Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2020 ACL AOA LRLR 0402

The Lifespan Respite Care Program: Grants to New States is a federal discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL), intended to help state governments build or strengthen statewide "lifespan respite" systems. The program is designed to improve how respite care is organized and delivered across a state so that family caregivers can more easily find and use planned and emergency respite services, regardless of the age or disability of the person they care for. The opportunity is grounded in the Lifespan Respite Care Act, authorized by Congress in 2006, and it aligns with ACL's broader mission by building on systems and cross-population coordination approaches developed through the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) initiative.

At its core, the grant supports states in creating coordinated, community-based respite care networks that pull together federal, state, and local resources and funding streams. The idea is not just to fund isolated services, but to develop a more connected system that expands access, reduces fragmentation, and makes respite options easier to navigate. The program emphasizes both planned respite (scheduled relief for caregivers) and emergency respite (support when unexpected situations arise), along with the infrastructure needed to sustain those services over time, such as provider recruitment, training, and caregiver education.

The target population is broad: family caregivers of children or adults of any age who have chronic or long-term needs, spanning the full age and disability spectrum. This includes caregivers supporting individuals with significant health conditions, disabilities, or other ongoing support needs. By taking a lifespan approach, the program aims to avoid siloed systems where services are separated by age group or diagnosis, and instead encourages states to design respite pathways that work across populations.

Grantees are expected to use award funds to plan, establish, and expand or enhance a statewide Lifespan Respite Care system. The funding announcement identifies a set of required service components that every grantee must address. These include: (1) developing and enhancing lifespan respite care capacity at both state and local levels, (2) providing respite care services for family caregivers of children or adults, (3) training and recruiting respite care workers and volunteers to increase the available workforce, (4) providing caregivers with clear information about respite and related support services that exist in the community, and (5) actively assisting caregivers in accessing those services, which can include navigation support and helping people overcome practical barriers to using respite.

In addition to the required activities, the grant allows states to pursue optional services that strengthen the overall system and caregiver outcomes. Examples include training programs that help family caregivers make informed choices about respite options, training and education aimed at new caregivers who may not yet understand available supports, and other services considered essential to respite delivery as ACL may specify. These optional elements reinforce that the program is not limited to purchasing respite hours; it is also about empowering caregivers and improving the usability and responsiveness of the respite system.

Accountability and ongoing federal involvement are built into the award structure. This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument, meaning ACL expects to have an active partnership role rather than a hands-off grant relationship. Grantees must establish measurable performance goals and define indicators to track progress, using examples tied to the Lifespan Respite Care Act's objectives. They are also required to participate in regular meetings and teleconferences with the assigned ACL Project Officer to review progress, discuss accomplishments, and align on next steps and future goals. The expectations are described as consistent with prior ACL/AoA lifespan respite awards made to new states, signaling continuity in how ACL manages and evaluates these projects.

Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number HHS 2020 ACL AOA LRLR 0402 and CFDA number 93.072. Eligible applicants are limited to state governments. The award ceiling is $200,000, and ACL anticipated making 2 awards under this announcement. The opportunity was posted March 13, 2020, with an original application deadline of May 12, 2020, and electronic submissions were required by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.

  • 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 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 13, 2020.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by May 12, 2020 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (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 2 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: State governments.
Apply for HHS 2020 ACL AOA LRLR 0402

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Lifespan Respite Care Program: Grants to New States?

The Lifespan Respite Care Program: Grants to New States is a federal discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL). It is designed to help state governments build or strengthen a statewide "lifespan respite" system so family caregivers can more easily find and use both planned and emergency respite services across the full age and disability spectrum.

2. What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?

The main goal is to improve how respite care is organized and delivered statewide by developing a coordinated, community-based respite care network. Rather than funding isolated services, the grant supports the creation of a more connected system that expands access, reduces fragmentation, and makes respite options easier to navigate for family caregivers.

3. Who is the sponsoring federal agency?

The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL).

4. What law or authorization is this program based on?

This opportunity is grounded in the Lifespan Respite Care Act, which was authorized by Congress in 2006.

5. How does this program relate to ACL's broader work?

The opportunity aligns with ACL's broader mission and builds on systems and cross-population coordination approaches developed through the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) initiative.

6. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are limited to state governments.

7. Who is the target population served by the funded project?

The target population is family caregivers of children or adults of any age who have chronic or long-term needs. This includes caregiving situations involving significant health conditions, disabilities, or other ongoing support needs, and is intended to span the full age and disability spectrum.

8. What does a "lifespan" approach mean in this program?

A lifespan approach means the state designs respite pathways that work across populations instead of creating separate, siloed systems by age group or diagnosis. The intent is to make respite supports more consistent and accessible regardless of the care recipient's age or disability category.

9. What kinds of respite does the program emphasize?

The program emphasizes both planned respite (scheduled relief for caregivers) and emergency respite (support when unexpected situations arise), along with the infrastructure needed to sustain those services.

10. What is meant by building a statewide lifespan respite "system" instead of funding isolated services?

The grant is intended to support statewide coordination and infrastructure, including pulling together federal, state, and local resources and funding streams into a connected network. The goal is to reduce fragmentation and make respite easier to find, access, and use.

11. What are grantees expected to do with the award funds?

Grantees are expected to use award funds to plan, establish, and expand or enhance a statewide Lifespan Respite Care system.

12. What required service components must every grantee address?

The funding announcement identifies required service components that every grantee must address:

  • Developing and enhancing lifespan respite care capacity at both state and local levels
  • Providing respite care services for family caregivers of children or adults
  • Training and recruiting respite care workers and volunteers to increase the available workforce
  • Providing caregivers with clear information about respite and related support services available in the community
  • Actively assisting caregivers in accessing services, including navigation support and helping overcome practical barriers

13. Does the grant support workforce development for respite providers?

Yes. Required activities include training and recruiting respite care workers and volunteers to increase the available workforce.

14. Does the program include caregiver information and navigation support?

Yes. Required activities include providing caregivers with clear information about respite and related community support services, and actively assisting caregivers in accessing those services (which can include navigation support and help addressing practical barriers).

15. Are there optional activities states may include?

Yes. In addition to required activities, the grant allows optional services that strengthen the system and caregiver outcomes. Examples mentioned include training programs that help family caregivers make informed choices about respite options, training and education for new caregivers who may not yet understand available supports, and other services considered essential to respite delivery as ACL may specify.

16. Is this funding intended only to purchase respite hours?

No. The opportunity emphasizes system building and strengthening, including caregiver empowerment, infrastructure, provider recruitment and training, and improving the usability and responsiveness of the respite system. It is not limited to purchasing respite hours.

17. What type of federal funding instrument is used?

This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument.

18. What does a cooperative agreement mean for the grantee?

A cooperative agreement means ACL expects to have an active partnership role rather than a hands-off relationship. The grantee should anticipate ongoing federal involvement in reviewing progress and aligning on next steps.

19. What performance and accountability expectations are included?

Grantees must establish measurable performance goals and define indicators to track progress, using examples tied to the Lifespan Respite Care Act's objectives.

20. Will grantees have regular communication with ACL?

Yes. Grantees are required to participate in regular meetings and teleconferences with the assigned ACL Project Officer to review progress, discuss accomplishments, and align on next steps and future goals.

21. How many awards were expected to be made under this announcement?

ACL anticipated making 2 awards under this announcement.

22. What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The award ceiling is $200,000.

23. What are the key identifying numbers for this funding opportunity?

The funding opportunity number is HHS 2020 ACL AOA LRLR 0402 and the CFDA number is 93.072.

24. When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted March 13, 2020.

25. What was the original application deadline?

The original application deadline was May 12, 2020.

26. How were applications required to be submitted?

Electronic submissions were required.

27. What was the submission cutoff time on the due date?

Electronic submissions were due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.

28. Is this opportunity specifically for "new states"?

Yes. The opportunity title indicates it is for "Grants to New States," and the expectations are described as consistent with prior ACL/AoA lifespan respite awards made to new states.

29. What kinds of systems does the program aim to create?

The program aims to create coordinated, community-based respite care networks that pull together federal, state, and local resources and funding streams to expand access, reduce fragmentation, and make respite services easier to navigate.

30. Does the program address both state-level and local-level capacity?

Yes. A required component is developing and enhancing lifespan respite care capacity at both state and local levels.

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