[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1809 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1809

 To provide grants for mental health and substance abuse services for 
    women and children who have been victims of domestic or sexual 
                               violence.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 31, 2003

Mr. Daschle (for Mr. Edwards) introduced the following bill; which was 
 read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
                              and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide grants for mental health and substance abuse services for 
    women and children who have been victims of domestic or sexual 
                               violence.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Counseling in Shelters Act of 
2003''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Nearly \1/3\ of American women report being physically 
        or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in 
        their lives.
            (2) Fifty-six percent of women who experience any partner 
        violence are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. Twenty-nine 
        percent of all women who attempt suicide were battered, 37 
        percent of battered women have symptoms of depression, 46 
        percent have symptoms of anxiety disorder, and 45 percent 
        experience post-traumatic stress disorder.
            (3) Children who witness domestic violence are more likely 
        to exhibit behavioral and physical health problems including 
        depression, anxiety, and violence toward peers. They are also 
        more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, run 
        away from home, engage in teenage prostitution, and commit 
        sexual assault crimes.
            (4) Each year, at least 6 percent of all pregnant women, 
        equal to about 240,000 pregnant women, are battered by the men 
        in their lives.
            (5) Complications of pregnancy, including low weight gain, 
        anemia, and first and second trimester bleeding are 
        significantly higher for abused women, as are maternal rates of 
        depression, suicide attempts, tobacco, alcohol, and illicit 
        drug use.
            (6) A major domestic violence program in St. Petersburg, 
        Florida, reports that 70 percent of the families that come to 
        their shelter have substance abuse in their family--either the 
        woman, her children, or her batterer. One study of a low-income 
        Chicago neighborhood found that 42 percent of women 
        experiencing severe abuse in the past 12 months reported 
        depression.

SEC. 3. SHELTER GRANTS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
        (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary''), acting 
        through the Assistant Secretary for the Administration on 
        Children, Youth, and Families, shall make grants to eligible 
        entities for the purpose of providing on site mental health and 
        substance abuse counseling and referral services.
            (2) Definitions.--In this section:
                    (A) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' 
                means a public or nonprofit private domestic or sexual 
                violence program or other community-based entity 
                including an Indian tribe or tribal organization that 
                primarily serves victims of domestic violence.
                    (B) Licensed mental health professional.--The term 
                ``licensed mental health professional'' includes a 
                psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker, 
                licensed or certified alcohol and drug addictions 
                professional, or an otherwise qualified individual who 
                has appropriate training in the diagnosis or treatment 
                of mental health or substance abuse problems with 
                expertise in the dynamics of domestic or sexual 
                violence.
            (3) Duration of awards.--The Secretary shall award grants 
        under this section for a period not to exceed 5 years. Such 
        grants may be renewed.
    (b) Use of Funds.--An entity awarded a grant pursuant to subsection 
(a) shall--
            (1) hire licensed mental health professionals to provide on 
        site mental health and substance abuse counseling to women and 
        children who have been subjected to domestic or sexual 
        violence;
            (2) hire dedicated staff qualified to coordinate the mental 
        health and substance abuse services for victims of domestic and 
        sexual violence and their children including linking them with 
        more comprehensive treatment programs in their local 
        communities; and
            (3) provide training in the dynamics of domestic violence 
        and sexual assault, including safety risk, potential lethality, 
        and appropriate interventions, to those mental health and 
        substance abuse professionals hired to provide services to 
        these women and their children.
    (c) Application.--
            (1) In general.--Each eligible entity that desires to 
        receive a grant under this section shall submit to the 
        Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary may require.
            (2) Contents.--Each application submitted pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) shall contain a plan for the rigorous evaluation 
        of the activities funded under this section, including process 
        and outcome evaluation, and the submission of an evaluation at 
        the end of the project period.
    (d) Grantmaking Considerations.-- The Secretary, in awarding grants 
under this section shall--
            (1) ensure that such grants are distributed equitably among 
        the regions of the country and among urban and rural areas; and
            (2) give preference to applicants with strong ties to 
        minority communities and those that demonstrate high levels of 
        cultural competence.
    (e) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary, acting through the 
Assistant Secretary for the Administration on Children, Youth, and 
Families, shall provide technical assistance to grant recipients with 
respect to the implementation of programs to provide on site mental 
health and substance abuse counseling and referral services.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.
                                 <all>