The Administration for Community Living (ACL) supports the needs of the aging and disability populations, and improves access health care and long-term services.
The grant program from ACL is focused on supporting eligible state agencies in establishing or revitalizing Lifespan Respite Care systems that deliver respite care and related services for family caregivers of individuals across all ages, disabilities, and chronic conditions. The program specifically aims to fund states that either have not previously participated in this program (New States) or are seeking to re-establish their respite services after their programs became dormant post-federal funding (Returning States). A minimum of three cooperative agreements will be funded for a three-year project period, with all programs required to address the respite needs of all populations from the start. The use of grant funds includes creating new and emergency respite services, recruiting and training workers and volunteers, assisting caregivers to access services, targeting underserved populations, and providing other authorized services to expand and enhance state respite infrastructures.