[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1583 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1583

 To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct an education 
  program and peer support program for the education and training of 
family members and caregivers of veterans with mental health disorders.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 28, 2013

  Mr. Sanders introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct an education 
  program and peer support program for the education and training of 
family members and caregivers of veterans with mental health disorders.

    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 ``Mental Health Support for Veteran 
Families and Caregivers Act of 2013''.

SEC. 2. EDUCATION PROGRAM AND PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR FAMILY MEMBERS 
              AND CAREGIVERS OF VETERANS WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS.

    (a) Programs.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall establish an education program (in this section referred 
        to as the ``education program'') and a peer support program (in 
        this section referred to as the ``peer support program'') for 
        the education and training of family members and caregivers of 
        eligible veterans with mental health disorders.
            (2) Definitions.--In this section:
                    (A) Family member; caregiver.--The terms ``family 
                member'' and ``caregiver'' have the meaning given those 
                terms in section 1720G(d) of title 38, United States 
                Code.
                    (B) Eligible veteran.--The term ``eligible 
                veteran'' means a veteran who is enrolled in the health 
                care system established under section 1705(a) of title 
                38, United States Code.
    (b) Education Program.--
            (1) In general.--Under the education program, the Secretary 
        shall provide a course of education to family members and 
        caregivers of eligible veterans on matters relating to coping 
        with mental health disorders in veterans.
            (2) Duration.--
                    (A) In general.--The education program shall be 
                carried out during the four-year period beginning on 
                the date of the commencement of the education program.
                    (B) Authority for extension.--The Secretary may 
                extend the duration of the education program for an 
                additional four years.
            (3) Locations.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as required by subparagraph 
                (C), the Secretary shall carry out the education 
                program at the following facilities of the Department 
                of Veterans Affairs:
                            (i) Not less than 10 medical centers of the 
                        Department.
                            (ii) Not less than 10 clinics of the 
                        Department.
                            (iii) Not less than 10 centers for 
                        readjustment counseling and related mental 
                        health services for veterans under section 
                        1712A of title 38, United States Code (commonly 
                        referred to as ``vet centers'').
                    (B) Considerations.--In selecting locations for the 
                program, the Secretary shall consider the feasibility 
                and advisability of selecting locations in the 
                following areas:
                            (i) Rural areas.
                            (ii) Areas that are not in close proximity 
                        to an active duty installation.
                            (iii) Areas in different geographic 
                        locations.
                    (C) Expansion of locations.--Not later than two 
                years after the date of the commencement of the 
                education program, the Secretary shall expand the 
                number of facilities at which the Secretary is carrying 
                out the education program to include the following:
                            (i) Not less than 10 additional medical 
                        centers of the Department.
                            (ii) Not less than 10 additional clinics of 
                        the Department.
                            (iii) Not less than 10 additional vet 
                        centers.
            (4) Contracts.--
                    (A) In general.--In carrying out the education 
                program, the Secretary shall enter into contracts with 
                qualified entities described in subparagraph (B) to 
                offer the course of education described in paragraph 
                (5) to family members and caregivers of eligible 
                veterans and covered veterans.
                    (B) Qualified entity described.--A qualified entity 
                described in this subparagraph is a non-profit entity 
                with experience in mental health education and 
                outreach, including work with children, teens, and 
                young adults, that--
                            (i) uses high quality, relevant, and age-
                        appropriate information in educational 
                        programming, materials, and coursework, 
                        including such programming, materials, and 
                        coursework for children, teens, and young 
                        adults; and
                            (ii) works with agencies, departments, 
                        nonprofit mental health organizations, early 
                        childhood educators, and mental health 
                        providers to develop educational programming, 
                        materials, and coursework.
                    (C) Priority.--In entering into contracts under 
                this paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to 
                qualified entities that, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, use Internet technology for the delivery 
                of course content in an effort to expand the 
                availability of support services, especially in rural 
                areas.
            (5) Elements.--The course of education described in this 
        paragraph shall consist of not less than 10 weeks of education 
        and shall include the following:
                    (A) General education on different mental health 
                disorders, including information to improve 
                understanding of the experiences of individuals 
                suffering from those disorders.
                    (B) Techniques for handling crisis situations and 
                administering mental health first aid to individuals 
                suffering from mental health disorders.
                    (C) Techniques for coping with the stress of living 
                with someone with a mental health disorder.
                    (D) Information on additional services available 
                for family members and caregivers through the 
                Department or community organizations and providers 
                related to mental health disorders.
                    (E) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate.
            (6) Instructors.--
                    (A) Training.--Each instructor of the course of 
                education described in paragraph (5) shall maintain a 
                level of proficiency in the course of education as 
                determined by the Secretary, and shall submit proof of 
                that level of proficiency to the Secretary at such time 
                and in such manner as the Secretary determines 
                appropriate.
                    (B) Individuals who have completed the course as 
                instructors.--Commencing as of the date that is two 
                years after the date of the commencement of the 
                education program, any individual who has successfully 
                completed the course of education described in 
                paragraph (5) and has successfully completed such 
                additional training as is required for instructors 
                pursuant to subparagraph (A) may act as an instructor 
                in the course of education.
            (7) Monitoring of instruction.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall select mental 
                health care providers of the Department to monitor, in 
                consultation with primary care providers, the progress 
                of the instruction provided under the education 
                program. Such mental health care providers shall carry 
                out such monitoring by meeting quarterly with 
                instructors of the course of education described in 
                paragraph (5).
                    (B) Report.--Not less frequently than semiannually, 
                each mental health care provider selected under 
                subparagraph (A) shall submit to the Secretary a report 
                on the progress of the instruction provided under the 
                education program.
    (c) Peer Support Program.--
            (1) In general.--Under the peer support program, the 
        Secretary shall provide peer support to family members and 
        caregivers of eligible veterans on matters relating to coping 
        with mental health disorders in veterans.
            (2) Locations.--The Secretary shall provide peer support 
        under the peer support program at each location at which the 
        Secretary provides education under the education program.
            (3) Elements.--Peer support under the peer support program 
        shall consist of meetings in group settings between a peer 
        support coordinator under paragraph (4) and family members and 
        caregivers of eligible veterans on matters relating to coping 
        with mental health disorders in veterans. At each location, 
        those meetings shall be conducted not less often than twice 
        each calendar quarter.
            (4) Peer support coordinator.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
                director of each participating facility, shall select 
                an individual who has successfully completed the course 
                of education described in subsection (b)(5) to serve as 
                a peer support coordinator for each such facility to 
                carry out the peer support program.
                    (B) Proficiency of instructors.--Each peer support 
                coordinator shall maintain a level of proficiency in 
                peer support as determined by the Secretary, and shall 
                submit proof of that level of proficiency to the 
                Secretary at such time and in such manner as the 
                Secretary determines appropriate.
            (5) Mentors.--The Secretary shall select a mental health 
        care provider of the Department to serve as a mentor to each 
        peer support coordinator.
            (6) Monitoring of peer support coordinators.--The mental 
        health care providers of the Department selected under 
        subsection (b)(7) shall--
                    (A) monitor the progress of the peer support 
                program by meeting quarterly with peer support 
                coordinators; and
                    (B) not less frequently than semiannually, submit 
                to the Secretary a report on the progress of the peer 
                support program.
    (d) Surveys.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a 
        comprehensive and statistically significant survey of the 
        satisfaction of individuals that have participated in the 
        course of education described in subsection (b)(5) and 
        individuals that have participated in the peer support program 
        that includes the following:
                    (A) The general satisfaction of those individuals 
                with the education and assistance provided in the 
                education program and the peer support program.
                    (B) The perceived effectiveness of the education 
                program and the peer support program in providing 
                education and assistance that is useful for those 
                individuals.
                    (C) The applicability of the education program and 
                the peer support program to the issues faced by those 
                individuals.
                    (D) Such other matters as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate.
                    (E) A representative sample of the information 
                required by subparagraphs (A) through (D) from each 
                Veterans Integrated Service Network that is 
                participating in the education program and the peer 
                support program.
            (2) Compilation of information.--The information compiled 
        as a result of the surveys required by paragraph (1) shall be 
        included in the annual report required by subsection (e)(1).
    (e) Reports.--
            (1) Annual report.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the 
                date of the commencement of the education program and 
                not later than September 30 each year thereafter until 
                2017, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
                Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
                Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a 
                report on the education program and the peer support 
                program.
                    (B) Elements.--Each report submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
                            (i) The number of individuals that 
                        participated in the course of education 
                        described in subsection (b)(5) during the year 
                        preceding the submission of the report.
                            (ii) The number of individuals that 
                        participated in the peer support program during 
                        the year preceding the submission of the 
                        report.
                            (iii) A detailed analysis of the surveys 
                        conducted under subsection (d) with respect to 
                        the individuals described in clause (i) and 
                        (ii).
                            (iv) A summary of feedback with respect to 
                        the education program and the peer support 
                        program received from the mentors selected 
                        under subsection (c)(5) and the monitors 
                        selected under subsection (b)(7).
                            (v) The degree to which veterans and family 
                        members and caregivers of veterans are aware of 
                        the eligibility requirements for enrollment in 
                        the education program and the peer support 
                        program.
                            (vi) Any plans for expansion of the 
                        education program and the peer support program.
                            (vii) The interim findings and conclusions 
                        of the Secretary with respect to the success of 
                        the education program and the peer support 
                        program.
            (2) Final report.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the 
                completion of the education program, the Secretary 
                shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of 
                the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of 
                the House of Representatives a report on the 
                feasibility and advisability of continuing the 
                education program and the peer support program.
                    (B) Elements.--The report submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
                            (i) A detailed analysis of the surveys 
                        conducted under subsection (d).
                            (ii) The feasibility and advisability of 
                        continuing the education program without 
                        entering into contracts for the course of 
                        education described in subsection (b)(5) and 
                        instead using peer support coordinators 
                        selected under subsection (c)(4) as instructors 
                        of the course of education.
                            (iii) The feasibility and advisability of 
                        expanding the education program and the peer 
                        support program.
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