text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Joining Forces for Military Mental 
  Health Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON ENHANCEMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EFFORTS 
                ON MENTAL HEALTH IN THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES 
                THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
  
      (a) Pilot Program Authorized.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense may carry out a 
          pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of 
          enhancing the efforts of the Department of Defense in research, 
          treatment, education, and outreach on mental health and 
          substance use disorders and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in 
          members of the National Guard and Reserves, their family 
          members, and their caregivers through community partners 
          described in subsection (c).
              (2) Duration.--The duration of the pilot program may not 
          exceed three years.
      (b) Grants.--In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary may 
  award not more than five grants to community partners described in 
  subsection (c). Any grant so awarded shall be awarded using a 
  competitive and merit-based award process.
      (c) Community Partners.--A community partner described in this 
  subsection is a private non-profit organization or institution (or 
  multiple organizations and institutions) that--
              (1) engages in each of the research, treatment, education, 
          and outreach activities described in subsection (d); and
              (2) meets such qualifications for treatment as a community 
          partner as the Secretary shall establish for purposes of the 
          pilot program.
      (d) Activities.--Amounts awarded under a grant under the pilot 
  program shall be utilized by the community partner awarded the grant 
  for one or more of the following:
              (1) To engage in research on the causes, development, and 
          innovative treatment of mental health and substance use 
          disorders and Traumatic Brain Injury in members of the National 
          Guard and Reserves, their family members, and their caregivers.
              (2) To provide treatment to such members and their families 
          for such mental health and substance use disorders and 
          Traumatic Brain Injury.
              (3) To identify and disseminate evidence-based treatments 
          of mental health and substance use disorders and Traumatic 
          Brain Injury described in paragraph (1).
              (4) To provide outreach and education to such members, 
          their families and caregivers, and the public about mental 
          health and substance use disorders and Traumatic Brain Injury 
          described in paragraph (1).
      (e) Requirement for Matching Funds.--
              (1) Requirement.--The Secretary may award a grant under 
          this section to an organization or institution (or 
          organizations and institutions) only if the awardee agrees to 
          make contributions toward the costs of activities carried out 
          with the grant, from non-Federal sources (whether public or 
          private), an amount equal to not less than $3 for each $1 of 
          funds provided under the grant.
              (2) Nature of non-federal contributions.--Contributions 
          from non-Federal sources for purposes of paragraph (1) may be 
          in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated. Amounts provided by the 
          Federal Government, or services assisted or subsidized to any 
          significant extent by the Federal Government, may not be 
          included in determining the amount of contributions from non-
          Federal sources for such purposes.
      (f) Application.--An organization or institution (or organizations 
  and institutions) seeking a grant under this section shall submit to 
  the Secretary an application therefore in such a form and containing 
  such information as the Secretary considers appropriate, including the 
  following:
              (1) A description how the activities proposed to be carried 
          out with the grant will help improve collaboration and 
          coordination on research initiatives, treatment, and education 
          and outreach on mental health and substance use disorders and 
          Traumatic Brain Injury among the Armed Forces.
              (2) A description of existing efforts by the applicant to 
          put the research described in (c)(1) into practice.
              (3) If the application comes from multiple organizations 
          and institutions, how the activities proposed to be carried out 
          with the grant would improve coordination and collaboration 
          among such organizations and institutions.
              (4) If the applicant proposes to provide services or 
          treatment to members of the Armed Forces or family members 
          using grant amounts, reasonable assurances that such services 
          or treatment will be provided by a qualified provider.
              (5) Plans to comply with subsection (g).
      (g) Exchange of Medical and Clinical Information.--A community 
  partner awarded a grant under the pilot program shall agree to any 
  requirements for the sharing of medical or clinical information 
  obtained pursuant to the grant that the Secretary shall establish for 
  purposes of the pilot program. The exchange of medical or clinical 
  information pursuant to this subsection shall comply with applicable 
  privacy and confidentiality laws.
      (h) Dissemination of Information.--The Secretary of Defense shall 
  share with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs information on best 
  practices in research, treatment, education, and outreach on mental 
  health and substance use disorders and Traumatic Brain Injury 
  identified by the Secretary of Defense as a result of the pilot 
  program.
      (i) Report.--Not later than 180 days before the completion of the 
  pilot program, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Secretary 
  of Veterans Affairs, and to Congress, a report on the pilot program. 
  The report shall include the following:
              (1) A description of the pilot program, including the 
          community partners awarded grants under the pilot program, the 
          amount of grants so awarded, and the activities carried out 
          using such grant amounts.
              (2) A description of any research efforts advanced using 
          such grant amounts.
              (3) The number of members of the National Guard and 
          Reserves provided treatment or services by community partners 
          using such grant amounts, and a summary of the types of 
          treatment and services so provided.
              (4) A description of the education and outreach activities 
          undertaken using such grant amounts.
              (5) A description of efforts to exchange clinical 
          information under subsection (g).
              (6) A description and assessment of the effectiveness and 
          achievements of the pilot program with respect to research, 
          treatment, education, and outreach on mental health and 
          substance use disorders and Traumatic Brain Injury.
              (7) Such recommendations as the Secretary of Defense 
          considers appropriate in light of the pilot program on the 
          utilization of organizations and institutions such as community 
          partners under the pilot program in efforts of the Department 
          described in subsection (a).
              (8) A description of the metrics used by the Secretary in 
          making recommendations under paragraph (7).
      (j) Available Funds.--Funds for the pilot program shall be derived 
  from amounts authorized to be appropriated for the Department of 
  Defense for Defense Health Program and otherwise available for 
  obligation and expenditure.
      (k) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``family member'' and 
  ``caregiver'', in the case of a member of the National Guard or 
  Reserves, have the meaning given such terms in section 1720G(d) of 
  title 38, United States Code, with respect to a veteran.
target: Joining Forces for Military Mental Health Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense, through community partnerships with private nonprofit organizations, to carry out a three-year pilot program assessing the enhancement of Department of Defense (DOD) efforts in research, treatment, education, and outreach on mental health and substance use disorders and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in members of the National Guard and Reserves and their family members and caregivers.
  
  Allows the Secretary, using a competitive or merit-based award process, to award up to five grants to such community partners, provided that the awardee agrees to make matching contributions from nonfederal sources (whether public or private) of at least $3 for each $1 provided under the grant.
  
  Requires grant-seeking organizations to submit an application including a description of proposed collaboration initiatives and existing research efforts.
feat_title: A bill to authorize a pilot program on enhancements of Department of Defense efforts on mental health in the National Guard and Reserves through community partnerships, and for other purposes.