Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings Act or the MINDS Act This bill directs the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State to integrate mental health and psychosocial support activities across all U.S. foreign assistance programs, with a particular focus on children and other vulnerable populations. To facilitate this integration, the bill makes organizational changes at the USAID. It authorizes the USAID to appoint a coordinator to oversee and direct mental health and psychosocial support activities. The coordinator must ensure that these activities focus on children, adult caretakers and families, displaced populations, and other vulnerable groups. In addition, the bill establishes a working group comprised of representatives from every USAID bureau and the Department of State to coordinate interagency efforts related to, promote best practices for, and ensure sustainability and continuity of mental health and psychosocial support activities. The USAID and the State Department must brief Congress about the amount of foreign assistance spending on mental health and psychosocial support activities and related matters.
Cardiovascular and respiratory healthChild healthCongressional oversightEmergency medical services and trauma careExecutive agency funding and structureForeign aid and international reliefHealth care coverage and accessHealth care qualityHealth programs administration and fundingInfectious and parasitic diseasesMental healthSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsU.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)World health
MINDS Act
USA117th CongressHR-3988| House
| Updated: 12/10/2021
Mental Health in International Development and Humanitarian Settings Act or the MINDS Act This bill directs the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State to integrate mental health and psychosocial support activities across all U.S. foreign assistance programs, with a particular focus on children and other vulnerable populations. To facilitate this integration, the bill makes organizational changes at the USAID. It authorizes the USAID to appoint a coordinator to oversee and direct mental health and psychosocial support activities. The coordinator must ensure that these activities focus on children, adult caretakers and families, displaced populations, and other vulnerable groups. In addition, the bill establishes a working group comprised of representatives from every USAID bureau and the Department of State to coordinate interagency efforts related to, promote best practices for, and ensure sustainability and continuity of mental health and psychosocial support activities. The USAID and the State Department must brief Congress about the amount of foreign assistance spending on mental health and psychosocial support activities and related matters.
Cardiovascular and respiratory healthChild healthCongressional oversightEmergency medical services and trauma careExecutive agency funding and structureForeign aid and international reliefHealth care coverage and accessHealth care qualityHealth programs administration and fundingInfectious and parasitic diseasesMental healthSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsU.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)World health