Task Force Structure

Review Section N – of the SUPPORT Act (PDF | 57 KB) to learn more about the work of the Task Force.

Membership

The Chairperson is the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, or the Assistant Secretary’s designee. Other members include the following U.S. Federal Departments: 

Duties

Duty 1: Gather Input

Ask for input from stakeholders, including:

• Frontline service providers
• Educators
• Mental health professionals
• Researchers
• Experts in infant, child, and youth trauma
• Child welfare professionals
• The public

This input will inform the activities under duty 2.

Duty 2: Recommend

Identify, evaluate, make recommendations to:

• The general public
• The Secretary of Education
• The Secretary of Health and Human Services
• The Secretary of Labor
• The Secretary of the Interior
• The Attorney General
• Other relevant Cabinet Secretaries
• Congress

The Task Force will update these recommendations at least annually. The recommendations will cover a set of evidence-based, evidence-informed, and promising best practices with respect to:

• Prevention strategies for people at risk of experiencing or being exposed to trauma, including trauma as a result of exposure to substance use
• The identification of infants, children, and youth (and their families as appropriate) who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing trauma
• The quick referral to and implementation of trauma-informed practices and supports that prevent and reduce the effects of trauma — which may include whole-family and multi-generational approaches
• Community-based or multi-generational practices that support children and their families

Recommendations will also cover a national strategy on how the Task Force and member agencies will collaborate, prioritize options for, and implement a coordinated approach, which may include:

• Data sharing
• Providing support to infants, children, and youth (and their families as appropriate) who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing trauma
• Identifying options for coordinating existing grants that support infants, children, and youth (and their families as appropriate) who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing exposure to trauma-related to substance use or other trauma
• Other ways to improve coordination, planning, and communication within and across Federal agencies, offices, and programs to better serve children and families impacted by substance use disorders

Finally, recommendations will support existing Federal authorities at:

• The Department of Education
• The Department of Health and Human Services
• The Department of Justice
• The Department of Labor
• The Department of the Interior
• Other relevant agencies
• Specific Federal grant programs

This support will include trauma-informed best practices, training, or service delivery. The Task Force will disseminate such information:

• In writing to relevant program offices at such agencies to encourage grant applicants in writing to use such funds, where appropriate, for trauma-informed practices
• To the general public through the Task Force’s website

Trauma Operating Plan Resources

• National Strategy for Trauma-Informed Care Operating Plan (PDF | 688 KB)
• Senator Murray’s Transmittal Letter (PDF | 223 KB)
• Senator Burr’s Transmittal Letter (PDF | 224 KB)