STRONG Support for Children Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 2957

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-17: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2025-05-20T12:19:56Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "STRONG Support for Children Act of 2025" (H.R. 2957) aims to address childhood trauma caused by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)—events like abuse, neglect, household challenges, poverty, or discrimination that can harm a child's long-term health and opportunities. It supports data-driven programs to identify high-risk areas and implement early interventions, while also funding care coordination services to connect young children and their caregivers to supportive resources. The goal is to prevent and reduce trauma's effects through community-based, trauma-informed (approaches that recognize trauma's impact and promote healing), culturally sensitive, and equitable strategies.

Key Provisions

The bill amends the Public Health Service Act by adding two new sections:

Section 3102: Data Analysis and Strategy Implementation to Prevent and Mitigate Childhood Trauma

• Program Establishment: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) must create a program awarding grants to up to 5 eligible entities (state or local health departments) to:
• Use data analysis to pinpoint geographic areas (e.g., census tracts) with high ACE prevalence and risks like poor health outcomes, poverty, substance use, foster care involvement, housing instability, or disparities based on race, gender, sexuality, or ethnicity.
• Develop strategies building on community strengths, such as family support networks, to improve outcomes for children aged 0-17.
• Implementation of Strategies: Grantees must facilitate access to voluntary, non-coercive services, including:
• Home visiting, parenting education, substance use and mental health treatment.
• Support for violence prevention, child advocacy, economic/nutrition aid, housing, school-based mental health, foster youth programs, LGBTQ+ family support, and family resource centers.
• Grant Details:
• Maximum $9.5 million per grant, up to 7 years.
• Up to 25% of funds in the first 2 years for data analysis; 10% annually thereafter; no more than 5% for administration.
• At least 25% for subgrants to community organizations demonstrating urgent needs and capacity.
• Priority for entities using "system dynamic modeling" (a predictive method involving community input to analyze risks like maltreatment or violence and identify collaborative responses).
• Service Rules:
• Services provided without regard to ability to pay, health status, immigration status, sexual orientation/gender identity, or criminal history.
• Prohibits using data for individual case decisions (e.g., child removal), mandating participation, increasing law enforcement involvement, or funding conversion therapy (practices aiming to change sexual orientation or gender identity for pay).
• Ensures coordination with Medicaid (a state-federal health program for low-income people) where applicable.
• Evaluation and Reporting:
• HHS's Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation must evaluate data models (by 36 months) and program effectiveness (by 6 years), including impacts on health, foster care, and housing.
• A 7-year study using community participatory research (involving locals in all research steps) to assess inequities.
• Final report to Congress (by 6.25 years) on outcomes like reduced homelessness or incarceration, with replication recommendations.
• Funding: $47.5 million for grants (fiscal years 2025-2032), plus administrative funds; $7.5 million for evaluations.

Section 1255: Care Coordination Grants

• Program Establishment: HHS awards 9-40 grants to local governments or Indian Tribes (via public health departments) to establish or expand trauma-informed care coordination for children aged 0-5 at risk of ACEs and their caregivers (including pregnant individuals).
• Grant Details:
• $250,000-$1 million per year; at least 10% of total funds for Indian Tribes.
• Priority for high-need areas based on indicators like prenatal care barriers, infant mortality, parental mental health/substance issues, community violence, low-income children, child abuse rates, health disparities, school discipline issues, or housing instability.
• Use of Funds:
• Required: Risk/needs assessments using strengths-based approaches (focusing on positive factors like stable environments); training staff in trauma-informed, culturally sensitive practices; centralized intake systems for service access.
• Permissible: Hire coordinators (e.g., community health workers); train partners; build service networks (e.g., housing, food, workforce programs, home visiting, mental health); create databases (up to 30% of funds); develop referral partnerships with "warm handoffs" (smooth transitions to services); support cross-system collaboration; subsidize barriers like transportation; expand telemedicine.
• For Indian Tribes: Waivers possible for flexible use.
• Prohibitions: No data use for individual decisions (e.g., child removal), mandatory participation, or increased law enforcement.
• Requirements:
• Services in accessible settings (e.g., homes, schools); at least 50% in community locations; supplement (not replace) existing funds; maintain confidentiality.
• Partner with community organizations and Medicaid agencies; use risk stratification (tailoring care by need level).
• Applications and Reporting:
• Applications must detail goals, served populations, existing programs, partnerships, and community reflection in staffing.
• Grantees report (by 4 years) on individuals served, referrals, partnerships, outcomes (e.g., protective factors like job stability, reduced trauma risks), and satisfaction.
• Post-Grant Activities: HHS convenes grantees to share lessons; compiles findings into a public report to Congress.
• Definitions: Includes ACEs (same as above); "care coordination" (ongoing process to link families to resources with feedback loops); "protective factors" (supports like peer relationships that buffer trauma).
• Funding: $15 million annually for 5 years; up to 15% for administration, 5% for technical assistance.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds new grant programs to Title XXXI (general public health provisions) and Part E of Title XII (trauma care) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300kk et seq.), which previously focused on broader health services without specific ACE-focused data analysis or early childhood coordination.
• Introduces mandates for trauma-informed, equity-focused practices; prohibits coercive or discriminatory elements; requires community involvement in evaluations—expanding beyond traditional top-down health funding.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: HHS (Secretary and Assistant Secretary) gains responsibilities for grant administration, evaluations, and reporting, potentially increasing workload and coordination with states, localities, and Indian Health Service. Requires new data systems and technical assistance.
• Citizens: Children and families in high-risk areas may access more coordinated, free preventive services, potentially reducing long-term issues like mental health disorders, foster care entry, homelessness, or incarceration. Emphasizes voluntary, inclusive support for underserved groups (e.g., low-income, LGBTQ+, immigrant families).
• International Relations: None directly addressed; focuses on domestic public health.
• Broader: Could lower societal costs by improving child outcomes, but depends on funding appropriation and implementation.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Children and Families: Primary beneficiaries, especially ages 0-17 in high-ACE areas, caregivers (including pregnant people), and vulnerable groups facing poverty, discrimination, or instability.
• Health Departments: State/local entities and Indian Tribes as grantees/subgrantees, responsible for program delivery.
• Community Organizations: Providers of services like mental health, housing, and advocacy; must partner and receive subgrants.
• HHS and Federal Agencies: Oversees grants, evaluations, and reporting; coordinates with Medicaid.
• Schools and Social Services: Involved in implementation, training, and referrals.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Ensures services align with Medicaid rules (e.g., primary payer restrictions) and confidentiality laws; bans conversion therapy and coercive practices, reinforcing anti-discrimination protections. Prohibits data misuse to avoid privacy violations or biased decisions.
• Constitutional: Promotes equal protection by addressing disparities in race, gender, sexuality, and immigration status without regard to ability to pay—aligning with due process and non-discrimination principles. Voluntary services respect individual rights against forced participation.
• Political: Emphasizes social determinants of health (factors like poverty or racism affecting well-being) and reparative, community-led approaches, potentially advancing equity agendas. Bipartisan potential in child welfare, but funding authorizations (not mandatory) may spark debates on federal spending priorities. Requires congressional appropriations for effectiveness.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-17: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-04-17: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-17: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Services and Trauma-informed Research of Outcomes in Neighborhoods Grants for Support for Children Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-17 — PDF (40 pages)