The Lifespan Respite Care Program, supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), offers a cooperative agreement designed to advance the recruitment, training, and retention of respite care providers through national-level initiatives. With a funding ceiling of $1,250,000 and a minimum award of $950,000, this three-year project will expand on the National Respite Care Provider Training (NRCPT) to improve the availability of trained, competent respite providers for caregivers of people across age and disability spectrums. The project’s anticipated outcomes include increased NRCPT awareness and usage, improved provider retention, streamlined caregiver access to providers, and adaptation of NRCPT for limited English-speaking populations. Additionally, ACL seeks to establish a framework for evidence-based evaluation of the NRCPT’s effectiveness. Given the U.S. workforce shortage in direct care services, this program aligns with the goals of President Biden’s 2023 Executive Order, which aims to enhance direct care workforce development and long-term care systems.

This funding opportunity invites public and private nonprofit organizations that meet the criteria outlined in the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2020 to apply. Faith-based and community organizations that fulfill eligibility requirements are also encouraged to submit proposals. Foreign entities are not eligible for funding. Applicants must have the capacity and expertise for a project of this scale, either through internal resources or partnerships. Applications should outline methods for achieving the program’s objectives, such as expanding NRCPT’s reach, developing connections between caregivers and trained providers, and proposing methods for recruiting and retaining respite providers. Importantly, applicants are encouraged to consider ways to adapt NRCPT for diverse cultural and linguistic needs, especially for communities with limited English proficiency, beyond those with existing Spanish-language resources.

To participate, applicants must propose approaches for project planning and execution, including a three-month workplan and budget finalization period post-award. This period allows for refinement of the project’s approach, with input from ACL’s program officers. ACL emphasizes the necessity of a national project scope; proposals limited to a specific region, state, or local area will not be considered. Successful applicants should also demonstrate a commitment to accessible information dissemination, including 508-compliant materials, and to utilizing available technical assistance resources, such as the Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance and Resource Center and the Direct Care Workforce Technical Assistance Center.

The project structure allows for sub-grants or subcontracts to enhance expertise and achieve project objectives. Applicants must outline selection criteria for sub-grantees and subcontractors and describe methods for monitoring progress and ensuring task completion. Sustainability planning is also critical; ACL expects grantees to present feasible strategies for continuing the project’s benefits beyond the federal funding period. This sustainability plan will be considered in the application review.

Evaluation of project outcomes is a core requirement. Applicants are expected to define measurable outcomes that reflect the anticipated impacts of the project, alongside a plan for assessing the overall effectiveness. Clear metrics and an evaluation framework will be essential to capture the success and impact of the expanded NRCPT program.

The application deadline has passed for this cycle, but potential applicants are encouraged to consult the anticipated guidelines and deadlines for the next round. This advance planning allows organizations to gather necessary resources and develop comprehensive project proposals aligned with ACL’s goals for improving the direct care workforce and enhancing respite care services nationwide.