{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://horn.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=329", "Rep. Horn Introduces Children\u2019s Mental Health Care Access Act", "2020-07-27", "2020", "2020-07", "Democrat", "House", "OK", "Kendra Horn", "H001083", "horn.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Kendra Horn (OK-5) has introduced the bipartisan Children's Mental Health Care Access Act (H.R. 7776), a bill to provide mental health support for children through the Child Care and Development Block Grant program. A recent study shows that more than 16 percent of American children experience mental health challenges like depression or anxiety and around half go without treatment. Congressman Tom Cole (OK-4) is a co-sponsor of the bill.\r\nMental health is a critical component of overall health for everyone, said Congresswoman Kendra Horn. Children, like adults, need access to quality, affordable health care, including mental health. The pandemic has created an environment of anxiety and stress for all American families, and children aren't immune to that. We must take care of the mental health as well as the physical health of our children and their caregivers during this time of crisis.\r\nThe Children's Mental Health Care Access Act authorizes states to use Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funds to support mental health services for staff and children due to the COVID-19 pandemic.\r\nSupporting the mental health of children, regardless of age or socioeconomic status, has never been more important than it is now as families grapple with the effects of COVID-19, said Erin Engelke, Executive Director of Calm Waters Center for Children & Families. Supporting the positive growth and development of a child's brain early on will ensure they are able to process their emotions in a healthy way for the long term.\r\nChild care facilities in the State of Oklahoma have remained open to provide child care for those families whose jobs could not allow them to work from home, said Paula Koos, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Child Care Resource & Referral Association. As adults worried about exposure to COVID-19, children experienced the additional tensions that their families and providers were under. Oklahoma Child Care Resource & Referral (OCCRRA) supports legislation, programs and opportunities that are good for children. OCCRRA believes making mental health services to children is better for our children, their families, their providers and their communities. We are pleased that Rep Horn has introduced the Children's Mental Health Care Access Act and encourages its passage and implementation.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://horn.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=329"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7082459051162004, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}