STRONG Support for Children Act of 2021

Services and Trauma-informed Research of Outcomes in Neighborhoods Grants for Support for Children Act of 2021 or the STRONG Support for Children Act of 2021

This bill establishes two grant programs for governmental health departments to prevent and mitigate childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences.

For the first program, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must award grants to health departments to use data analysis methods to identify interventions to prevent and mitigate childhood trauma. Grant activities include using data analysis to identify geographic areas with a high prevalence of adverse childhood experiences and to implement strategies to improve outcomes for infants, children, and adolescents.

For the second program, HHS must award grants to local or tribal governments to establish or expand early childhood trauma-informed care coordination services, including by instituting risk and needs assessments to respond to adverse childhood experiences.

For both grants, the bill prohibits the use of funds for certain purposes, such as using the data analysis methods to inform individual case decisions, including child removals, or increasing the presence of law enforcement.

In addition, HHS must evaluate and report on these programs and make findings and recommendations publicly available on its website.

Bill 117 hr 3792, also known as the STRONG Support for Children Act of 2021, aims to provide comprehensive support for children in the United States. The bill focuses on improving access to education, healthcare, and other essential services for children, with a particular emphasis on those from low-income families.

One key aspect of the bill is its focus on expanding access to high-quality early childhood education programs. This includes increasing funding for Head Start and other early childhood education initiatives, as well as providing support for childcare providers to ensure that all children have access to safe and nurturing environments.

The bill also addresses the issue of child poverty by expanding access to nutrition assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Additionally, the bill includes provisions to improve access to healthcare for children, including expanding Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In addition to these key provisions, the bill also includes measures to support children in foster care, improve mental health services for children, and address the issue of youth homelessness. Overall, the STRONG Support for Children Act of 2021 aims to provide comprehensive support for children in the United States, with a focus on addressing the needs of vulnerable and underserved populations.