STUDY, PLAN, AND PILOT FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

SEC. 722. STUDY, PLAN, AND PILOT FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.(a) Report and Plan on the Mental Health Care and Counseling Services Available to Military Children.—(1) In general.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a comprehensive review of the mental health care and counseling services available to dependent children of members of the Armed Forces through the Department of Defense.(2) Elements.—The review under paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of the following:(A) The availability, quality, and effectiveness of Department of Defense programs intended to meet the mental health care needs of military children.(B) The availability, quality, and effectiveness of Department of Defense programs intended to promote resiliency in military children in coping with deployment cycles, injury, or death of military parents.(C) The extent of access to, adequacy, and availability of mental health care and counseling services for military children in military medical treatment facilities, in family assistance centers, through Military OneSource, under the TRICARE program, and in Department of Defense Education Activity schools.(D) Whether the status of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty, or in reserve active status, affects the access of a military child to mental health care and counseling services.(E) Whether, and to what extent, waiting lists, geographic distance, and other factors may obstruct the receipt by military children of mental health care and counseling services.(F) The extent of access to, availability, and viability of specialized mental health care for military children (including adolescents).(G) The extent of any gaps in the current capabilities of the Department of Defense to provide preventive mental health services for military children.(H) Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate.(3) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House 123 STAT. 2388 of Representatives a report on the review conducted under paragraph (1), including the findings and recommendations of the Secretary as a result of the review.(b) Comprehensive Plan for Improvements in Access to Care and Counseling.—The Secretary shall develop and implement a comprehensive plan for improvements in access to quality mental health care and counseling services for military children in order to develop and promote psychological health and resilience in children of deploying and deployed members of the Armed Forces. The information in the report required by subsection (a) shall provide the basis for the development of the plan.(c) Pilot Program.—(1) Elements.—The Secretary of the Army shall carry out a pilot program on the mental health care needs of military children and adolescents. In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall establish a center to—(A) develop teams to train primary care managers in mental health evaluations and treatment of common psychiatric disorders affecting children and adolescents;(B) develop strategies to reduce barriers to accessing behavioral health services and encourage better use of the programs and services by children and adolescents; and(C) expand the evaluation of mental health care using common indicators, including—(i) psychiatric hospitalization rates;(ii) non-psychiatric hospitalization rates; and(iii) mental health relative value units.(2) Reports.—(A) Not later than 90 days after establishing the pilot program, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report describing the—(i) structure and mission of the program; and(ii) the resources allocated to the program.(B) Not later than September 30, 2012, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that addresses the elements described under paragraph (1).