,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #eefi ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #i1 #bjbj,mr4 ,de,saulnier 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 and ,ms4 ,matsui7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to identify1 review1 and implement effective interventions in ,head ,start programs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,early ,childhood ,mental ,health ,support ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,identification of effective interventions in ,head ,start programs 7a7 ,interventions that improve social-,emotional and behavioral health of children 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services acting through the ,director for the ,agency for ,healthcare ,research and ,quality 7in this section referred to as the ,secretary7 shall identify and review interventions1 best practices1 curricula1 and staff trainings-- 7,a7 that improve the behavioral health of children2 and 7,b7 that are evidence-based4 7#b7 ,focus ,in carrying out paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall focus on interventions1 best practices1 curricula1 and staff trainings that-- 7,a7 can be delivered by a provider or other staff member in or associated with a ,head ,start program or ,early ,head ,start center2 7,b7 are demonstrated to improve or support healthy social1 emotional1 or cognitive development for children in ,head ,start or ,early ,head ,start programs1 with an empirical or theoretical relationship to later mental health or substance abuse outcomes2 7,c7 involve changes to center-wide policies or practices1 or other services and supports offered in conjunction with ,head ,start programs or ,early ,head ,start centers1 including services provided to adults or families 7with or without a child present7 for the benefit of the children2 7,d7 demonstrate effectiveness across racial1 ethnic1 and geographic populations or demonstrate the capacity to be adapted to be effective across populations2 7,e7 offer a tiered approach to addressing need1 including-- 7i7 universal interventions for all children2 7ii7 selected prevention for children demonstrating increased need2 and 7iii7 indicated prevention for children demonstrating substantial need2 7,f7 incorporate trauma-informed care approaches2 or 7,g7 have a proven record of improving early childhood and social emotional development4 7b7 ,interventions that support staff wellness ,in carrying out subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall identify and review interventions1 best practices1 curricula1 and staff trainings that support staff wellness and self-care4 7c7 ,credentials ,in carrying out subsections 7a7 and 7b71 the ,secretary1 in consultation with relevant experts1 shall determine the appropriate credentials for individuals who deliver the interventions1 best practices1 curricula1 and staff trainings identified by the ,secretary4 7d7 ,consultation2 public input ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 consult with relevant agencies1 experts1 academics1 think tanks1 and nonprofit organizations with expertise in early childhood1 mental health1 and trauma-informed care1 including the ,national ,institute of ,mental ,health1 the ,administration for ,children and ,families1 the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration1 the ,institute of ,education ,sciences1 and the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention2 and 7#b7 solicit public input on-- 7,a7 the design of the reviews under subsections 7a7 and 7b72 and 7,b7 the findings and conclusions resulting from such reviews4 7e7 ,timing ,the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 complete the initial reviews required by subsections 7a7 and 7b7 not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act2 and 7#b7 update such reviews and the findings and conclusions therefrom at least every #e years4 7f7 ,reporting ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every #e years thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit a report to the ,congress on the results of implementing this section4 #c4 ,implementing the interventions in ,head ,start programs 7a7 ,in general ,the ,assistant ,secretary for the ,administration for ,children and ,families shall award grants to participating ,head ,start agencies to implement the interventions1 best practices1 curricula1 and staff trainings that are identified pursuant to section #b4 7b7 ,requirements ,the ,assistant ,secretary shall ensure that grants awarded under this section are awarded to grantees representing a diversity of geographic areas across the ,united ,states1 including urban1 suburban1 and rural areas4 #d4 ,evaluating implementation of interventions in ,head ,start programs 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 acting through the ,assistant ,secretary for ,planning and ,evaluation and in coordination with the ,assistant ,secretary for the ,administration for ,children and ,families1 shall-- 7#a7 determine whether the interventions1 best practices1 curricula1 and staff trainings implemented pursuant to section #c-- 7,a7 are effectively implemented pursuant to section #c and other relevant provisions of law such that the anticipated effect sizes of the interventions1 best practices1 curricula1 and staff trainings are achieved2 and 7,b7 yield long-term savings2 7#b7 develop a method for making the determination required by paragraph 7#a72 7#c7 ensure that such method includes competency and testing approaches1 performance or outcome measures1 or any other methods deemed appropriate by the ,assistant ,secretary1 taking into consideration existing monitoring components of the ,head ,start and ,early ,head ,start programs2 and 7#d7 the ,assistant ,secretaries shall solicit public input on the design1 findings1 and conclusions of this process and shall consider whether updates are necessary at least every #e years4 7b7 ,process ,in carrying out subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall-- 7#a7 conduct any research and evaluation studies needed2 and 7#b7 solicit public input on-- 7,a7 the design of the method developed pursuant to subsection 7a77#b72 and 7,b7 the resulting findings and conclusions4 7c7 ,timing ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall-- 7#a7 develop the method required by subsection 7a77#b7 and make the initial determination required by subsection 7a77#a7 not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act2 and 7#b7 update such method and determination at least every #e years4 #e4 ,implementing the evaluation framework for ,head ,start programs 7a7 ,evaluation method ,the ,assistant ,secretary for the ,administration for ,children and ,families shall implement the evaluation method developed pursuant to section #d7;a7 in the ,head ,start program as a voluntary mechanism for interested ,head ,start programs or ,early ,head ,start centers to evaluate the extent to which such programs or centers have effectively implemented the interventions1 best practices1 curricula1 and staff trainings identified pursuant to section #b1 with minimal burden or disruption to programs and centers interested in participating4 7b7 ,technical assistance ,the ,assistant ,secretary for the ,administration for ,children and ,families shall provide guidance1 tools1 resources1 and technical assistance to grantees for implementing and evaluating interventions1 best practices1 curricula1 and staff trainings identified pursuant to section #b and optimizing the performance of such grantees on the annual evaluations4 #f4 ,best ,practice ,centers ,the ,assistant ,secretary for the ,administration for ,children and ,families may fund up to #e ,best ,practice ,centers in ,early ,childhood ,training in universities and colleges to prepare future ,head ,start agencies and staff able to deliver the interventions1 best practices1 curricula1 and staff trainings identified pursuant to section #b4 #g4 ,funding 7a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #ajj1jjj1jjj for the period of fiscal years #bjba through #bjcj for carrying out sections #c7;b71 #d1 #f1 and #g4 7b7 ,availability of appropriations ,amounts authorized to be appropriated by subsection 7a7 are authorized to remain available until expended4