STRONG Support for Children Act of 2025

This bill funds local, data-driven efforts to prevent and reduce childhood trauma. It creates two grant programs: one helps state and local health departments use data to find neighborhoods with many adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and plan early help; the other helps local governments and Tribes coordinate trauma‑informed care for children ages 0–5 and their caregivers, including people who are pregnant .

Grants can pay for hiring care coordinators; training staff in trauma‑informed, culturally specific, and gender‑responsive practices; building partnerships and “warm handoffs” between agencies; help with transportation or childcare so families can get services; and technology like internet and telehealth. Services can include voluntary mental health and substance use care, home visiting, parenting support, housing and food help, and more .

• Who is affected: Children 0–17 through planning and outreach, and children 0–5 and their caregivers for direct care coordination; communities with high needs (for example, higher rates of poor health, school discipline, poverty, homelessness, or violence); local governments, Tribes, and health departments .
• What the grants do: Hire care coordinators, train staff, build referral networks with “warm handoffs,” help with transportation and childcare, and expand access to mental health, substance use, housing, food, and parenting supports; invest in technology to reach families via telehealth .
• How much and how many: Data‑strategy program makes up to 5 awards, up to $9.5M each, for up to 7 years. Care‑coordination program makes 9–40 awards, typically $250,000–$1,000,000 per year .
• Priorities: Communities with higher maternal or infant health problems, violence, low income, homelessness, or similar risks are first in line for care‑coordination grants.
• Key rules: At least 25% of care‑coordination funds go to partner groups; at least 50% of services happen in community settings like homes, schools, and shelters; services are provided regardless of ability to pay, immigration status, or past justice involvement; funds cannot be used to force participation, make individual case decisions with data, increase policing, or fund conversion therapy .
• Funding and timing: Data‑strategy program is authorized from fiscal years 2025–2032, with added funds for evaluation. Care‑coordination grants are funded at $15M per year for 5 years, with at least 10% for Tribes. The federal health department must evaluate impacts at about 3 and 6 years, and local grantees must report results within 4 years .