Foa_Content_of_HHS-2023-ACL-AOA-CGPS-0058.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

Advancing Aging Network Capacity to Recognize and Support Family, Kinship and Tribal Caregivers

HHS-2023-ACL-AOA-CGPS-0058

06/26/2023

Table of Contents Executive Summary

Additional Overview Content/Executive Summary

I. Funding Opportunity Description

II. Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Intent

Project Narrative

Summary/Abstract

Problem Statement

Goals and Objectives

Proposed Intervention

Special Target Populations and Organizations

Outcomes

Project Management

Evaluation

Dissemination

Organizational Capability

Budget Narrative/Justification

Work Plan

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

4. Submission Dates and Times

5. Intergovernmental Review

6. Funding Restrictions

7. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Anticipated Announcement Award Date

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

4. FFATA and FSRS Reporting

VII. Agency Contacts

VIII. Other Information

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-13)

Appendix

Instructions for Completing Required Forms

Budget Narrative/Justification- Sample Format

Instructions for Completing the Project Summary/ Abstract

ACL Center:

Administration on Aging Funding Opportunity Title:

Advancing Aging Network Capacity to Recognize and Support Family, Kinship and Tribal Caregivers Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2023-ACL-AOA-CGPS-0058

Primary CFDA Number:

93.052 Due Date for Letter of Intent:

Date will be generated on synopsis publication Due Date for Applications:

06/26/2023 Date for Informational Conference Call:

05/04/2023 Applications that fail to meet the application due date will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration. You are strongly encouraged to submit your application a minimum of 3-5 days prior to the application closing date. Do not wait until the last day in the event you encounter technical difficulties, either on your end or, with https://www.grants.gov. Grants.gov can take up to 48 hours to notify you of a successful submission.

Executive Summary

Additional Overview Content/Executive Summary https://www.grants.gov/

The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to implement the demonstration authority in Section 373(i) of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended (OAA), using the framework provided by the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers (the Strategy).

The project will undertake a multi-faceted, cross-collaborative initiative to advance the capacity of the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP – OAA, Title III-E) and the Native American Caregiver Support Program (NACSP-OAA, Title VI-C) to better recognize and support family caregivers.

ACL will award five cooperative agreements to five unique entities to undertake activities of a national scope and reach. The projects will last for a duration of 48 months, with four, 12-month budget periods. Awards will range from a floor of $300,000 per year to a ceiling of $1.1 million per year, depending on the funding option and the amount of federal funds available.

Grantees and their partners will work in close coordination with ACL program and contract staff to undertake a range of technical assistance, training, and capacity building initiatives, each of which will be grounded in one of the five priority/goal areas of the Strategy:

Increasing awareness of, and outreach to, family caregivers Advancing inclusion and engagement of family caregivers within care teams Advancing innovations in family caregiver services and supports Strengthening financial and workplace security of family caregivers Advancing a family caregiver national research and data collection strategy

The target audiences for the technical assistance and related activities of each grantee are entities typically involved with implementing and operating programs funded by the OAA, including state units on aging (SUAs); area agencies on aging (AAAs); local aging services and family caregiver support providers; kinship, grandparent and grandfamily services providers; tribes and tribal entities, and other entities that may be part of the aging and/or tribal services networks.

Additionally, given the NFCSP’s inclusion of family caregivers of individuals with early onset-dementia and older relative caregivers supporting adults with disabilities, ACL desires that proposals identify how they will work to advance the capacity of the program to reach and serve these populations more effectively.

An informational call for prospective applicants will be held as follows:

Date: Thursday, May 4, 2023

Time: 2:00 pm, Eastern

Phone Number: 800-779-3216

Passcode: 3818865

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Introduction

In 2000, when Congress reauthorized the Older Americans Act (OAA), it created two new authorities, Titles III-E and VI-C, and established the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) and the Native American Caregiver Support Program (NACSP) under those authorities, respectively. Together, these programs became the first formal federal recognition of https://acl.gov/CaregiverStrategy the need to assist family, tribal, and kinship caregivers with an array of services and supports intended to meet them where they are in their caregiving journey. Additionally, that year, Congress further authorized projects of national significance and demonstration to support program implementation and test innovations in serving family, tribal, and older relative caregivers. That authority and associated activities expired in 2003. Congress reinstated demonstration authority in the 2020 reauthorization of the OAA with the addition of Section 373(i) “Activities of National Significance” to “promote quality and continuous improvement in the support provided to family caregivers and older relative caregivers…” and undertake “program evaluation, training, technical assistance, and research…” activities.

Supporting family caregivers has been an urgent public health issue for years and became even more urgent with the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, national attention to the needs of family caregivers and the necessity for supporting them has gained momentum.

Goal

ACL’s goal for this initiative is greater recognition, support, and inclusion of the family caregivers served by the OAA Title IIIE and VI-C programs and greater alignment with other efforts to improve supports to family caregivers. ACL wishes to ensure that the NFCSP and NACSP are well-positioned to respond to, and evolve with, a rapidly shifting policy and service delivery landscape.

Family, Kinship and Tribal Caregiving – The Numbers and the Challenge

Each year, more than 53 million family caregivers provide most of the support that makes it possible for older people and people with disabilities to live in the community (AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving, 2020). In addition, at least 2.7 million grandparents – and an unknown number of other kin caregivers – carried the primary responsibility for caring for children whose parents were unable to do so (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2019). Among American Indian, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian (AI/AN/NH) populations, approximately one in three elders reports having a family caregiver, and nearly one in ten elders themselves are grandparents raising grandchildren (See Title VI Evaluation, Year 3 Interim Report).

As the population ages and people live longer, the need for support provided by a family member or friend will likely increase. Additionally, if the direct care workforce shortage crisis continues

– or worsens -- greater and greater responsibility for very complex care tasks could ultimately fall to family members and other informal caregivers. All too often, family caregivers do not recognize themselves as such, or they lack sufficient knowledge about the tasks they are performing, or the confidence to be sure they are doing them properly. Additionally, many continue to lack the information they need to properly understand their needs or do not understand how to navigate complex systems of support without assistance.

The National Family Caregiver Support Program and the Native American Caregiver Support Program: An Overview

The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) and the Native American Caregiver Support Program (NACSP) were created with the understanding that family caregivers are best supported by a combination of services that act together to meet the multi-faceted and often-rapidly changing situations they find themselves in. The five services that make up the NFCSP/NACSP include information about available services and supports; assistance with https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2020-03/ACL_TitleVI_EvaluationYear3_InterimReport_1_2020_508.pdf accessing services; counseling, education, and support groups; respite; and supplemental goods and services as determined necessary to meet caregiver needs. In total, the program is intended to provide family caregivers with a flexible array of supports that can change with along with their caregiving situations. In addition, many states offer family caregiver support programs of their own, several of which pre-date the NFCSP/NACSP, providing additional opportunities for assistance.

By statute, the NFCSP/NACSP provide services the following four eligible populations of family caregivers:

Family caregivers (age 18 and older) providing support to adults aged 60 and older;

Family caregivers (age 18 and older) providing supports to adults of any age with

Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder with neurological and organic brain dysfunction;

Older relative caregivers (age 55 and older) caring for children other than their own, who are not more than 18 years of age; and

Older relative caregivers (age 55 and older) of disabled adults ages 18-59 years (which may include the children of the older relative caregiver).

The NFCSP and NACSP provide significant services and supports to family caregivers. For example, in 2020, the most recent year for which data is available, the NFCSP provided nearly

4.9 million hours of respite to more than 50,000 family caregivers and enabled more than 1.5 million contacts with family caregivers to assist them in finding services. In 2021, the NACSP provided more than 1.3 million units of family caregiver – related services, including respite care, information and referral, caregiver training and support groups. (See FY 2024 ACL Congressional Justification)

The first evaluation of the NFCSP demonstrated the program’s effectiveness as a catalyst for states and communities to focus on the multi-faceted and often-rapidly changing needs of family caregivers. For example, the process evaluation demonstrated that the program helped push states and communities to actively focus on developing supports for family caregivers, dedicate staff to the issue, and target unserved and underserved populations. (See 2016 Process Evaluation of the National Family Caregiver Support Program).

The Outcome Evaluation of the NFCSP, published in 2018, found that family caregivers who used services like respite reported lower levels of perceived burden than those who did not.

Additionally, the results showed that caregivers who received training and education reported higher levels of self-confidence in their roles and in performing the tasks they were undertaking.

These findings affirm the program’s value with respect to maintaining family caregiver wellbeing and should serve as rationale for further enhancing its capacity.

The Evolving Environment of Family Caregiver Recognition and Support

This new initiative is grounded in several factors, including our current understanding of the needs of family caregivers; the post-COVID environment all human services programs must now navigate; a crisis in the direct care workforce; and perhaps most importantly, the publication of the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers to serve as a roadmap for better recognition and support of family caregivers. These broader contextual factors should serve as a grounding for applicants as they begin preparing their applications.

https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/FY2024ACL-CJ-508.docx https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/FY2024ACL-CJ-508.docx https://acl.gov/programs/program-evaluations-and-reports https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2017-02/NFCSP_Final_Report-update.pdf https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2017-02/NFCSP_Final_Report-update.pdf https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2018-12/Caregiver_Outcome_Evaluation_Final_Report.pdf

Over the past several decades, research has deepened our understanding of the challenges family caregivers face and provided important insights into their needs and preferences for support, including evidence-informed/evidence-based interventions. Additionally, we know more than ever that family caregivers of all backgrounds benefit from systems that recognize their unique situations, support needs, and cultural preferences, while at the same time honoring and maximizing the independence and autonomy of those they support. Wherever possible, this initiative will look to the latest research and data to advance supports for family caregivers.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced human services programs of all types to take radically different approaches to how they operate and provide services. Overnight, programs had to shift from in-person to virtual formats or cease operation altogether. In addition, many families took on caregiving responsibilities suddenly when they moved loved ones from nursing homes and similar facilities back to the community to protect them from the virus. This both significantly increased the number of family caregivers needing support and created new support needs. As the nation worked through the effects of the pandemic, new opportunities for how services and supports are designed and delivered began to emerge. Now, as we look beyond the pandemic, programs have opportunities to continue – and to build upon – these innovations, and to continue to evolve to meet the changing needs and circumstances of caregivers and care recipients of all communities, and across all age groups.

In most cases, family caregivers cannot “go it alone.” They often need the help of well-trained, well-compensated and high-quality direct care workers (also called direct support professionals).

Long-standing workforce shortages have reached crisis levels, making it difficult for families to access services. The grantees funded under this initiative will need to be cognizant of the workforce challenges currently at play and identify opportunities to address them in their work.

In this regard, this initiative will help inform (and be informed by) a new National Center to Strengthen the Direct Care Workforce (the Center) launched by ACL in late 2022. The Center seeks to support recruitment, retention, and professional development of workers who provide home and community-based services and help to address issues of recruitment and retention of direct care workers.

The passage of the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act (the RAISE Act) and the formation and work of the Family Caregiving Advisory Council (FCAC), shined a spotlight on the multifaceted needs of family caregivers. In its Initial Report to Congress, the FCAC put forward a set of 26 recommendations for better supporting and recognizing family and tribal caregivers. The recommendations ranged from ensuring greater awareness by and about family caregivers to offering a vision for a more comprehensive and cohesive array of services and supports.

Similarly, from the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren’s (SGRG) Initial Report to Congress, we know that older relative caregivers who step into parenting roles again, especially for young children and children with disabilities, need a highly specialized array of services and supports that can respond to their unique needs and specific situations. The SGRG Council’s 22 recommendations provide a foundation for more effective partnerships across a variety of sectors that can improve the systems of supports for kinship and grandfamilies.

The advisory councils collaborated with ACL to develop and disseminate the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers (the Strategy). The creation of the Strategy occurred at a https://acl.gov/programs/direct-care-workforce https://acl.gov/programs/direct-care-workforce https://acl.gov/programs/support-caregivers/raise-family-caregiving-advisory-council https://acl.gov/RAISE/report https://acl.gov/RAISE/report https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/RAISE_SGRG/RAISE%20RECOMMENDATIONS%20FINAL%20WEB.pdf file://AOAFS01/common/AoA_OSCS/Lifespan%20Respite%20Program/FOAs/FY%202023/acl.gov/sgrg https://acl.gov/SGRG/report https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2020-12/SGRG%20Recommendations%20Final%20Web.pdf file://AOAFS01/common/AoA_OSCS/Lifespan%20Respite%20Program/FOAs/FY%202023/acl.gov/caregiverstrategy file://AOAFS01/common/AoA_OSCS/Lifespan%20Respite%20Program/FOAs/FY%202023/acl.gov/caregiverstrategy pivotal juncture and offers a roadmap for a whole of society approach to strengthening our nation’s commitment to, and recognition and support of, family caregivers, including those supported by the NFCSP and NACSP. The Strategy represents the first time a broad cross-section of the federal government collaborated with the private sector on a response to the longstanding national need for a comprehensive system of family caregiver support. Embedded throughout are numerous opportunities for the aging services network and tribes to assess where they wish to advance development of the NFCSP/NACSP to ensure it remains in step with current understanding of family caregiver needs and preferences for recognition, assistance, and support. Applicants to this NOFO are expected to embed the principles and actions in the Strategy, including those found in the portion of the Strategy titled Actions for States, Communities, and Others in their proposals, including how they will support operationalizing them throughout the aging and tribal services networks.

As greater emphasis is placed on ensuring that programs and services are responsive to the needs of a diverse population with varied backgrounds, experiences, and expectations, it is ACL’s intention that the five projects funded through this NOFO address the following cross-cutting considerations central to strengthening the recognition and support of family caregivers:

Placing the family and person the center of all interactions while protecting the rights of the person receiving support;

Addressing trauma and its impact on families;

Advancing equity, accessibility, and inclusion for caregivers in underserved communities; and Elevating direct support professionals as family caregiving partners.

The fourth component of the Strategy, titled “First Principles: Cross-Cutting Considerations for Family Caregiver Support,” includes essential information and practices for these key areas.

Applicants should describe how their efforts will promote equity, cultural and linguistic competence through the technical assistance they provide. Additionally, applicants should review the Biden/Harris Administration’s Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, dated January 20, 2021 to ensure their projects are appropriately aligned with these expectations.

Target Audiences for Project Activities

This initiative is funded under the authority of the OAA, Section 373(i) and is intended to foster the ongoing development and strengthening of the NFCSP and NACSP. Therefore, the target audience for the technical assistance and related activities of this initiative includes entities typically involved with implementing and operating programs funded by the OAA, including state units on aging (SUAs); area agencies on aging (AAAs); local aging and family caregiver support providers; kinship, grandparent and grandfamily services providers; tribes and tribal entities; and other entities that may be part of the aging and/or tribal services networks.

Additionally, given the NFCSP’s inclusion of populations of family caregivers that support adults with disabilities and those with early onset dementia, proposals should identify how they will work to increase the capacity of the program to reach and serve these populations more effectively.

Family caregiving populations to be addressed https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/RAISE_SGRG/NatlStrategyFamCaregivers_ActionsSCO.pdf https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/RAISE_SGRG/NatlStrategyFamCaregivers_ActionsSCO.pdf https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/RAISE_SGRG/NatlStrategyFamCaregivers_FirstPrinciples.pdf https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/RAISE_SGRG/NatlStrategyFamCaregivers_FirstPrinciples.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/

Each primary grantee and their partners will be expected to focus their activities on all populations of family caregivers addressed by Title III E and VI-C. Additionally, grantees will be expected to identify opportunities to tailor approaches to family caregiving populations not directly supported by the program (e.g., adult family caregivers under age 55 providing supports to persons with disabilities under the age of 60), but for whom such program innovations might prove useful.

Priority Areas for Project Activities

The five grantees (and their partners) funded under this NOFO will undertake a range of technical assistance, training, and capacity building initiatives, each of which will be grounded in one of the five priority/goal areas of the Strategy:

1. Increasing awareness of, and outreach to, family caregivers

2. Advancing inclusion and engagement of family caregivers within care teams

3. Advancing innovations in family caregiver services and supports

4. Strengthening financial and workplace security of family caregivers

5. Advancing a family caregiver national research and data collection strategy

Applicants should describe how they, along with their partners, will advance the field of family caregiver recognition, assistance, inclusion, support, and engagement in ONE of the priorities listed above. Applicants should describe how they will ascertain and leverage the strengths that exist within and across the aging and tribal services networks, including how they will collect, curate and disseminate information across the networks, as well as identify opportunities to fill gaps in capacity where identified. Next, applicants will propose how they will forge innovations and break new ground to advance the chosen priority area.

IMPORTANT: No entity may be the prime grantee on more than one of the funding options described below. Given the complexity of the topic, however, an entity may be a sub-grantee or sub-contractor on other projects funded from this NOFO, but for which they are not the prime grantee. Applicants submitting multiple applications as a prime applicant will be eliminated from consideration during the Application Responsiveness Screening process.

Applicants should clearly state the funding option for which they are applying in their project title or elsewhere so that it can be easily determined

FUNDING OPTION 1

Priority Area: Increasing awareness of, and outreach to, family caregivers

Number of awards: One cooperative agreement

Funding level: up to $1 million per year, for four years

Goal 1 of the Strategy states that, “…improving support for family caregivers requires increased awareness of the roles they play and the challenges they face. In addition, there are many people providing support to others who do not think of themselves as ‘caregivers;’ they need to be empowered to identify the crucial role they play so that they can receive available training and assistance if they need it. Reaching these populations, especially historically marginalized groups, will require focused efforts to overcome mistrust of institutions, systems, and governments and the use of culturally and linguistically competent approaches.” (National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, page 30)

Under Funding Option 1, ACL seeks the development, testing, and dissemination of a range of activities, products, tools, and technical assistance to increase awareness of family caregiving issues, help family caregivers self-identify, and help family caregivers access assistance more readily. Applicants must demonstrate the expertise and capacity for developing and undertaking activities such as (but not limited to):

Developing and disseminating education and awareness campaigns for professionals and the public related to family caregiving and related matters;

Developing and testing approaches for increasing family caregiver self-identification and recognition;

Developing and deploying culturally competent outreach to unserved and underserved family caregivers;

Fostering the inclusion of family caregivers and the persons they support, in state, territorial, tribal, and local planning;

Promoting and supporting the development of public-private partnerships that drive family caregiver support; and

Other activities and initiatives to promote and expand national awareness of family caregivers and caregiving.

Applicants should thoroughly describe their approaches for achieving the overarching goals and objectives of this funding option, in addition to addressing each of the “Additional Application Elements and Considerations” described below.

FUNDING OPTION 2

Priority Area: Advancing partnerships and engagement of family caregivers and care teams

Number of awards: One cooperative agreement

Funding level: up to $1.1 million per year, for four years

Family caregivers often provide hands-on support like personal care, assistance with eating, dressing, walking, and transportation. They can also provide complex medical tasks and therapies. In many situations, family caregivers take on the role of care coordinator and advocate for the person for whom they support within a variety of systems. In fact, according to Goal 2 of the Strategy, “a holistic, person- and family-centered caregiver support system is one that—with the consent of the person receiving care—fully integrates the family caregiver into care processes within existing systems.” (National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, page 43)

Under this option, ACL seeks development, testing and dissemination of approaches, activities, products, tools, and technical assistance designed to foster greater integration and inclusion of family caregivers as integral partners of care teams of all types. Applicants must demonstrate the understanding, expertise, and capacity for developing and undertaking activities such as (but not limited to):

Advancing the use of evidence-based tools to assess and capture family caregiver needs and preferences

Fostering greater recognition and inclusion of family caregivers as essential care team partners

Increasing inclusion of family caregivers within care planning processes (when the person receiving care consents)

Advancing approaches for ensuring the inclusion of family caregivers in policy-making processes

Developing and disseminating training for professionals on meaningfully interacting with and including family caregivers in care teams

Other activities and initiatives resulting in more partnerships and engagement between family caregivers and care teams

Applicants should thoroughly describe their approaches for achieving the overarching goals and objectives of this funding option, in addition to addressing each of the “Additional Application Elements and Considerations” described below.

FUNDING OPTION 3

Priority Area: Innovations in family caregiver services and supports

Number of awards: one cooperative agreement

Funding level: up to $1.1 million per year, for four years

Goal 3 of the Strategy lays out an ambitious vision for achieving a system of services and supports capable of meeting the complex and varied support needs of family caregivers. The Strategy states that, “to enable caregivers to provide support, now and into the future, the nation will need significant investments to ensure consistent access to an array of flexible services and supports, tailored to their needs and preferences, including high quality training about a wide range of topics; understandable instructions and communications about their responsibilities;

flexible respite care, counseling, and peer support; and other accessible, culturally competent goods, services, and supports.” (National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, page 54)

Under this option, ACL seeks development, testing and dissemination of approaches, activities, products, tools, and technical assistance designed to enhance the availability of and access to a range of services and supports for family caregivers. The ten outcomes articulated in Goal 3 should serve as a guide for applicants in developing their approaches to addressing this Funding Option.

Applicant must demonstrate the understanding, expertise, and capacity for developing and undertaking technical assistance and related activities that can support:

Increasing person- and family-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally competent approaches to service delivery

Leveraging and building upon existing work to advance the availability of flexible and accessible respite care

Expanding and advancing the range of education, counseling, and peer supports that are available to family caregivers

Increasing access to social determinants of health of importance to family caregiving, including (but not limited to) safe housing, nutritious means, transportation, assistive technologies, and others.

Leveraging volunteers for family caregiver support

Increasing the inclusion of family caregivers in emergency response planning and preparedness.

Developing, curating, and disseminating resources to improve planning for future care needs

Testing approaches for improving recognition of, and strengthening connections between kinship and grandparent caregivers and child welfare systems

Other activities and initiatives to expand service and support options and practices for family caregivers.

Given the scope and complexity of this priority area, applicants with a demonstrated capacity of supporting advancements in program development and service delivery, and providing multi-faceted technical assistance, will be best positioned for success. Additionally, because of the breadth of this priority, the primary applicants should expect to collaborate with a range of partners and subject matter experts (SMEs) on the execution of this project.

ACL recognizes that there are existing technical assistance and support for specific types of services and service delivery approaches (e.g., respite; person-centered/trauma-informed (PCTI) services and supports; person centered planning, etc.). Applicants should describe how they will complement and collaborate with but not duplicate, these existing resources.

Applicants should thoroughly describe their approaches for achieving the overarching goals and objectives of this priority area while addressing each of the “Additional Application Elements and Considerations” described below.

FUNDING OPTION 4

Priority Area: Strengthening financial and workplace security

Number of awards: One cooperative agreement

Funding level: up to $750,000 per year, for four years

Family caregiving can be an expensive undertaking for many, and it can be difficult to balance caregiving responsibilities with work outside the home. Personal finances, future financial stability, and workplace considerations are often a great source of stress for many family caregivers. According to the Strategy, “many family caregivers are concerned about their ability to accommodate the needs of the person receiving support (including costs associated with health care, health supplies and equipment, housing, and support services) as well as their own financial and workplace security, now and into the future.” (National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, Page 70)

Through the project funded under this option, ACL seeks to increase awareness of – and access to – the resources available to address financial and workplace security for family caregivers, as well as identify unmet needs. Applicants must demonstrate the understanding, expertise, and capacity for developing and undertaking activities such as (but not limited to):

Gathering, analyzing, developing, and disseminating employee/employer-focused tools and resources for supporting employed family caregivers;

Identifying and disseminating planning resources for family caregivers and care recipients;

Curating and disseminating information on affordable long-term services and supports

Developing, testing, and broadly disseminating employer awareness and training programs

Other activities and initiatives to promote greater financial and workplace security for family caregivers.

To be successful in achieving the objectives of this priority area, a unique partnership of organizations with backgrounds and expertise in such areas as financial planning, employment, employment law, legal services, human resources, and related disciplines will be necessary; this likely will include organizations not typically considered part of the aging or caregiver support networks. The strongest proposals will be those that employ a variety of approaches for understanding the needs and possible solutions for testing, as well as multi-faceted methods of technical assistance and capacity building that are tailored to ensure maximum uptake by the aging, kinship, and tribal services networks and their partners.

Applicants should thoroughly describe their approaches for achieving the overarching goals and objectives of this priority area while addressing each of the “Additional Application Elements and Considerations” described below.

FUNDING OPTION 5

Priority Area: Advancing a family caregiver research and data collection agenda

Number of awards: One cooperative agreement

Funding level: up to $500,000 per year, for four years

Central to advancing the recognition and support of family caregivers is the availability of meaningful and accessible research and data. According to the Strategy “despite a growing body of research, there is limited infrastructure for the collection of comprehensive, population-based data about the prevalence of caregiving and the context in which care is provided, or the financial, emotional, and physical impacts of caregiving. In addition, we lack a national research infrastructure that is inclusive of the full range of family caregiving (e.g., episodic, chronic, long-distance, etc.), the relationship between the family caregiver and the person receiving care, and all caregiving conditions and disabilities.” (National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, Page 79) Related, the need for a greater availability of, and access to, evidence-based/informed interventions for family caregivers served by the NFCSP/NACSP continues to grow.

The objectives of this funding option are fundamental to the successful implementation of the Strategy and will be considered integral to all other aspects of this initiative. Applicants should propose a range of approaches for advancing a clear and cohesive national research, data collection, and analysis framework on family caregiving and related topics. Applicants must demonstrate the understanding, expertise, and capacity for developing and undertaking activities such as (but not limited to):

Identifying, synthesizing, and supporting the uptake of approaches for the development of shared data systems with consistent data sets

Fostering opportunities to support the expansion of research on family caregivers served by the NFCSP/NACSP and their support needs;

Translating research into interventions to support family caregivers served by the

NFCSP/NACSP;

Other activities and initiatives to advance a more cohesive national framework for family caregiver research and data collection.

Given the technical nature of this priority area, organizations with a grounding in family caregiving policy and research, data analysis, and evidence-based/informed approaches will likely be best positioned to be responsive to this priority area of the NOFO.

Applicants should thoroughly describe their approaches for achieving the overarching goals and objectives of this priority area while addressing each of the “Additional Application Elements and Considerations” described below.

Additional Application Elements and Considerations

The following additional application elements and considerations will be incorporated by reference into the terms and conditions of each Cooperative Agreement and their associated Notices of Award (NOAs). Applicants should be aware of, and discuss in their applications (where appropriate), the following additional elements and considerations for their projects:

Using the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers as a Framework

The National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers (the Strategy) envisions a “whole of society approach” for more effectively recognizing, assisting, including, supporting, and engaging family caregivers as essential partners in the support of those who wish to maintain their independence and autonomy. The Strategy is an important first step in towards that goal and should be used the organizing framework and guide for applicants to this NOFO. Applications will be scored, in part, on the degree to which proposed approaches to technical assistance and capacity building are grounded in the principles and concepts contained in the Strategy.

Organizational Capacity

The grantee for each funding option must possess the organizational expertise and capacity to apply multi-faceted, comprehensive approaches in their efforts in their chosen area of focus.

Applicants should demonstrate expertise, either directly or by partnering with subject matter experts and/or awarding sub-contracts, and sub-grants, to carry out the desired activities outlined in this funding opportunity. Applicants will be reviewed and scored, in part, on how well they demonstrate such expertise and/or how they propose to ensure it is available throughout the life of the project. To that end, applicants should describe their capacities to:

Ensure expeditious startup of project activities upon notice of award;

Work effectively with all other grantees/contractors on this project, as well as the stated target audiences, to achieve desired outcomes;

Employ efficient and effective strategies that maximize available resources, including technology, while ensuring measurable reach and impact of technical assistance; and Ensure sustainability of all activities once federal funding ends.

Sub-grants and/or subcontracts

Provision of funding for sub-grantees or subcontracts to carry out specific activities is expected, as ACL believes this project will have a greater likelihood of success when a range of organizations, or individual subject matter experts, undertakes the work and/or the applicant identifies a gap in expertise necessary to fully complete project goals and objectives. Applicants should describe their rationale and criteria for selecting sub-grantees/subcontractors, including their approaches for monitoring sub-grantee/subcontractor progress, and ensuring successful completion of all tasks.

Mandatory Post-Award Project Planning and Alignment Period

The five grantees selected from this NOFO will be expected to participate in a mandatory post-award project planning and alignment period. During this period, not to exceed three (3) months, each of the five national grantees and their partners will collaborate with ACL program staff, each other and other technical assistance entities where appropriate to, (at a minimum) finalize and align workplans; conduct environmental scans; formalize partnerships and execute subcontracts and/or MOUs with partner organizations to each grant; onboard and orient new staff as may be necessary; and finalize evaluation plans. The ACL program officer(s) will work closely with the grantees to ensure successful completion of the planning period and will provide written notification to each grantee confirming such completion, which will indicate that project implementation may begin.

Cross-collaboration and coordination with other technical assistance efforts

As a new, high-visibility initiative to operationalize the principles and actions outlined in the Strategy, all parties in this initiative (e.g., grantees, sub-grantees/contractors, and their partners) will become key resources in further development and strengthening of programs and services in both the NFCSP and NACSP. Therefore, close collaboration between the five grantees, ACL, and other partners to the project as they may come on board should be anticipated in the execution of work plans and related activities to ensure their efforts have a common focus, theme and aligned purpose. Such collaboration and alignment will be achieved and maintained through regular communication and information sharing.

Additionally, given the range of considerations for effective recognition and support of family caregivers, it is expected that the grantees under this initiative will align their efforts and look to foster collaborations with other technical assistance initiatives (both ACL-funded and non-ACL-funded), including (but not limited to):

The Direct Care Workforce Technical Assistance Center The Technical Assistance Center for Kinship and Grandfamilies Center on Holocaust Survivor Care/Jewish Federations Institute on Aging and Trauma Older Adults Equity Collaborative (OAEC) National Center for Advancing Person-Centered Planning and Services Bridging Aging and Disabilities Networks at NACDD;

Resource centers for Older Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians; and Administration on Disabilities (AoD)-funded Projects of National Significance (PNS) activities, as appropriate.

Applicants should further familiarize themselves and align their efforts with two current technical assistance initiatives to: 1) support the implementation of the Strategy; and 2) better support kinship and grandfamily caregivers:

In support of the FCAC’s work, the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) with funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation established the RAISE Act Family https://acl.gov/programs/direct-care-workforce https://www.gksnetwork.org/ https://holocaustsurvivorcare.jewishfederations.org/ https://acl.gov/programs/diversity-and-cultural-competency/oaec https://ncapps.acl.gov/ https://nacdd.org/bridging-aging-and-disability/ http://ruralhealth.und.edu/projects/nrcnaa/ http://elders.uaa.alaska.edu/ http://manoa.hawaii.edu/hakupuna/ https://acl.gov/programs/strengthening-aging-and-disability-networks/projects-national-significance https://www.johnahartford.org/dissemination-center/view/four-new-grants-totaling-nearly-5-million-approved-by-jahf-board-of-trustee https://nashp.org/policy/aging-and-disabilities/family-caregiving/

Caregiver Resource and Dissemination Center. NASHP supports the council’s work by providing resources, convening experts, and supporting states as they develop policies.

With funding from the 2021 American Rescue Plan, ACL established the Grandfamilies and Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center, (the TA Center).

Led by Generations United in collaboration with key partners, the TA Center is increasing the capacity and effectiveness of states, territories, tribes/tribal organizations, nonprofits, and other community-based organizations to serve and support grandfamilies and kinship families.

Use of advisory/steering committee and subject matter experts

A steering committee and other subject matter experts (SMEs) can be effective additions to any project and can help to ensure that diverse ideas are considered in the planning and implementation of any new project. Applicants for this opportunity should explain how they will use a steering committee to assist their efforts and include a listing of the backgrounds of individuals (e.g., consumers, professionals, and organizations) that will be invited to participate.

As this is a cooperative agreement, ACL anticipates ongoing and substantial involvement in the identification and engagement of steering committee members and other SMEs over the life of the project. The grantee is permitted to provide stipends to steering committee members and other SMEs, as necessary, to appropriately reimburse for their time and expertise on work directly related to this project.

Methods of technical assistance, capacity building, and information dissemination

The strongest proposals will be those offering a variety of approaches to delivering technical assistance and supporting capacity building within the chosen priority area and with the intended audiences. Technical assistance modalities should be varied with respect to their design and delivery and may include (but are not limited to):

Learning collaboratives E-learning programs, discussion platforms, self-directed learning programs Webinars, online/web-based materials Resource hubs and information clearinghouse Listening sessions, focus groups, town halls, etc.

Training materials and curricula Research synthesis and translation to technical assistance White papers, implementation guides and other printed materials as appropriate

ACL anticipates that grantees will develop and employ a robust and far-reaching dissemination strategy designed to ensure that project information, existing federal resources, best practices, and other information are available and shared broadly. Applicants should describe their dissemination plans and articulate the methods (e.g., electronic/web-based, in-person, print, etc.)

by which such activities will occur.

Website and Web presence

ACL expects all products and related materials developed and disseminated by the grantees to remain widely available and indefinitely, once federal funding ends. In that regard, ACL will design and host the website dedicated to this initiative. This site will serve as the primary vehicle https://nashp.org/policy/aging-and-disabilities/family-caregiving/ https://www.gksnetwork.org/ https://www.gksnetwork.org/ https://www.gu.org/ https://www.gksnetwork.org/partners/ for presenting and organizing public-facing information (see below). Grantees will be expected to collaborate with ACL and other partners and contractors in the initiative on the development, review and posting of all information to the website.

Accessibility and 508 Compliance Requirements

ACL requires that all information and materials developed by the grantee and partners for dissemination, regardless of method, will be fully accessible (i.e., 508-compliant), and meet the cultural and linguistic needs of the intended audience.

Project Outcomes

ACL expects to see a range of outcomes across each of the five priority areas outlined above.

While outcomes may vary by priority area and project activities, together they are expected to advance the capacity of the 56 state and territorial agencies on aging, tribes and tribal entities, area agencies on aging, local aging services providers and, where appropriate and resources permit, state developmental disabilities networks, to realize the following:

Greater uptake and use of evidence-informed/based family caregiver assessments;

Measurable growth in the number/type of family, tribal and kinship caregiver support service offerings;

Greater inclusion, where applicable and desired, of family caregivers as members of care teams;

Measurable increases in the services, supports, and other approaches available to support family caregiver financial and workplace wellbeing; and Greater understanding of the broader research and data gathering needs as they relate to family caregiving.

Applicants should carefully consider the outcome (or outcomes) they intend to propose and ensure they are both specific and measurable.

Project Evaluation

Projects of this scope, visibility, and reach are expected to achieve measurable results and have lasting impact. Therefore, applicants should anticipate substantial involvement by the ACL program officer, with input from the ACL Office of Performance and Evaluation in the design of their evaluation, per the terms of the cooperative agreement. In this regard, applicants should focus on developing a broad evaluation framework, with the understanding that it will be finalized during the post-award project planning and alignment period (described above) and with considerable input from ACL.

Project Sustainability

ACL expects to realize tangible, measurable and sustainable outcomes from grantees and their partners. Each proposal should contain a plan for sustaining the project’s work after federal funding ends. Applicants will be scored, in part, on the extent to which a plan for the project’s sustainability beyond the period of federal funding is included and appears feasible and likely.

Statutory Authority Title III-E, Section 373(i) of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended.

II. Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$5,000,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$1,100,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$300,000…