The "Helping Heroes Act" mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish the Veteran Family Resource Program (VFRP). This program aims to enhance the resilience, health, and well-being of veterans by addressing social determinants of health within their family units. It will achieve this through person-centered clinical integrations, connections to VA benefits, and engagement with community resources, ensuring access to a continuum of services and resources to support family wellness.

A core component of the VFRP is the appointment of at least one family coordinator in each Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) within five years of the Act's enactment. These coordinators will serve as point persons at VA medical centers, possessing a comprehensive understanding of both VA-administered and community resources available to veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. Their duties include assessing needs, building relationships, and referring individuals to appropriate local, State, Federal, and non-Department resources to support overall health and treatment goals.

The bill outlines specific goals for the program, including connecting veterans to family resources to increase well-being, developing internal partnerships to improve healthcare, and capturing data for process improvement. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is also required to establish metrics for assessing the program's effectiveness, covering aspects like referrals and veteran and staff satisfaction. Furthermore, the Secretary must submit a report to Congress within two years of the program's commencement, detailing participant numbers, demographics, services provided, costs, and an assessment of positive outcomes for veterans and children.

Beyond the VFRP, the Act also mandates the VA to conduct a survey of disabled veterans and their families within one year of enactment, and periodically thereafter. This survey will identify and better understand their needs, specifically focusing on the types and quality of support received for their children and any unmet needs. Finally, the bill includes a nondiscrimination clause, applying various federal civil rights laws, such as Title IX and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to any program or activity receiving funds under this Act.