EARLY Minds Act

HR 7808, the EARLY Minds Act, amends the Public Health Service Act to require states receiving federal mental health funds to include evidence-based prevention and early intervention strategies for children and adolescents in their state plans. It allows states to use up to 5% of their annual mental health allotment to support these programs, which aim to prevent, delay, or reduce the severity of mental health issues before they become serious. States must report biennially to Congress by 2025 on the programs they implement, including demographics served, outcomes like reduced care access delays, and how programs lessen the onset of serious mental illness. The bill directly affects states administering federal mental health funds and targets youth populations aged 0-18.