,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bhgc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bh1 #bjba,mr4 ,coons 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,booker1 and ,mr4 ,durbin7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to award grants to establish or expand programs and activities to increase access to high-quality culturally competent trauma support and mental health care1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,preventing and ,addressing ,trauma with ,health ,services ,act or the ,,paths ,act4 #b4 ,grants for high-quality culturally competent trauma support and mental health services ,part ,d of title ,v of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bij;dd et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #eec4 ,grants for high-quality culturally competent trauma support and mental health services 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,assistant ,secretary and in consultation with the heads of other relevant ,federal agencies1 shall award grants to eligible entities to establish or expand programs and activities for the purpose of increasing access to high-quality culturally competent trauma support and mental health care for covered individuals in covered communities4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,to be eligible for a grant under this section1 an entity shall be-- 7#a7 a nonprofit or community-based program or organization that-- 7,a7 provides or has developed plans to provide culturally competent programs and resources that are aligned with evidence-based or evidence-informed practices for trauma-informed mental health care2 and 7,b7 has demonstrated expertise in serving covered communities2 7#b7 a ,federal1 ,state1 or local agency1 such as a public health1 mental health1 law enforcement1 or social services agency1 that conducts activities 7which may be through partnering with a nonprofit or community-based organization7 to1 in a covered community1 screen individuals for mental health needs1 assess such needs1 and provide mental health services or referrals to such services2 or 7#c7 a hospital1 health care clinic1 or other health care institution that provides to a covered community culturally competent programs1 mental health services1 and resources that are aligned with evidence-based or evidence-informed practices for trauma-informed mental health care4 7c7 ,applications2 preference2 period 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may reasonably require4 7#b7 ,preference ,in selecting applicants for a grant under this section1 the ,secretary may give preference to eligible entities that-- 7,a7 demonstrate they have established a partnership with another eligible entity or service provider in a covered community2 or 7,b7 are community health centers or federally qualified health centers4 7#c7 ,period ,each grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of #e years1 with equal amounts awarded to the recipient through the grant for each of such #e years4 7d7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection 7a7-- 7#a7 shall use the funds to increase access to or provide evidence-based or evidence-informed1 trauma-informed mental health services to covered individuals in a covered community2 and 7#b7 may use the grant funds to-- 7,a7 establish and maintain programming to provide culturally competent mental health services2 7,b7 hire and retain mental health care providers2 7,c7 train mental health care providers on culturally competent trauma-informed care strategies2 7,d7 develop strategies and projects to enhance access to trauma-informed care and resources for covered individuals in a covered community2 7,e7 establish partnerships with other eligible entities to develop and enhance effective strategies to provide trauma-informed mental health services to covered individuals in a covered community2 7,f7 develop strategies and training for law enforcement officers or other first responders to provide referral services to covered individuals in a covered community to trauma-informed mental health services2 7,g7 build public awareness and education about trauma-informed mental health services in a covered community2 and 7,h7 build public awareness and education in a covered community about the importance of addressing trauma resulting from gun violence4 7e7 ,evaluation 7#a7 ,grant recipient requirements ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall-- 7,a7 develop metrics and key performance indicators to assess outcomes achieved by programs or activities funded through such grant2 and 7,b7 not later than the date that is #b years after the day on which the entity receives such grant1 and #a year after such date1 submit to the ,secretary a report that details-- 7i7 the metrics and key performance indicators used to assess outcomes achieved by such programs or activities2 7ii7 the process used to identify and develop such metrics and key performance indicators2 and 7iii7 an assessment of the outcomes achieved by such programs or activities4 7#b7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than the date that is #c years after the date of enactment of this section1 and each year thereafter through fiscal year #bjbf1 the ,secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the programs or activities funded by a grant under this section and submit a report of the results of such evaluation to ,congress4 7f7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,covered community ,the term covered community means a community that has an age-adjusted rate of violence-related 7or intentional7 injury deaths that is above the national average1 as determined by the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention4 7#b7 ,covered individual ,the term covered individual means an individual who has been injured1 has witnessed1 has been threatened1 has been exposed to1 or has been otherwise impacted by gun violence within the #e years preceding the date of enactment of this section4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there is authorized to be appropriated #ajj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf4 4