,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #fbb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #b1 #bjbc,mrs4 ,murray 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,boozman1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,reed1 ,mrs4 ,shaheen1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 and ,ms4 ,murkowski7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to improve services provided by the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs for veteran families1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,helping ,heroes ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,department ,the term ,department means the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs4 7#b7 ,disabled veteran ,the term disabled veteran has the meaning given that term in section #dbaa of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#c7 ,eligible child ,the term eligible child1 with respect to an eligible veteran1 means an individual who-- 7,a7 is a ward1 child 7including stepchild71 grandchild1 or sibling 7including stepsibling or halfsibling7 of the eligible veteran2 and 7,b7 is less than #ah years of age4 7#d7 ,eligible veteran ,the term eligible veteran means a disabled veteran who has a service-connected disability rated at #gj percent or more4 7#e7 ,family ,coordinator ,the term ,family ,coordinator means an individual placed at a medical center of the ,department pursuant to section #c4 7#f7 ,family ,support ,program ,the term ,family ,support ,program means the program established under section #d4 7#g7 ,non-,department provider ,the term non-,department provider means a public or non-profit entity that is not an entity of the ,department4 7#h7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4 7#i7 ,supportive services ,the term supportive services means services that address the social1 emotional1 and mental health1 career-readiness1 and other needs of eligible children1 including-- 7,a7 wellness services1 including mental1 emotional1 behavioral1 and physical health and nutritional counseling and assistance2 7,b7 peer-support programs for children2 7,c7 assistance completing college admission and financial aid applications1 including the ,free ,application for ,federal ,student ,aid described in section #dhc7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajij71 and accessing veterans' education benefits as defined under section #dhj7;c77#b7 of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgvv7 that eligible children may be eligible to receive2 7,d7 assistance with accessing workforce development programs1 including programs providing the activities authorized under section #abi of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cafd71 and programs of vocational rehabilitation services1 including programs authorized under title ,i of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gbj et seq472 7,e7 sports and recreation2 7,f7 after-school care and summer learning opportunities2 7,g7 dependent care1 including home and community-based services2 7,h7 other resources for low-income families2 7,i7 assistance transitioning from active duty in the ,armed ,forces to veteran status2 and 7,j7 any other services or activities the ,secretary considers appropriate to support the needs of eligible children4 #c4 ,requirements for ,family ,coordinators 7a7 ,in general ,not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 place at each medical center of the ,department not fewer than one ,family ,coordinator2 and 7#b7 ensure adequate staffing and resources at each such medical center to ensure ,family ,coordinators are able to carry out their duties4 7b7 ,family ,coordinators 7#a7 ,employment ,each ,family ,coordinator placed at a medical center of the ,department under subsection 7a7 shall be employed full-time by the ,department as a ,family ,coordinator and shall have no other duties in addition to the duties of a ,family ,coordinator4 7#b7 ,qualifications 7,a7 ,in general ,to qualify to be a ,family ,coordinator under subsection 7a71 an individual shall-- 7i7 be a social worker licensed1 registered1 or certified in accordance with the requirements of any ,state2 and 7ii7 have a graduate degree in social work or a related field4 7,b7 ,waiver ,the ,secretary may waive the qualifications required by subparagraph 7,a7 to permit individuals in other professions to serve as ,family ,coordinators4 7#c7 ,duties ,each ,family ,coordinator shall-- 7,a7 assess the needs of the families of veterans using evidence-based strategies2 7,b7 build positive relationships with such families2 7,c7 refer veterans to local1 ,state1 and ,federal resources that support veterans and their families2 7,d7 develop and maintain a list of-- 7i7 supportive services offered by the medical center at which the ,family ,coordinator is placed2 and 7ii7 supportive services offered at reduced or no cost by non-,department providers located in the catchment area of such medical center2 and 7,e7 develop and maintain on an internet website a list of family resources that shall be made available for all veterans in the catchment area of such medical center who are enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the ,department established and operated under section #agje7;a7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 #d4 ,establishment of ,family ,support ,program 7a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a program to be known as the ,family ,support ,program to provide and coordinate the provision of supportive services to eligible veterans and eligible children4 7b7 ,implementation of ,family ,support ,program ,to carry out the ,family ,support ,program1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 provide supportive services through medical centers of the ,department2 7#b7 collaborate with relevant ,federal agencies to provide supportive services2 7#c7 provide funding to non-,department providers pursuant to subsection 7c72 and 7#d7 engage in any other activities the ,secretary considers appropriate4 7c7 ,funding to non-,department providers 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may enter into contracts and award grants to provide funding to eligible non-,department providers to participate in the ,family ,support ,program4 7#b7 ,eligibility 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish and make publicly available the criteria for a non-,department provider to be eligible to participate in the ,family ,support ,program4 7,b7 ,criteria ,the criteria required by subparagraph 7,a7 shall include requirements for a non-,department provider-- 7i7 to provide a description of-- 7,i7 each supportive service proposed to be provided to eligible children2 and 7,,ii7 the demonstrated record of the non-,department provider in providing such supportive service2 7ii7 to demonstrate the ability to serve families of veterans in a manner that is trauma-informed and culturally and linguistically appropriate2 and 7iii7 to agree to oversight by the ,secretary regarding-- 7,i7 the use of funds provided by the ,department under this subsection2 and 7,,ii7 the quality of supportive services provided4 7#c7 ,notice ,the ,secretary shall promptly provide to eligible non-,department providers selected by the ,secretary to participate in the ,family ,support ,program notice of the award of funds under this subsection to ensure such providers have sufficient time to prepare to provide supportive services under the ,family ,support ,program4 7#d7 ,authorized activities ,funds provided under this subsection shall be used to provide supportive services4 7#e7 ,training ,for each non-,department provider selected by the ,secretary to participant in the ,family ,support ,program1 the ,secretary shall offer training and technical assistance regarding the planning1 development1 and provision of supportive services under the ,family ,support ,program4 7d7 ,coordination with other department of veterans affairs programs ,the ,secretary shall share best practices with and facilitate referrals of eligible veterans and their families1 as appropriate1 from the ,family ,support ,program to other programs of the ,department1 such as the program of support services for caregivers of veterans under section #agbj;,g7b7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7e7 ,reporting requirements 7#a7 ,annual report ,not later than one year after the date of the commencement of the ,family ,support ,program1 and annually thereafter1 each non-,department provider in receipt of funds under the ,family ,support ,program shall submit to the ,secretary a report describing the supportive services carried out with such funds during the year covered by such report4 7#b7 ,reports to ,congress 7,a7 ,report on additional resources ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on the potential need for additional resources for family members of eligible veterans other than eligible children4 7,b7 ,report on progress 7i7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the commencement of the ,family ,support ,program1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives a report on the progress of the ,family ,support ,program4 7ii7 ,contents ,the report required by clause 7i7 shall include-- 7,i7 the number of eligible veterans and eligible children who received supportive services under the ,family ,support ,program2 7,,ii7 the demographic data of eligible veterans and family members1 including-- 7aa7 the relationship to the eligible veteran2 7bb7 age2 7cc7 race2 7dd7 ethnicity2 7ee7 gender identity2 7ff7 sexual orientation2 7gg7 disability2 and 7hh7 ,english proficiency and whether a language other than ,english is spoken at home2 7,,iii7 a summary of the supportive services carried out under the ,family ,support ,program and the costs to the ,department of such supportive services2 and 7,,iv7 an assessment1 measured by a survey of participants1 of whether participation in the ,family ,support ,program resulted in positive outcomes for eligible veterans and eligible children4 #e4 ,outreach on availability of services ,the ,secretary shall conduct an outreach program to ensure eligible veterans who are enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the ,department established and operated under section #agje7;a7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 employees of the ,department1 and potential ,state1 local1 and ,federal entities are informed of the ,family ,support ,program and the availability of ,family ,coordinators4 #f4 ,transition assistance ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall include information regarding supportive services available for members of the ,armed ,forces who are being separated from active duty and their families1 including mental health and other services for children1 in the transition assistance curriculum offered by the ,department4 #g4 ,survey 7a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter for five years1 the ,secretary shall conduct a survey of disabled veterans and their families to identify and better understand the needs of such disabled veterans and their families4 7b7 ,content ,the survey required under subsection 7a7 shall include questions with respect to-- 7#a7 the types and quality of support disabled veterans receive from the children of such disabled veterans2 and 7#b7 the unmet needs of such children4 #h4 ,nondiscrimination ,programs or activities receiving funds under this ,act may not discriminate on the basis of race1 color1 national origin1 religion1 sex1 sexual orientation1 gender identity1 disability status1 or age4 #i4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary such funds as may be necessary to carry out this ,act4