§ 290bb-36. Youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies

(a) In general

The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, shall award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to—

(1) develop and implement State-sponsored statewide or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies in schools, educational institutions, juvenile justice systems, substance abuse programs, mental health programs, foster care systems, and other child and youth support organizations;

(2) support public organizations and private nonprofit organizations actively involved in State-sponsored statewide or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies and in the development and continuation of State-sponsored statewide youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies;

(3) provide grants to institutions of higher education to coordinate the implementation of State-sponsored statewide or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies;

(4) collect and analyze data on State-sponsored statewide or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention services that can be used to monitor the effectiveness of such services and for research, technical assistance, and policy development; and

(5) assist eligible entities, through State-sponsored statewide or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies, in achieving targets for youth suicide reductions under title V of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 701 et seq.].

(b) Eligible entity

(1) Definition

In this section, the term “eligible entity” means—

(A) a State;

(B) a public organization or private nonprofit organization designated by a State to develop or direct the State-sponsored statewide youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategy; or

(C) a Federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization (as defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act [25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.]) or an urban Indian organization (as defined in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act [25 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.]) that is actively involved in the development and continuation of a tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategy.

(2) Limitation

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that each State is awarded only 1 grant or cooperative agreement under this section. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a State shall be considered to have been awarded a grant or cooperative agreement if the eligible entity involved is the State or an entity designated by the State under paragraph (1)(B). Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to apply to entities described in paragraph (1)(C).

In providing assistance under a grant or cooperative agreement under this section, an eligible entity shall give preference to public organizations, private nonprofit organizations, political subdivisions, institutions of higher education, and tribal organizations actively involved with the State-sponsored statewide or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategy that—

(1) provide early intervention and assessment services, including screening programs, to youth who are at risk for mental or emotional disorders that may lead to a suicide attempt, and that are integrated with school systems, educational institutions, juvenile justice systems, substance abuse programs, mental health programs, foster care systems, and other child and youth support organizations;

(2) demonstrate collaboration among early intervention and prevention services or certify that entities will engage in future collaboration;

(3) employ or include in their applications a commitment to evaluate youth suicide early intervention and prevention practices and strategies adapted to the local community;

(4) provide timely referrals for appropriate community-based mental health care and treatment of youth who are at risk for suicide in child-serving settings and agencies;

(5) provide immediate support and information resources to families of youth who are at risk for suicide;

(6) offer access to services and care to youth with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds;

(7) offer appropriate postsuicide intervention services, care, and information to families, friends, schools, educational institutions, juvenile justice systems, substance abuse programs, mental health programs, foster care systems, and other child and youth support organizations of youth who recently completed suicide;

(8) offer continuous and up-to-date information and awareness campaigns that target parents, family members, child care professionals, community care providers, and the general public and highlight the risk factors associated with youth suicide and the life-saving help and care available from early intervention and prevention services;

(9) ensure that information and awareness campaigns on youth suicide risk factors, and early intervention and prevention services, use effective communication mechanisms that are targeted to and reach youth, families, schools, educational institutions, and youth organizations;

(10) provide a timely response system to ensure that child-serving professionals and providers are properly trained in youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies and that child-serving professionals and providers involved in early intervention and prevention services are properly trained in effectively identifying youth who are at risk for suicide;

(11) provide continuous training activities for child care professionals and community care providers on the latest youth suicide early intervention and prevention services practices and strategies;

(12) conduct annual self-evaluations of outcomes and activities, including consulting with interested families and advocacy organizations;

(13) provide services in areas or regions with rates of youth suicide that exceed the national average as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and

(14) obtain informed written consent from a parent or legal guardian of an at-risk child before involving the child in a youth suicide early intervention and prevention program.

(d) Requirement for direct services

Not less than 85 percent of grant funds received under this section shall be used to provide direct services, of which not less than 5 percent shall be used for activities authorized under subsection (a)(3) of this section.

(e) Coordination and collaboration

(1) In general

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall collaborate with relevant Federal agencies and suicide working groups responsible for early intervention and prevention services relating to youth suicide.

(2) Consultation

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult with—

(A) State and local agencies, including agencies responsible for early intervention and prevention services under title XIX of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.], the State Children’s Health Insurance Program under title XXI of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.], and programs funded by grants under title V of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 701 et seq.];

(B) local and national organizations that serve youth at risk for suicide and their families;

(D) youth who are at risk for suicide, who have survived suicide attempts, or who are currently receiving care from early intervention services;

(E) families and friends of youth who are at risk for suicide, who have survived suicide attempts, who are currently receiving care from early intervention and prevention services, or who have completed suicide;

(F) qualified professionals who possess the specialized knowledge, skills, experience, and relevant attributes needed to serve youth at risk for suicide and their families; and

(G) third-party payers, managed care organizations, and related commercial industries.

(3) Policy development

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall—

(A) coordinate and collaborate on policy development at the Federal level with the relevant Department of Health and Human Services agencies and suicide working groups; and

(B) consult on policy development at the Federal level with the private sector, including consumer, medical, suicide prevention advocacy groups, and other health and education professional-based organizations, with respect to State-sponsored statewide or tribal youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies.

(f) Rule of construction; religious and moral accommodation

Nothing in this section shall be construed to require suicide assessment, early intervention, or treatment services for youth whose parents or legal guardians object based on the parents’ or legal guardians’ religious beliefs or moral objections.

(g) Evaluations and report

(1) Evaluations by eligible entities

Not later than 18 months after receiving a grant or cooperative agreement under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary the results of an evaluation to be conducted by the entity concerning the effectiveness of the activities carried out under the grant or agreement.

(2) Report

Not later than 2 years after October 21, 2004, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report concerning the results of—

(A) the evaluations conducted under paragraph (1); and

(B) an evaluation conducted by the Secretary to analyze the effectiveness and efficacy of the activities conducted with grants, collaborations, and consultations under this section.

(h) Rule of construction; student medication

Nothing in this section or section 290bb–36a of this title shall be construed to allow school personnel to require that a student obtain any medication as a condition of attending school or receiving services.

(i) Prohibition

Funds appropriated to carry out this section, section 290bb–34 of this title, section 290bb–36a of this title, or section 290bb–36b of this title shall not be used to pay for or refer for abortion.

(j) Parental consent

States and entities receiving funding under this section and section 290bb–36a of this title shall obtain prior written, informed consent from the child’s parent or legal guardian for assessment services, school-sponsored programs, and treatment involving medication related to youth suicide conducted in elementary and secondary schools. The requirement of the preceding sentence does not apply in the following cases:

(1) In an emergency, where it is necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the student or other students.

(2) Other instances, as defined by the State, where parental consent cannot reasonably be obtained.

(k) Relation to education provisions

Nothing in this section or section 290bb–36a of this title shall be construed to supersede section 1232g of title 20, including the requirement of prior parental consent for the disclosure of any education records. Nothing in this section or section 290bb–36a of this title shall be construed to modify or affect parental notification requirements for programs authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.] (as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001; Public Law 107–110).

(l) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Early intervention

The term “early intervention” means a strategy or approach that is intended to prevent an outcome or to alter the course of an existing condition.

(2) Educational institution; institution of higher education; school

The term—

(A) “educational institution” means a school or institution of higher education;

(B) “institution of higher education” has the meaning given such term in section 1001 of title 20; and

(C) “school” means an elementary or secondary school (as such terms are defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 7801]).

(3) Prevention

The term “prevention” means a strategy or approach that reduces the likelihood or risk of onset, or delays the onset, of adverse health problems that have been known to lead to suicide.

(4) Youth

The term “youth” means individuals who are between 10 and 24 years of age.

(m) Authorization of appropriations

(1) In general

For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.

(2) Preference

If less than $3,500,000 is appropriated for any fiscal year to carry out this section, in awarding grants and cooperative agreements under this section during the fiscal year, the Secretary shall give preference to States that have rates of suicide that significantly exceed the national average as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

U.S. Code

§ 290bb-36. Youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategies