MINDS Act

3/14/2024, 2:55 AM

Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings Act or the MINDS Act

This bill authorizes and requires certain actions by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to integrate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) activities across U.S. development and foreign assistance programs.

The bill authorizes USAID to appoint an MHPSS coordinator. The coordinator's duties include (1) guiding, overseeing, and directing MHPSS programming and integration across U.S. foreign assistance programming; and (2) promoting best practices, coordination, and reporting in MHPSS across U.S. development and humanitarian assistance programs. Focus populations for the coordinator include adult caretakers, children separated from a family unit, and displaced populations.

In addition, the bill establishes a working group comprised of representatives from relevant USAID bureaus, the Department of State, and other federal agencies. The purpose of the working group is to ensure continuity and integration of MHPSS across U.S. development and humanitarian assistance programs.

The provisions of the bill expire five years after enactment.

Congress
118

Number
S - 767

Introduced on
2023-03-09

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

3/9/2023

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings Act or the MINDS Act

This bill authorizes and requires certain actions by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to integrate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) activities across U.S. development and foreign assistance programs.

The bill authorizes USAID to appoint an MHPSS coordinator. The coordinator's duties include (1) guiding, overseeing, and directing MHPSS programming and integration across U.S. foreign assistance programming; and (2) promoting best practices, coordination, and reporting in MHPSS across U.S. development and humanitarian assistance programs. Focus populations for the coordinator include adult caretakers, children separated from a family unit, and displaced populations.

In addition, the bill establishes a working group comprised of representatives from relevant USAID bureaus, the Department of State, and other federal agencies. The purpose of the working group is to ensure continuity and integration of MHPSS across U.S. development and humanitarian assistance programs.

The provisions of the bill expire five years after enactment.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedA bill to enhance mental health and psychosocial support within United States development and humanitarian assistance programs.

Policy Areas
International Affairs

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary1/31/2024

Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings Act or the MINDS Act

This bill authorizes and requires certain actions by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to integrate mental healt...


Latest Action3/9/2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.