Bill > S779

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to create new options for states to implement early intervention and prevention strategies for mental health, particularly targeting children and adolescents. Specifically, the bill allows states to develop and implement evidence-based prevention programs aimed at delaying or reducing the severity of mental illness and behavioral problems, even for individuals who have not yet been diagnosed with a serious mental illness. States can now allocate up to 5 percent of their federal block grant funding for these prevention and early intervention services. The bill also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit biennial reports to Congress detailing which states have implemented such programs, describing the specific activities, the populations served, demographic information, and most importantly, the outcomes of these interventions, including how they have reduced delays in accessing mental health care and mitigated the onset of serious mental illnesses. The goal is to proactively address mental health challenges before they become more severe, with a particular focus on supporting children and adolescents.

Health and Social Services

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/779/all-info