The Secretary, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, is authorized to award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, State educational agencies, local educational agencies, Indian Tribes (as defined in section 5304 of title 25) or their tribal educational agencies, a school operated by the Bureau of Indian Education, a Regional Corporation, or a Native Hawaiian educational organization, for the purpose of increasing student access to evidence-based trauma support services and mental health care by developing innovative initiatives, activities, or programs to link local school systems with local trauma-informed support and mental health systems, including those under the Indian Health Service.
With respect to a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement awarded or entered into under this section, the period during which payments under such grant, contract or agreement are made to the recipient may not exceed 4 years.
To ensure the provision of the services described in subsection (c), a recipient of a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section, or their designee, shall establish a local interagency agreement among local educational agencies, agencies responsible for early childhood education programs, Head Start agencies (including Early Head Start agencies), juvenile justice authorities, mental health agencies, child welfare agencies, and other relevant agencies, authorities, or entities in the community that will be involved in the provision of such services.
The Secretary shall ensure that grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements awarded or entered into under this section are equitably distributed among the geographical regions of the United States and among tribal, urban, suburban, and rural populations.
Any services provided through programs carried out under this section shall supplement, and not supplant, existing mental health services, including any special education and related services provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.).
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall, in a timely manner, meaningfully consult with Indian Tribes and their representatives to ensure notice of eligibility.
The term “elementary school” has the meaning given such term in section 7801 of title 20.
The term “evidence-based” has the meaning given such term in section 7801(21)(A)(i) of title 20.
The term “Native Hawaiian educational organization” has the meaning given such term in section 7517 of title 20.
The term “local educational agency” has the meaning given such term in section 7801 of title 20.
The term “Regional Corporation” has the meaning given the term in section 1602 of title 43).[1]
The term “school leader” has the meaning given such term in section 7801 of title 20.
The term “secondary school” has the meaning given such term in section 7801 of title 20.
The term “specialized instructional support personnel” has the meaning given such term in section 7801 of title 20.
The term “State educational agency” has the meaning given such term in section 7801 of title 20.