse cultural and language needs of racial 
        and ethnic minority groups;
            (2) provide information on evidence-based, culturally and 
        linguistically appropriate and adapted interventions and 
        treatments;
            (3) increase awareness of symptoms of mental illness among 
        racial and ethnic minority groups; and
            (4) ensure full participation of, and engage, both 
        consumers and community members in the development and 
        implementation of materials.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress, and make publicly 
available, a report detailing the outreach and education strategy that 
is developed and implemented under this section and the results of such 
implementation.
                                 <all>