Lifespan Respite Care Program: State Grants

Source-based overview

ACL is seeking applications from eligible state agencies to advance the provision of respite services through statewide Lifespan Respite Care systems, as authorized under the Lifespan Respite Care Act. The program aims to develop or expand state systems and capacity to provide respite care and related services to family caregivers of children and adults across the lifespan, regardless of disability or chronic condition. There are two application options contained in this single NOFO. State Applicants for Option A (Grants to New States and States Re-Establishing Their Core Respite Infrastructures): This opportunity is for states who have never had a Grant before, OR who had a grant before, but the program has stopped, and they wish to start it up again. Intended for states that have never received a grant or those whose programs may have lapsed, and the state wishes to re-establish program activities. State Applicants for Option B (State Program Enhancement Grants): This opportunity is intended for states that have had at least one grant in the past and/or wish to continue building and expanding upon their programmatic activities to enhance and expand the availability of lifespan respite services. Grantees will collaborate with state respite organizations and coalitions to enhance and expand the availability of lifespan respite services. All programs must, from the outset, address the respite needs of all populations regardless of age, disability, or chronic condition of the care recipient population. Funded applicants will continue advancing respite goals that build collaborations and partnerships statewide, expand volunteer options, offer respite provider training, find and reduce service gaps and or duplication through outreach and engagement, and further meaningful caregiver-focused respite strategies and authorized services as outlined in the Act. ACL will fund approximately ten (10) cooperative agreements over the course of the 3-year project period. Awardees under this funding opportunity will work with ACL to implement the federal requirements under the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006, Section 2904 of the Lifespan Respite Reauthorization Act of 2020 and Section 2901 of the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2025, signed into law in 2026. The official record contains the controlling eligibility, budget, attachment and submission requirements for opportunity HHS-2027-ACL-AOA-LRLI-0007.

Eligibility

Eligible applicant types listed by the agency: State governments. Applicants must also satisfy every programme-specific condition in the official notice.

Funding and benefits

Award ceiling: USD 500,000

Expected number of awards: 10

Themes and supported activities

ACL is seeking applications from eligible state agencies to advance the provision of respite services through statewide Lifespan Respite Care systems, as authorized under the Lifespan Respite Care Act. The program aims to develop or expand state systems and capacity to provide respite care and related services to family caregivers of children and adults across the lifespan, regardless of disability or chronic condition. There are two application options contained in this single NOFO. State Applicants for Option A (Grants to New States and States Re-Establishing Their Core Respite Infrastructures): This opportunity is for states who have never had a Grant before, OR who had a grant before, but the program has stopped, and they wish to start it up again. Intended for states that have never received a grant or those whose programs may have lapsed, and the state wishes to re-establish program activities. State Applicants for Option B (State Program Enhancement Grants): This opportunity is intended for states that have had at least one grant in the past and/or wish to continue building and expanding upon their programmatic activities to enhance and expand the availability of lifespan respite services. Grantees will collaborate with state respite organizations and coalitions to enhance and expand the availability of lifespan respite services. All programs must, from the outset, address the respite needs of all populations regardless of age, disability, or chronic condition of the care recipient population. Funded applicants will continue advancing respite goals that build collaborations and partnerships statewide, expand volunteer options, offer respite provider training, find and reduce service gaps and or duplication through outreach and engagement, and further meaningful caregiver-focused respite strategies and authorized services as outlined in the Act. ACL will fund approximately ten (10) cooperative agreements over the course of the 3-year project period. Awardees under this funding opportunity will work with ACL to implement the federal requirements under the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006, Section 2904 of the Lifespan Respite Reauthorization Act of 2020 and Section 2901 of the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2025, signed into law in 2026.

Opportunity number: HHS-2027-ACL-AOA-LRLI-0007

Deadline and timeline

Forecast notice: deadline to be announced: Forecast notice: deadline to be announced.

Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.

How to apply

Open the official Grants.gov record, review the full notice and attachments, and use the application package or agency route stated there.

Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.