Bill > S5365

This bill, titled the "Community Mental Wellness Worker Training Act," authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to award grants to eligible organizations to establish training programs for community mental wellness workers. These workers are defined as individuals trained to assist with basic screening and evidence-based treatments for mild to moderate mental health or substance use disorders, and their training will be culturally and linguistically competent, meaning it will be responsive to diverse characteristics such as gender, race, sexual orientation, and veteran status. Grant funds can be used for training, certification, and supervision of these workers and their supervisors, enabling them to screen for common conditions and deliver interventions for basic psychosocial needs, including safety planning and suicide risk reduction. The bill also allows for the use of digital platforms for screening, training, and monitoring, and provides for technical assistance to grant recipients, including guidance on integrating these workers into existing healthcare systems. Priority for grants will be given to entities in areas with high poverty, unemployment, or substance use rates, or in medically underserved communities, as well as those serving individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. The bill also includes provisions for malpractice and negligence suits related to these programs and requires reports to Congress on the grant program's outcomes, with $25 million authorized annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with at least 20 percent dedicated to training and technical assistance.