Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2021 ACL AOA LRLR 0046
The Lifespan Respite Care Program: Grants to New States and States Re-Establishing Their Core Respite Infrastructures is a federal discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), administered by the Administration for Community Living (ACL). Authorized by Congress in 2006, the program is designed to help states build or rebuild a coordinated, statewide “lifespan respite” system that makes respite care easier to find, easier to access, and more consistent across communities. The core idea is to reduce caregiver strain by strengthening the networks, partnerships, and service pathways that support both planned respite (scheduled relief) and emergency respite (short-notice relief when a crisis occurs). Rather than focusing on a single age group or disability category, the program supports caregivers of children and adults of any age who have chronic or long-term needs, reflecting the “lifespan” approach.
This grant emphasizes system development and infrastructure as much as direct services. States are expected to use funds to plan, establish, expand, and enhance coordinated respite systems by aligning federal, state, and local resources and funding streams. In practice, that can mean building stronger referral and intake processes, connecting respite providers to families through centralized information channels, reducing duplication across agencies, and filling gaps in service availability. The opportunity also highlights improving the overall delivery of respite by supporting provider recruitment and training, strengthening caregiver training and empowerment, and creating or expanding options for both routine and emergency respite.
To receive funding, grantees must deliver a set of required activities and services. These include developing and enhancing lifespan respite care at the state and local levels, providing respite care services for family caregivers supporting children or adults, and actively training and recruiting respite care workers and volunteers so the workforce and volunteer base can meet demand. Grantees must also ensure that caregivers can actually navigate what exists by providing information about available respite and related support services, and by offering hands-on assistance to help caregivers gain access to those services. Taken together, these requirements push states not only to increase the supply of respite options, but also to improve the “front door” experience so families can find help without needing to already know how the system works.
In addition to the required components, the program allows states to use funds for optional services that complement the core system-building goals. These optional uses include training programs for family caregivers so they can make informed decisions about respite care (for example, understanding types of respite, selecting providers, planning for emergencies, and coordinating care). Funds may also support other services deemed essential to respite delivery as specified by ACL, as well as training and education targeted to new caregivers who may be unfamiliar with available supports and how to access them. This flexibility is meant to help states tailor their approach to local gaps while still meeting the program’s main intent: a coordinated, accessible respite system.
Accountability and performance measurement are built into the grant expectations. Grantees are required to establish measurable performance goals and define indicators that track progress toward those goals. Applicants are provided examples of possible goals and indicators aligned with the Lifespan Respite Care Act’s objectives, which encourages consistent reporting while allowing states to choose metrics that match their implementation strategies. Beyond written reporting, grantees must also take part in ongoing coordination with ACL, including regular meetings and teleconferences with the assigned ACL Project Officer to review progress, discuss accomplishments, and set or refine future project goals. This reflects the cooperative agreement structure, where the federal agency typically plays a more active programmatic role than in a standard grant.
Key administrative details from the notice include that the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, and eligibility is limited to state governments. The opportunity is identified as HHS 2021 ACL AOA LRLR 0046 under CFDA 93.072, within the Income Security and Social Services activity category. The notice was created March 18, 2021, with an original application closing date of May 17, 2021. Awards were capped at $200,000 per award (award ceiling), with an anticipated total of five awards. Overall, the grant is aimed at helping states that are new to lifespan respite work or that need to re-establish core respite infrastructure build durable systems that make real relief more reachable for family caregivers across the full range of ages and disabilities.Apply for HHS 2021 ACL AOA LRLR 0046
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Lifespan Respite Care Program: Grants to New States and States Re-Establishing Their Core Respite Infrastructures" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.072.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 18, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 17, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Lifespan Respite Care Program: Grants to New States and States Re-Establishing Their Core Respite Infrastructures?
It is a federal discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), administered by the Administration for Community Living (ACL). The program supports states in building or rebuilding a coordinated, statewide "lifespan respite" system to make respite care easier to find, easier to access, and more consistent across communities.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The primary purpose is system development and infrastructure building. The grant aims to help states plan, establish, expand, and enhance coordinated respite systems by aligning federal, state, and local resources and funding streams, reducing duplication across agencies, and improving pathways that connect caregivers to respite care.
What does "lifespan respite" mean in this program?
"Lifespan" reflects that the program is not limited to a single age group or disability category. It supports caregivers of children and adults of any age who have chronic or long-term needs.
Who is this funding designed to help?
The program is designed to reduce caregiver strain by strengthening the networks, partnerships, and service pathways that support family caregivers, including access to both planned (scheduled) respite and emergency (short-notice) respite.
Does the grant focus on direct respite services or building systems?
It emphasizes both, with a strong focus on system development and infrastructure. States are expected to strengthen coordinated systems while also providing respite care services for family caregivers supporting children or adults.
What types of respite care are supported under this opportunity?
The grant supports planned respite (scheduled relief) and emergency respite (short-notice relief when a crisis occurs), with the goal of improving availability and access to both.
What are examples of system-building activities states might carry out?
Examples described in the notice include building stronger referral and intake processes, connecting respite providers to families through centralized information channels, reducing duplication across agencies, and filling gaps in respite service availability across communities.
What are the required activities and services for grantees?
Required components include: (1) developing and enhancing lifespan respite care at the state and local levels, (2) providing respite care services for family caregivers supporting children or adults, (3) actively training and recruiting respite care workers and volunteers, (4) providing information about available respite and related support services, and (5) offering hands-on assistance to help caregivers access those services.
Is workforce development part of the program requirements?
Yes. Grantees must actively train and recruit respite care workers and volunteers to help ensure the workforce and volunteer base can meet demand.
What does the grant require related to information and access for caregivers?
Grantees must ensure caregivers can navigate available supports by providing information about respite and related support services and offering hands-on assistance to help caregivers gain access to those services. This is intended to improve the "front door" experience so families can find help without already knowing how the system works.
Are there optional activities or services that states may fund?
Yes. Optional uses include training programs for family caregivers (such as understanding types of respite, selecting providers, planning for emergencies, and coordinating care), other services deemed essential to respite delivery as specified by ACL, and training and education targeted to new caregivers who may be unfamiliar with available supports and how to access them.
How does the program support new caregivers specifically?
The notice allows funds to support training and education targeted to new caregivers who may be unfamiliar with available supports and how to access them.
How are grantees expected to measure progress and performance?
Grantees are required to establish measurable performance goals and define indicators that track progress toward those goals. The notice provides examples of possible goals and indicators aligned with the Lifespan Respite Care Act's objectives, allowing states to select metrics that fit their implementation strategies.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this award is a cooperative agreement?
In this opportunity, the cooperative agreement structure includes ongoing coordination with ACL. Grantees must participate in regular meetings and teleconferences with the assigned ACL Project Officer to review progress, discuss accomplishments, and set or refine future project goals, indicating an active federal programmatic role.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is limited to state governments.
Which federal agency administers this program?
The program is administered by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
What is the opportunity number and program identifier?
The opportunity is identified as HHS 2021 ACL AOA LRLR 0046 under CFDA 93.072.
What activity category is this funding associated with?
It is listed within the Income Security and Social Services activity category.
When was this notice created and what was the application closing date?
The notice was created on March 18, 2021, and the original application closing date was May 17, 2021.
How much funding is available per award?
Awards were capped at $200,000 per award (award ceiling).
How many awards were anticipated?
The notice anticipated a total of five awards.
What kinds of states is this opportunity intended for?
It is aimed at states that are new to lifespan respite work or states that need to re-establish core respite infrastructure, with the goal of building durable systems that make respite relief more reachable statewide.
Does the program limit support to specific disabilities or populations?
No. The program emphasizes a lifespan approach and is intended to support caregivers of children and adults of any age who have chronic or long-term needs, rather than focusing on a single age group or disability category.
What is the overall intended outcome for caregivers and communities?
The intended outcome is reduced caregiver strain and improved access to consistent, coordinated respite options by strengthening partnerships, service pathways, provider capacity, and caregiver-facing information and assistance systems across the state.
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| University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service Apply for HHS 2021 ACL AOD DDUC 0071 Funding Number: HHS 2021 ACL AOD DDUC 0071 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $577,449 |
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