Capito, Durbin Introduce Bipartisan Rise from Trauma Act to Address Childhood Trauma

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to increase support for children who have been exposed to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma, including witnessing community violence, parental addiction, or abuse. TheResilience Investment, Support, and Expansion (RISE) from Trauma Actdramatically increases funding for community-based efforts to prevent and mitigate the impact of trauma, and it expands training and workforce development efforts to support health care, education, social services, first responders, and community leaders to foster resilience and deliver services to heal the impact of trauma. U.S. Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.-07) and Bryan Steil (R-Wis.-01) plan to re-introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
Portions Capito and Durbin’s legislation were recently signed into law by President Trump through theSUPPORT Reauthorization Act, which will extend and increase funding for: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data collection activities on ACEs; an interagency task force to establish best practices on addressing trauma; and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Child Traumatic Stress Network to develop and deliver mental health services in communities.
Since Capito and Durbin began working on child trauma issues together, among other provisions, they have increased appropriations for SAMHSA’s National Child Traumatic Stress Network from $47 million to $99 million today.
“I am proud to once again address the impact of trauma on children by helping to introduce theRISE from Trauma Act. This legislation builds on the work we have done over the past several years and reflects the needs I continue to hear from West Virginians across the state,”Senator Capito said. “By aiming to increase resources for our communities and taking steps to educate and expand our workforce, this legislation will help to prevent future substance abuse and violence, provide assistance and hope to our most vulnerable, and empower our next generation.”
“While we work to effectively address the root causes of violence and addiction in our communities, we must also focus on the ripple effect that exposure to violence and traumatic experiences has on our children and their future,”Senator Durbin said. “Unaddressed trauma can harm mental and physical health, life expectancy, school success, and employment. Our bipartisanRISE from Trauma Actinvests in our communities and our workforce to support children and families facing trauma so they can heal their emotional scars and build a brighter future.”
Nationwide, nearly 35 million children have had at least one traumatic experience, and nearly two-thirds of children have been exposed to violence.
TheRISE from Trauma Actwould expand the trauma-informed workforce in schools, health care settings, social services, first responders, and the justice system, and increase resources for communities to address the impact of trauma. Specifically, the bill:
The legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: American Academy of Pediatrics, Futures Without Violence, Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice, American Psychological Association Services, National Association of School Psychologists, National Head Start Association, Big Brother Big Sisters of America, YWCA, Trust for America's Health, and National PTA.
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Tags:Health Care