S 2939 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To expand and improve mental health care and reintegration programs for members of the National Guard and Reserve, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

April 30, 2008

Mr. KENNEDY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed ServicesCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To expand and improve mental health care and reintegration programs for members of the National Guard and Reserve, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `National Guard and Reserve Mental Health Access Act of 2008'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. IMPLEMENTATION OF YELLOW RIBBON REINTEGRATION PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE.

(a) Deadline for Implementation- The Secretary of Defense shall establish the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program for members of the National Guard and Reserve and their families required by section 582 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181; 122 Stat. 122; 10 U.S.C. 10101 note) by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report on Implementation of Program-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) REPORT REQUIRED- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ELEMENTS- The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) A description and assessment of the implementation of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program as of the date of the report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Such recommendations as the Under Secretary considers appropriate for legislative or administration action to improve the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) A description of any additional resources required to assure the full implementation of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. JOINT PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH PROGRAM.

(a) Program Required-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Defense shall, acting through the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, carry out a program for the purposes as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) To improve access to psychological health care and services for members of the National Guard and their families.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) To improve coordination among the components of the Department of Defense in the provision of psychological health care to members of the National Guard during their transition from active duty in the Armed Forces to civilian life.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) To coordinate and oversee efforts of the Department of Defense to assist members of the National Guard with mental illness and members of the National Guard with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) post-deployment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) DESIGNATION OF PROGRAM- The program under this section shall be known as the `Joint Psychological Health Program' (in this section referred to as the `Program').CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Directors of Psychological Health-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- In carrying out the Program, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall assign within the National Guard Bureau two individuals to positions as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Director of Psychological Health of the Army National Guard of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Director of Psychological Health of the Air National Guard of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) QUALIFICATIONS- Each individual assigned to a position under paragraph (1) shall have such qualifications and expertise as the Chief of the National Guard Bureau considers appropriate for such position.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) DUTIES- A Director of Psychological Health under paragraph (1) shall carry out such duties with respect to the component of the National Guard concerned as are provided by law or by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Program Elements-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) STATE NETWORKS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS- The Program shall consist of a network of psychological health professionals in each State and Territory, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in order to carry out programs and activities for the purposes of the Program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) DIRECTORS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- Each network of psychological health professionals established pursuant to paragraph (1) for a State or Territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall be overseen and coordinated for the purposes of the Program by a Director who shall be selected by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau from among individuals who meet such psychology licensure or certification requirements as the Chief of the National Guard Bureau considers appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) CONTRACT POSITION- An individual selected to serve as a Director under paragraph (1) shall serve as a Director pursuant to a contract entered into by such individual for purposes of the Program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) DUTIES- Each Director under this paragraph shall have the duties as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) To coordinate and oversee programs and activities under the Program in the jurisdiction concerned.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) To work with applicable Federal, State, and community agencies to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for responding to the psychological needs of members of the National Guard and their families for the purposes of the Program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) To develop, coordinate, and oversee programs and activities to inform members of the National Guard and their families on how to access behavioral health services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) To develop, coordinate, and oversee programs and activities of education and training for leadership of the National Guard on matters relating to the psychological health of members of the National Guard.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(v) To develop, coordinate, and oversee programs and activities to assist members of the National Guard and their families in building psychological fitness and resilience while dispelling the stigma associated with seeking and obtaining mental health services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(vi) To develop, coordinate, and oversee programs and activities to coordinate psychological care for members of the National Guard during their transition from Warrior Transitions Units (WTUs) to their local communities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(vii) To improve access of members of the National Guard and their families to psychological care through coordination with appropriate State agencies and community-based behavioral health services providers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(viii) To develop and implement assessments of the resource needs of community-based behavior health service providers in order to provide members of the National Guard and their families with the behavioral health services they require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ix) To coordinate with other psychological health components of and for the reserve components of the Armed Forces.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(x) To coordinate and oversee implementation of other Department of Defense initiatives to ensure that members of the National Guard and their families are aware of and informed about the psychological health initiatives of the Department of Defense.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(xi) To participate in national and regional work groups developing programs and activities to address the psychological needs of members of the National Guard and their families.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(xii) To conduct outreach to and education for families of members of the National Guard on recognition of mental health problems, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health problems, in members of the National Guard.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) NATIONAL GUARD PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH COUNCIL-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- The Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall establish for the purposes of the Program a council to be known as the `National Guard Psychological Health Council'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) MEMBERSHIP- The members of the National Guard Psychological Health Council shall be the Directors of Psychological Health assigned under subsection (b) and the Directors of Psychological Health under paragraph (2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) ORGANIZATION- The National Guard Psychological Health Council may carry out its duties on a national or regional basis as considered appropriate by the Council.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) DUTIES- The National Guard Psychological Health Council shall have the following duties:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) To oversee and coordinate the development of the Program and any programs and activities to be carried out under the Program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) To ensure consistency nationally in the programs and activities to be carried out under the Program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) To act as advisors to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau for all matters relating to the psychological needs of members of the National Guard and their families.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) To ensure the dissemination of best practices in behavioral health care services to providers of behavioral health care services to members of the National Guard and their families.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(v) To develop uniform standards for measuring success in the provision of behavioral health care services to members of the National Guard and their families.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) COLLABORATION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- The National Guard Bureau and the Department of Defense shall work collaboratively in implementing and carrying out the Program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) OTHER COLLABORATION- In carrying out programs and activities under the Program, the Directors of Psychological Health assigned under subsection (b) and the Directors of Psychological Health under paragraph (2) shall work with the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) The Department of Veterans Affairs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) Appropriate State agencies, including State mental health agencies and State veterans agencies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Territory Defined- In this section, the term `Territory' has the meaning given that term in section 101(1) of title 32, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Authorization of Appropriations- There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2009 for operation and maintenance, $8,035,000, which shall be available for the Joint Psychological Health Program under this section in that fiscal year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAMS ON PRE-DEPLOYMENT AND POST-DEPLOYMENT TELEMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE.

(a) Pilot Programs Required-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly carry out one or more pilot programs on the provision of mental health services to members of the National Guard and Reserve, both before and after deployment, through telemental health technologies in order to assess the feasability and advisability of utilizing of such technologies for the provision of mental health services to members of the National Guard and Reserve both before and after deployment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) DISCHARGE WITH RESPECT TO NATIONAL GUARD- Each pilot program carried out under this section with respect to members of the National Guard shall be carried out in consultation with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) COORDINATION- The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out the pilot programs in coordination with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services and such other departments and agencies of the Federal Government as the Secretaries consider appropriate to assure quality in the provision of mental health services to members of the National Guard and Reserve under the pilot programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Program Requirements-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) LOCATIONS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- The pilot programs under this section shall be carried out in such location or locations as the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly select.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) EMPHASIS ON SERVICES TO MEMBERS IN RURAL AREAS- In selecting locations for pilot programs, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall afford an emphasis to locations in which services under the pilot programs are provided to members of the National Guard and Reserve residing in a rural area.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) UTILIZATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES- Each pilot program under this section shall utilize telemental health technologies that have proven effective in the provision of mental health services to members of the Armed Forces.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Report-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to Congress a report on the pilot programs carried out under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ELEMENTS- The report under paragraph (1) shall including a description of each pilot program carried out under this section, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the types of mental health services provided;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the types of telemental health technologies utilized in providing such services;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) the number of members of the National Guard and Reserve provided such services; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) the outcomes for members of the National Guard and Reserve in receiving such services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Authorization of Appropriations- There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2009 for operation and maintenance, $2,005,000, to carry out pilot programs under this section in such fiscal year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. ANTI-STIGMA CAMPAIGN REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AMONG MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE RETURNING FROM DEPLOYMENT AND THEIR FAMILIES.

(a) Campaign Required-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly carry out a program of outreach intended to reduce the stigma among members of the National Guard and Reserve returning from deployment, and their families, associated with seeking and obtaining mental health services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) DISCHARGE WITH RESPECT TO NATIONAL GUARD- The campaign carried out under this section with respect to members of the National Guard shall be carried out in consultation with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) COORDINATION- The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out the campaign in coordination with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Elements- In carrying out the campaign required by this section, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out such programs and activities (including the award of contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements with appropriate entities) as the Secretaries consider appropriate to reduce the stigma among members of the National Guard and Reserve returning from deployment, and their families, associated with seeking and obtaining mental health services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Authorization of Appropriations- There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2009, $2,000,000, to carry out this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink