Bipartisan childhood trauma bill introduced by Capito

More federal funding would be made available to support children across America who have been exposed to trauma, such as witnessing community violence, parental addiction or abuse, under a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). 

“By increasing resources for our communities and expanding our trauma-informed workforce, we are helping to prevent future substance abuse and violence, provide assistance and hope to our most vulnerable, and empower our next generation,” Sen. Capito said last week. 

The Resilience Investment, Support, and Expansion (RISE) from Trauma Act, S. 2086, which Sen. Capito introduced on June 16 with U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and bill sponsor Dick Durbin (D-IL), would improve the identification and support of children and families who experience trauma, according to the congressional record bill summary.

“I’m glad to once again work with Senator Durbin to address the impact of trauma on children,” she said. “The RISE from Trauma Act builds on our past work and reflects the needs I continue to hear across West Virginia.” 

Specifically, S. 2086 would create a new, $600 million annual U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) grant program to fund community-based coalitions that coordinate stakeholders and deliver targeted local services to address trauma, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Capito’s office.

Additionally, the bill would create a new HHS grant program to support hospital-based trauma interventions; increase funding for the National Health Service Corps loan repayment program to recruit more mental health clinicians to serve in schools; enhance federal training programs at HHS, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Education; and establish training and certification guidelines to enable insurance reimbursement for community figures, such as mentors, peers and faith leaders who could address trauma, the summary says.

The measure is endorsed by numerous organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association, the Children’s Defense Fund, the YMCA of the USA, the National Head Start Association, the Center for Law and Social Policy, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Afterschool Alliance, among many others.