RISE from Trauma Act

Bill Number

S. 3461

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S8672-8674)

Last Updated

2026-01-06T06:24:16Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The RISE from Trauma Act aims to enhance the identification, prevention, and support for infants, children, youth, and their families who have experienced or are at risk of trauma or toxic stress (ongoing emotional strain from adverse experiences like violence, abuse, or poverty). It focuses on building community resilience through coordinated services, workforce training, and evidence-based interventions to improve health, education, and well-being outcomes.

Key Provisions

The bill is structured into two titles: Title I (Community Programming) and Title II (Workforce Development). It authorizes new grants, expands pilots, and reauthorizes programs with increased funding from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 (or 2031 in some cases).

Title I: Community Programming

• Local Coordinating Bodies (Sec. 101): Grants up to $6 million for 4-year demonstration projects to State, local, tribal, or nonprofit entities forming multi-stakeholder groups (e.g., health agencies, schools, law enforcement, community organizations). Funds support needs assessments, data collection, training, strategic planning, service delivery, and sustainability efforts in high-trauma areas (prioritizing communities with high overdose, violence, or child welfare rates). Authorizes $600 million annually (2026–2033). Defines "covered services" as culturally responsive, evidence-based supports for trauma prevention and resilience; "covered settings" include schools, hospitals, child welfare facilities, and more.
• Performance Partnership Pilots Expansion (Sec. 102): Expands pilots (originally for disconnected youth) to include up to 10 trauma-focused pilots using federal funds across agencies. Targets low-income, homeless, or justice-involved youth in high-trauma communities to improve education, employment, health, and reentry outcomes. Extends authority through 2029; requires OMB guidance on startup funding, waivers, and applications.
• Hospital-Based Interventions (Sec. 103): Grants to hospitals or health systems for trauma-informed care to reduce readmissions after overdoses, suicide attempts, or violent injuries. Includes screening, counseling, case management, and partnerships with community organizations. Requires outcome reporting and CMS evaluation of insurance coverage options.
• Reauthorizations:
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (Sec. 104): Enhances collaboration among grantees for resources and training; allows combined training/service delivery. Authorizes $93.9 million annually (2026–2030).
• Trauma Support Services in Schools (Sec. 105): Extends grants through 2030.
• CDC Surveillance on Trauma (Sec. 106): Increases funding to $9 million annually (2026–2030) for data collection.

Title II: Workforce Development

• Interagency Task Force Reauthorization (Sec. 201): Extends the task force on trauma-informed care through 2031.
• Recruitment from Affected Communities (Sec. 202): Prioritizes training individuals from high-trauma areas and partnerships with community organizations under health workforce programs.
• National Health Service Corps Funding (Sec. 203): Adds $50 million annually (2026–2030) for placements in schools and community settings serving trauma-affected populations.
• Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Training (Sec. 204): Grants to higher education institutions, hospitals, or professional societies for training institutes. Focuses on culturally responsive skills for mental health professionals (e.g., social workers, psychologists) in trauma assessment and treatment. Includes scholarships for underrepresented groups and mid-career training. Authorizes $25 million annually (2026–2030).
• Trauma-Informed Education Training (Sec. 205): Amends Higher Education Act grants to prepare teachers and early childhood educators in recognizing trauma signs, promoting social-emotional learning, using alternatives to punitive discipline (e.g., restorative justice), and supporting high-risk students (e.g., foster youth, homeless). Prioritizes partnerships for alternative education settings.
• Tools for Front-Line Providers (Sec. 206): Requires HHS to develop user-friendly toolkits within 18 months for providers (e.g., teachers, social workers, first responders) on identifying trauma, building safe environments, and preventing provider burnout.
• Children Exposed to Violence Initiative (Sec. 207): DOJ grants to States, localities, tribes, or nonprofits for awareness campaigns, training parents/professionals, and community collaborations to reduce violence and substance use impacts. Prioritizes poly-victimization (multiple traumas). Authorizes $11 million annually (2026–2030).
• Law Enforcement Trauma Center (Sec. 208): Establishes a DOJ coordinating center for best practices in trauma-informed policing (e.g., de-escalation, referrals to services). Includes grants for training and partnerships. Authorizes $6 million for grants and $2 million for other activities annually (2026–2030).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amendments to Public Health Service Act: Adds new sections for coordinating bodies (Sec. 520D) and hospital interventions; expands workforce priorities and infant mental health training.
• Reauthorizations with Enhancements: Increases funding and extends durations for programs like the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (from prior levels to $93.9 million), CDC surveillance (from $2 million to $9 million), and school grants. Adds collaboration requirements and flexibility (e.g., combined training/services).
• Expansions of Pilots and Task Forces: Broadens Performance Partnership Pilots to trauma (previously youth-focused); extends interagency task force.
• New DOJ Programs: Creates Children Exposed to Violence Initiative and Law Enforcement Trauma Center under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act.
• Education Amendments: Integrates trauma training into Higher Education Act teacher preparation grants, emphasizing evidence-based, non-punitive approaches.
• Supplement, Not Supplant: All funds must add to, not replace, existing resources.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases workload and funding for HHS (e.g., grant administration, evaluations), DOJ (new center and grants), CDC (expanded surveillance), OMB (pilot guidance), and Education Department (teacher training). Promotes interagency coordination to address trauma holistically.
• Citizens: Improves access to trauma screening, mental health services, and resilience-building in high-need communities (e.g., those with poverty, violence, or discrimination), potentially reducing readmissions, school dropouts, justice involvement, and long-term health issues for children and families.
• International Relations: No direct impact; focuses on domestic U.S. programs, including tribal entities.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Children, Youth, and Families: Primary beneficiaries, especially in underserved or high-trauma areas (e.g., low-income, minority, foster care, justice-involved, or homeless populations).
• Communities and Nonprofits: Local organizations, faith groups, and service providers (e.g., domestic violence agencies, after-school programs) gain resources for coordination and delivery.
• Healthcare and Mental Health Providers: Hospitals, clinics, and professionals (e.g., pediatricians, counselors) receive training and funding for interventions.
• Educators and Schools: Teachers, early childhood programs, and alternative education settings benefit from trauma-focused training and tools.
• Law Enforcement and Justice Systems: Officers and agencies get specialized training and referral programs to handle child interactions sensitively.
• Tribal and Underserved Groups: Explicit inclusion of Indian tribes/organizations ensures culturally responsive support.
• Workforce Trainees: Aspiring and current professionals from affected communities prioritized for recruitment and scholarships.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Emphasizes evidence-based practices and data collection, requiring evaluations and reporting to ensure accountability. Includes flexibilities like waivers for pilots and insurance coverage explorations under CMS, potentially streamlining federal-state partnerships without overriding state authority.
• Constitutional: Aligns with federal spending power for public health and welfare (e.g., promoting general welfare under Article I); no apparent conflicts with free speech, due process, or equal protection, as it promotes equitable, culturally responsive services for vulnerable groups.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Durbin and Capito) signals broad support for child welfare; focuses on prevention over punishment, which could reduce societal costs (e.g., healthcare, incarceration) but requires congressional appropriations to activate. Prioritizes equity in high-oppression communities, potentially influencing discussions on social justice and public safety.

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

Sponsor

Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

Cosponsors (3)

Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S8672-8674)
• 2025-12-11: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Resilience Investment, Support, and Expansion from Trauma Act — issued 2025-12-11 — PDF (35 pages)