Lifespan Respite Care Program: Grants to New States and States Re-Establishing Their Core Respite Infrastructures

Grantees will be expected to use funds to plan, establish and expand/enhance Lifespan Respite Care systems in their states, including new and planned emergency respite services, training and recruiting respite workers and volunteers and assisting caregivers with gaining access to needed services. Grantees must provide the following required services: (1) Development and enhancement of lifespan respite care at the State and local levels; (2) The provision of respite care services for family caregivers caring for children or adults; (3) Training and recruiting of respite care workers and volunteers; (4) The provision of information to caregivers about available respite and support services; and (5) Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to such services.Additionally, grantees may use funds to develop a range of optional services, including: (1) Training programs for family caregivers to assist family caregivers in making informed decisions about respite care services; (2) Other services essential to the provision of respite care as may be specified by ACL; or (3) Training and education for new caregivers.Grantees will be expected to establish and describe measurable performance goals, including indicators to track progress on those goals. Applicants will be given examples of performance goals and indicators based on the objectives of the Lifespan Respite Care Act, such as indicating how they will quantify how their proposed activities further enabled families to choose control, and navigate service options and gain access to those services; describing their plan for, and their data measurement for, serving all age groups and disability categories, without preference for a select demographic or disability population; document increased collaboration with non-profit statewide coalitions and the ADRC/NWD systems in their state; and provide a means of measuring their progress in developing a functioning and sustainable state Lifespan Respite Care Program. Grantees will be required to participate in regular meetings and teleconferences with the ACL Project Officer to review project developments and accomplishments and to discuss future project goals. The expectations described within the funding opportunity announcement will be consistent with ACL/AoA’s previous lifespan respite program awards to new states.