This bill expands mental health and substance use support for first responders and related workers. It adds "qualified emergency response providers" (including public safety telecommunicators) to crisis counseling programs under the Stafford Act. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services (through SAMHSA) to create a program within 2 years that offers 24/7 mental health availability, a confidential toll-free hotline through 988 for these workers, and outreach and education for responders and their families. The bill requires research on best practices in consultation with agencies such as DHS, FEMA, the U.S. Fire Administration, NIMH, CDC, and DOJ. It creates a peer support counseling program using trained active and retired responders. It also establishes competitive grants to set up mobile units that provide short-term, trauma-informed crisis services at major disaster sites. Grants may be up to $150,000, run at least 6 months and up to 2 years, and the bill authorizes $5,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026–2030 for these grants. The bill includes definitions for key terms and allows the Secretary to provide training, technical assistance, evaluations, and to buy or lease equipment needed for the services.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.