S 2817 — Expanding the Families of Veterans Access to Mental Health Services Act

(a) (1) (A) Upon the request of any individual referred to in subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall furnish counseling, including by furnishing counseling through a Vet Center, to the individual— (i) in the case of an individual referred to in clauses (i) through (vii) of subparagraph (C), to assist the individual in readjusting to civilian life; and (ii) in the case of an individual referred to in clause (viii) of such subparagraph who is a family member of a veteran or member described in such clause— (I) in the case of a member who is deployed in a theater of combat operations or an area at a time during which hostilities are occurring in that area, during such deployment to assist such individual in coping with such deployment; (II) in the case of a veteran or member who is readjusting to civilian life, to the degree that counseling furnished to such individual is found to aid in the readjustment of such veteran or member to civilian life; and (III) in the case of a veteran or member who died by suicide, to the degree that counseling furnished to such individual is found to aid in coping with the effects of such suicide. (B) (i) Counseling furnished to an individual under subparagraph (A) may include a comprehensive individual assessment of the individual’s psychological, social, and other characteristics to ascertain whether— (I) in the case of an individual referred to in clauses (i) through (vii) of subparagraph (C), such individual has difficulties associated with readjusting to civilian life; and (II) in the case of an individual referred to in clause (viii) of such subparagraph, such individual has difficulties associated with— (aa) coping with the deployment of a member described in subclause (I) of such clause; (bb) readjustment to civilian life of a veteran or member described in subclause (II) of such clause; or (cc) coping with the effects of a suicide described in subclause (III) of such clause. (ii) (I) Except as provided in subclauses (IV) and (V), counseling furnished to an individual under subparagraph (A) may include reintegration and readjustment services described in subclause (II) furnished in group retreat settings. (II) Reintegration and readjustment services described in this subclause are the following: (aa) Information on reintegration of the individual into family, employment, and community. (bb) Financial counseling. (cc) Occupational counseling. (dd) Information and counseling on stress reduction. (ee) Information and counseling on conflict resolution. (ff) Such other information and counseling as the Secretary considers appropriate to assist the individual in reintegration into family, employment, and community. (III) In furnishing reintegration and readjustment services under subclause (I), the Secretary shall offer women the opportunity to receive such services in group retreat settings in which the only participants are women. (IV) An individual described in subparagraph (C)(v) may receive reintegration and readjustment services under subclause (I) of this clause only if the individual receives such services with a family member described in subclause (I) or (II) of such subparagraph. (V) In each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025, the maximum number of individuals to whom integration and readjustment services may be furnished in group retreat settings under this subclause (I) shall not exceed 1,200 individuals. (C) Subparagraph (A) applies to the following individuals: (i) Any individual who is a veteran or member of the Armed Forces, including a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces, who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations or an area at a time during which hostilities occurred in that area. (ii) Any individual who is a veteran or member of the Armed Forces, including a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces, who provided direct emergency medical or mental health care, or mortuary services to the causalities of combat operations or hostilities, b...