Advancing State Implementation of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers
Over 53 million family caregivers support older adults and individuals with disabilities to live in the community each year. Many caregivers do not see themselves as caregivers or lack the information necessary to make informed choices or request assistance. As the nation’s population ages and life expectancy increases, the need for support provided by a family member or friend will more than likely increase.
To address this growing need, ACL awards cooperative agreements to state units on aging to advance the implementation of the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. These grants are intended to help states increase awareness, knowledge, and access to services and resources and improve outcomes for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers.
Successfully implementing the strategy’s actions and recommendations may require breaking down silos that exist between state agencies. The state implementation projects must collaborate with their state developmental disabilities agency and at least one additional state agency — such as one focused on public health, Medicaid, transportation, or workforce development, as well as a tribe or tribal agency.