Lifespan Respite Care Program: State Program Enhancement Grants

Eligible state agencies funded under this announcement shall use grant funds to advance the provision of respite services through their statewide Lifespan Respite Care system as outlined in The Act. The goal of the program is to enhance state systems and capacities to deliver respite care and related services to family caregivers of children and adults across all age groups, disabilities, and chronic conditions. All programs must from the outset, address the respite needs of all populations regardless of the age, disability, or chronic condition of the care recipient population. Funded applicants will continue to build collaborations and partnerships across the state and carry out key activities including expanding options for volunteers; ensuring adequate respite provider training is offered; identifying gaps in current services and conducting outreach to reduce those gaps; and continue to, or increase efforts to, target underserved populations across the lifespan. ACL will fund approximately seven (7) cooperative agreements over the course of the 4-year project period. Applications should reflect an understanding of and grounding in the principles and actions contained in the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. It is ACL’s expectation that using the Strategy as a roadmap or guide, applicants will incorporate the approaches outlined in the Strategy, as applicable, for enhancing their State Lifespan Respite Systems of care. Awardees under this funding opportunity will work with ACL to implement the data collection and reporting requirements, under Section 2904 of the Lifespan Respite Reauthorization Act of 2020.