The Children's Future Act

FULL ACT IN LINK

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1810M5AXrYpnDNvq8CDaNNjW44Dzs1IhJuLFtsjDRBoU/edit?usp=sharing

PETITION IN LINK BELOW

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/487/085/893/?cid=headerClick

Section 202: Nurturing Mental and Emotional Well-being: A Trauma-Informed System

The mental and emotional well-being of American children faces a profound crisis. Nearly 20% of children aged 3-17 in the United States have a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder, and suicidal behaviors among high school students increased by over 40% in the decade preceding 2019. While some progress has been made in children receiving needed mental health treatment—with 15.9% of households with children reporting a need for treatment, and only 13.5% of that group not receiving it as of June 2024 —significant barriers persist. Only 38.1% of households find it easy to access mental health care, and high-deductible health plans continue to pose a substantial financial obstacle. This indicates a critical disparity between the reported numbers of children receiving treatment and the actual ease and affordability of accessing appropriate care.

This Bill mandates universal, affordable access to comprehensive mental health services, integrated seamlessly into primary care, schools, and community settings. Crucially, these services must be trauma-informed, recognizing that conventional talk therapy may be insufficient for addressing the pre-verbal, bodily imprints of trauma. All child-serving institutions—including schools, healthcare providers, social services, and the justice system—will be required to adopt trauma-informed principles and practices. This includes comprehensive training for staff to recognize and respond effectively to the physical, emotional, and behavioral manifestations of trauma.

A key component of this trauma-informed approach is the prioritization of body-oriented therapies. Modalities such as yoga, neurofeedback, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and communal rhythmical activities have demonstrated effectiveness in processing trauma by activating the brain's natural neuroplasticity and helping individuals regulate their physiology. These methods, currently underutilized in medical and school settings , are vital for stabilizing physiology, enhancing executive functioning, and helping traumatized individuals feel fully present and engaged in their lives. The fact that many traditional therapies are insufficient for the somatic and pre-verbal nature of trauma suggests that even when care is accessed, it may not be the most effective or appropriate kind. Therefore, the legislation must focus not just on increasing the quantity of mental health services, but on dramatically improving their accessibility, affordability, and quality, ensuring that services are genuinely trauma-informed and incorporate these evidence-based, body-oriented modalities.

Early intervention and prevention are paramount. This Bill emphasizes early identification and support for children exposed to trauma, acknowledging that adversity experienced within the first eight weeks of life can have the most profound influence on later well-being. Universal screening for ACEs will be implemented across various child-serving touchpoints, ensuring immediate and accessible support systems are available.

Furthermore, the Bill recognizes the critical role of parents and caregivers in a child's mental and emotional development. Parents can inadvertently become a source of stress for their children if they themselves lack a secure emotional base. This legislation mandates robust support programs for parents, including access to their own mental health services, coaching on physical attunement with their children, and resources designed to help them build secure relationships. Schools are uniquely positioned to serve as critical hubs for integrated physical and mental health services.