Bill > HR2957

This bill establishes two major grant programs aimed at preventing and mitigating childhood trauma through data analysis and care coordination services. The first program will provide up to $9.5 million in grants to state and local health departments to use data analysis methods for identifying geographic areas with high rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and developing strategies to improve outcomes for children aged 0-17. Grant recipients must use trauma-informed, culturally specific, and gender-responsive approaches, and cannot use the funds to target individual families or increase law enforcement involvement. The second program will award between $250,000 and $1 million to local governments and Indian Tribes to establish or expand care coordination services for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers, with a focus on preventing and responding to adverse childhood experiences. The grants prioritize communities with high needs, such as areas with high rates of community violence, low-income populations, and significant health disparities. Both programs emphasize voluntary, non-coercive services, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration to support children and families. The bill defines a wide range of adverse childhood experiences, including abuse, household challenges, discrimination, and systemic traumas, and requires comprehensive evaluations of the grant programs' effectiveness.