income_security_and_social_services · HHS-ACL

Lifespan Respite Care Program: State Grants

Administration for Community Living · HHS-2026-ACL-AOA-LRLI-0053

Closed

Award Range

$300K – $500K

Total Program Funding

$4.4M

Expected Awards

Deadline

July 22, 2026

GRANTQUICK SUMMARYPlain-English Overview

ACL's Lifespan Respite Care Program funds 10 state grants ($300K-$500K each, $4.4M total) to develop or enhance coordinated respite care systems for family caregivers. Respite = temporary relief for people caring for family members with disabilities, chronic conditions, or aging needs. These grants build the SYSTEM — respite provider recruitment, training, voucher programs, and statewide coordination — rather than directly providing individual respite hours.

Who Should Apply

State agencies (typically State Units on Aging or designated state respite coordinating entities). May also include state-designated nonprofits serving as the respite coordination entity. Must focus on system-building, not just service delivery.

Who Should NOT Apply

Individual respite providers, family caregivers, nonprofits without state designation, or organizations focused only on direct service delivery without systems coordination.

Key Requirements (Plain English)

•Must develop or enhance statewide coordinated respite care system
•Must serve family caregivers across the lifespan (all ages/disabilities)
•Cost-sharing IS required
•10 awards of $300K-$500K
•Must coordinate across existing respite programs and funding streams
•Must include respite provider recruitment and training

💡 GrantQuick Tip

10 awards for state-level respite systems — if your state doesn't already have a Lifespan Respite grant, you're a strong candidate for a new award. The key: show you'll COORDINATE existing respite resources (Older Americans Act, Medicaid waiver, state-funded programs) rather than duplicating them. States that can show gaps in their current respite system AND a plan for a centralized access point (one number for caregivers to call) are exactly what ACL wants.

Competitiveness: Moderate — 10 awards for 50+ states/territories. States without existing Lifespan Respite grants are prioritized for new funding.

What This Grant Funds

ACL is seeking applications from eligible state agencies that will advance the provision of respite services through their statewide Lifespan Respite Care system as outlined in the Act. There are two application options for states contained in this single Notice of Funding Opportunity. State Applicants for Option A (Grants to New States and States Re-Establishing Their Core Respite Infrastructures): This opportunity is for states who have never had a grant, OR who had a grant before, but the program has stopped, and they wish to start it up again. State Applicants for Option B (State Program Enhancement Grants): This opportunity is intended for states that have had at least one grant in the past and/or wish to continue building and expanding upon their programmatic activities to enhance and expand the availability of lifespan respite services. Grantees will collaborate with state respite organizations and coalitions to enhance and expand the availability of lifespan respite services. 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.

Attachments

PDF

hhs-2026-acl-aoa-lrli-0053-v562626.pdf

Who Can Apply

Based on statutory requirements for the Lifespan Respite Care Program authorized by Congress in 2006 under Title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C 201), and the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2020, awards may only be made to eligible state agencies administering the state"s program under the Older Americans Act of 1965 or Title XIX of the Social Security Act (Medicaid), or those designated by a Governor to administer the state"s program under this title. The eligible state agency is or works with an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)/No Wrong Door System and works in collaboration with a public or private nonprofit statewide respite care coalition or organization. Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.

Eligible Applicant Types

State Governments

Funding Details

Minimum Award: $300K
Maximum Award: $500K
Total Program Funding: $4.4M
Expected Number of Awards: 10
Cost Sharing Required?: Yes
Funding Instrument: cooperative_agreement

Key Dates

Posted: June 22, 2026

Application Deadline: July 22, 2026 (0 days remaining)

Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.

Agency Contact

Kari Benson AoA.OAA@acl.hhs.gov

AoA.OAA@acl.hhs.gov

Ready to apply?

View the full NOFO and submit your application on Grants.gov

View on Grants.gov