The bill adds a new Part PP to Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to authorize grants for Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Teams. Eligible recipients include States, units of local government, Indian Tribes, and neighborhood or community-based organizations, and funds may be used to establish trauma-informed response teams, develop referral partnerships, and integrate law enforcement, mental health, and crisis services.
It also authorizes $10 million in annual funding for 2026 through 2029 to carry out these activities.
At a Glance
What It Does
The bill authorizes a new grant program to fund Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Teams (ACE-RTs). Grants cover establishing protocols, forming partnerships with behavioral health providers, and coordinating across law enforcement, courts, and child welfare to respond to trauma-exposed children.
Who It Affects
States, units of local government, Indian Tribes, and neighborhood or community-based organizations will apply for funds; frontline responders such as law enforcement, mental health professionals, and victim service providers will implement ACE-RT activities.
Why It Matters
It creates a dedicated federal funding stream to standardize trauma-informed responses to ACEs and to promote cross-system collaboration that could improve access to services for affected children and families.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The bill formalizes a program within the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to fund Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Teams. These ACE-RTs would be established in recipient jurisdictions to coordinate services for children exposed to trauma, bringing together police, health care, mental health, child welfare, and other community partners.
Recipients would establish protocols for responding to trauma exposure, develop partnerships with behavioral health and recovery services, and strengthen cross-system collaboration to ensure timely access to care for affected youth and families. Applicants would be States, local governments, Indian Tribes, or neighborhood or community-based organizations, applying through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the Attorney General.
Funding would be provided through grants to implement the program, including training and technical assistance, with the goal of reducing barriers to trauma-informed care. The legislation also adds an authorization of appropriations, setting aside $10 million per fiscal year for 2026–2029 to support these grants.
The overall objective is to improve outcomes for children who have experienced trauma by coordinating multiple systems and services in a trauma-informed framework.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill creates Part PP to establish the Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team Grant Program.
Grants are awarded to States, local jurisdictions, Indian Tribes, and community organizations to form ACE response teams.
Funds may be used to develop trauma-informed protocols, build service referrals, and integrate cross-system responses.
Applicants must submit to the Attorney General an application containing required information.
Authorized appropriations total $10 million per year for FY2026–FY2029.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team Grant Program
This new part adds a stand-alone program to Title I, dedicated to funding state, local, tribal, and community-based ACE response teams. It sets the framework for how grants will be issued and what objectives they should pursue, anchoring trauma-informed coordination across systems.
Grants Authorized
From amounts available to carry out this section, the Attorney General, in coordination with HHS, shall make grants to States, units of local government, Indian Tribes, and neighborhood or community-based organizations to address ACEs linked to trauma exposure. The section identifies eligible recipients and establishes the grant purpose.
Use of Funds
Grants may be used to establish ACE response teams and to fund activities such as trauma-informed protocols, referral partnerships with behavioral health and recovery services, cross-system integration with law enforcement and emergency services, training for responders, and technical assistance to communities on preventing and mitigating trauma exposure.
Application
Eligible entities must submit an application to the Attorney General with information required to determine eligibility, program design, and implementation plans. The section sets out the process for presenting the proposed ACE-RT program and how it will be evaluated for funding.
Authorization of Appropriations
The bill adds an authorization of $10 million per fiscal year for 2026 through 2029 to carry out Part PP, ensuring ongoing federal support for ACE response efforts across jurisdictions.
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Explore Healthcare in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- States gain a designated funding stream to implement cross-system ACE responses in their jurisdictions, potentially improving service access for affected youth.
- Units of local government (cities/counties) receive grants to build local ACE-RTs and coordinate across police, health, and social services.
- Indian Tribes can establish trauma-informed responses within tribal communities, incorporating culturally appropriate practices.
- Neighborhood or community-based organizations can implement grassroots ACE response initiatives and bridge gaps to formal services.
- Law enforcement and mental health providers benefit from formalized protocols and cross-system collaboration that streamline responses to trauma exposures.
Who Bears the Cost
- Recipient agencies will bear administrative and compliance costs to implement ACE-RT programs and manage grant funding.
- Localities and agencies may incur ongoing costs to sustain cross-system coordination beyond the grant period.
- Healthcare and behavioral health providers may need to align practices with trauma-informed protocols and participate in referral networks, which can require staff time and training.
- Non-profit and community groups may face reporting and oversight requirements, adding to operational overhead.
- There is potential risk of funding gaps if appropriations are not renewed after 2029.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
Balancing local flexibility to address community-specific ACEs with the need for consistent standards, durable funding, and privacy protections in a cross-system trauma response.
The bill creates a promising framework for cross-system responses to ACEs, but it also raises implementation questions. Real-world deployment will hinge on the ability of grant recipients to recruit and retain qualified trauma-informed staff, establish compatible protocols across agencies, and maintain data sharing that respects privacy while enabling coordination.
The program’s success depends on sustained funding beyond the 2026–2029 window and on clear performance metrics to ensure that ACEs responses translate into measurable improvements for affected children and families.
A critical tension to watch is how local flexibility interfaces with federal oversight. While the design invites jurisdictions to tailor ACE-RTs to community needs, there is a risk that inconsistent implementations could hamper cross-jurisdiction learning and evaluation.
Additionally, coordination across law enforcement, health care, and child welfare involves sharing sensitive information, which requires robust privacy protections and governance. The bill does not specify a nationwide performance framework, so jurisdictions will need to establish their own metrics, reporting requirements, and accountability mechanisms within the grant structure.
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