II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1660 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 19, 2007 Mr. Gregg introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To require studies on support services for families of members of the National Guard and Reserve who are undergoing deployment.

1.

Study on improving support services for children, infants, and toddlers of members of the National Guard and Reserve undergoing deployment

(a)

Study required

(1)

Study

The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility and advisability of entering into a contract or other agreement with a private sector entity having expertise in the health and well-being of families and children, infants, and toddlers in order to enhance and develop support services for children of members of the National Guard and Reserve who are deployed. (2)

Types of support services

In conducting the study, the Secretary shall consider the need— (A)to develop materials for parents and other caretakers of children of members of the National Guard and Reserve who are deployed to assist such parents and caretakers in responding to the adverse implications of such deployment (and the death or injury of such members during such deployment) for such children, including the role such parents and caretakers can play in addressing and mitigating such implications; (B)to develop programs and activities to increase awareness throughout the military and civilian communities of the adverse implications of such deployment (and the death or injury of such members during such deployment) for such children and their families and to increase collaboration within such communities to address and mitigate such implications; (C)to develop training for early child care and education, mental health, health care, and family support professionals to enhance the awareness of such professionals of their role in assisting families in addressing and mitigating the adverse implications of such deployment (and the death or injury of such members during such deployment) for such children; and (D)to conduct research on best practices for building psychological and emotional resiliency in such children in coping with the deployment of such members. (b)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).

2.

Study on establishment of pilot program on family-to-family support for families of deployed members of the National Guard and Reserve

(a)

Study

The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a study to evaluate the feasibility and advisability of establishing a pilot program on family-to-family support for families of deployed members of the National Guard and Reserve. The study shall include an assessment of the following: (1)The effectiveness of family-to-family support programs in— (A)providing peer support for families of deployed members of the National Guard and Reserve; (B)identifying and preventing family problems in such families; (C)reducing adverse outcomes for children of such families, including poor academic performance, behavioral problems, stress, and anxiety; and (D)improving family readiness and post-deployment transition for such families. (2)The feasibility and advisability of utilizing spouses of members of the Armed Forces as counselors for families of deployed members of the National Guard and Reserve, in order to assist such families in coping throughout the deployment cycle. (3)Best practices for training spouses of members of the Armed Forces to act as counselors for families of deployed members of the National Guard and Reserve. (b)

Report

The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted under subsection (a) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.