hhs-2024-acl-aoa-lrlr-0020_rev2.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due June 11, 2024

Administration on Aging

Lifespan Respite Care Program

Lifespan Respite Care Program: Grants to New States and States Reestablishing Their Core Respite Infrastructures Opportunity number: HHS-2024-ACL-AoA-LRLR-0020

Contents Before you begin 3

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic Information 5

Eligibility 6

Program description 9

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 24

Get Registered 25

Find the application package 25

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 27

Application contents and format 28

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 38

Application review 39

Award notices 45

Step 5: Submit Your Application 46

Application submission and deadlines 47

Application checklist 49

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 50

Post-award requirements and administration 51

Contacts and Support 53

Appendix 55

Endnotes 62

Contents 2

Before you begin If you believe you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, secure your

SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations now. If you are already registered, make sure your registration is active and up-to-date.

SAM.gov registration (this can take several weeks)

You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity

Identifier (UEI).

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Grants.gov registration (this can take several days)

You must have an active Grants.gov registration. Doing so requires a Login.gov registration as well.

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Apply by June 11, 2024

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 11, 2024.

To help you find what you need, this NOFO uses internal links. In Adobe Reader, you can go back to where you were by pressing Alt + Left Arrow (Windows) or Command

+ Left Arrow (Mac) on your keyboard.

Before you begin 3 https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/

Jump to a step

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic Information 5

Eligibility 6

Program description 9

Basic Information Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

Lifespan Respite Care Program

Improve access to respite care for family caregivers

Have questions?

See Contacts and

Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

Lifespan Respite Care

Program: Grants to New

States and States

Reestablishing Their Core

Respite Infrastructures

Opportunity number:

HHS-2024-ACL-AoA-

LRLR-0020

Federal assistance listing:

93.072

Statutory authority:

Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C 201), as amended

Key dates

Informational conference call:

April 24, 2024

Optional letter of intent deadline:

April 26, 2024

Application deadline:

June 11, 2024

Expected start date:

September 1, 2024

Expected award date:

September 1, 2024

Summary The Lifespan Respite Care Program improves statewide, quality access to respite care services to all family caregivers so that they are supported in their efforts. Grantees will collaborate with state respite organizations and coalitions to establish, or reestablish, the availability of lifespan respite services.

Funding details Type: Cooperative agreement

Expected funding: Up to $500,000

Expected awards: Up to 2

Funding range: $200,000 to approximately $250,000

We plan to fund awards in three 12-month budget periods for a total three-year period of performance of September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2027.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

Eligibility Who can apply

Eligible applicants Only these types of organizations may apply:

• All States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands of the United States, the

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

• Individuals and foreign entities are not eligible to apply.

• By statute, awards may only be made to the eligible state agency that:

◦ Administers the State’s program under the Older Americans Act of 1965.

◦ Administers the State’s program under Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

◦ Is designated by the Governor of such State to administer the State’s programs under this title.

Other eligibility requirements

• ACL is accepting applications from eligible state agencies for either:

◦ New states: States that haven’t previously acquired funding under this program.

◦ Returning states: States that previously secured a Lifespan Respite Program award but have since lapsed or gone dormant following federal funding termination. These states aim to reinstate their respite infrastructures rather than applying for a Program Enhancement award (Funding Opportunity

Number: HHS-2024-ACL-AOA-LRLI-0019).

• Not all states that apply for funding will receive awards. Actual award amounts will vary based on the availability of federal funds.

• Only one application per state will be funded.

• Only those states with no currently active awards are eligible to apply.

• States with one or more active awards are not eligible to apply for another award.

• States with an active award under a No Cost Extension (NCE) period ending in 2024 are eligible to apply.

• States with one active award and an award in an NCE period ending in 2024 are not eligible.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6 https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/349444

• Funding decisions are at the discretion of the administrator for ACL. Only those applications ranking the highest in a third-party review will be recommended for funding by the ACL program officer.

• Successful applicants may be asked to revise their proposals based on smaller-than-requested awards.

• Funds made available under this announcement shall be used to supplement and must not supplant other federal, state, and local funds available for respite care services.

• If you propose conduit or pass-through funding for another agency to lead the project, you will not be considered for funding.

• Grantees must work in collaboration with the state’s ADRC/No Wrong Door System and the statewide respite coalition or respite organization.

• Eligible state agencies funded under this announcement shall use grant funds solely for the purposes outlined in the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006, as amended.

Cost sharing The cost sharing for this program requires you to contribute 25% of the project’s total cost.

You can calculate this cost-sharing requirement by using the following formula:

• Start with the federal share

• Multiply the federal share by 25 and divide that product by 75

Example: Multiply $120,000 (federal share) x 25 (required cost sharing percent) and divide that product by 75.

Cost sharing in this example is $40,000.

Types of cost sharing You can meet your match requirement through any combination of:

• Cash contributed by your organization

• Cash contributed by partners or other third parties

• In-kind (non-cash) contributions from your organization, partners, or other third parties

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7

Cost-sharing commitments Recipients must follow through on their promise of cost-sharing funds. This includes those who have promised an amount more than the required minimum; however, you are discouraged from promising more than the required minimum amount of cost sharing. We put these commitments in the Notice of Award.

If you don’t provide your promised amount, we may have to decrease your award amount. You’ll have to include your proposed cost-sharing funds when you fill out your

Standard Federal Forms (SF-424 and SF-424A) and your budget justification narrative.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8

Program description The Lifespan Respite Care Program,[1] enacted by Congress in 2006 under Title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C 201) and reauthorized in 2020,[2] empowers states to develop coordinated systems of accessible, community-based respite care services.

Respite services support family caregivers of children and adults across all age groups, with disabilities and other chronic conditions. As an essential component of home- and community-based long-term services, respite can contribute to healthier family systems and the health and well-being of caregivers and care recipients. Respite can be both planned and emergency-based to temporarily relieve the family caregivers.

The Lifespan Respite Care programs focus on elevating the quality and availability of respite services through:

• Expansion and enrichment: Boosting respite services across states

• Coordination and circulation: Enhancing dissemination and coordination of these services

• Streamlined access: Facilitating ease of access to these programs

• Gap fulfillment: Identifying and addressing any existing service gaps

• Quality improvement: Enhancing the overall quality of present respite services

ACL expects you to use the relevant components of the 2022 National Strategy to

Support Family Caregivers[3] as a guide when developing your application.

Funding opportunity description

Purpose

The U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) is providing this competitive opportunity to help eligible state agencies implement the requirements of the Lifespan

Respite Care Act of 2006, as amended (The Act). The purpose of the program is to improve access to, and quality of, respite care services to all family caregivers, thereby reducing family caregiver demands when supporting these individuals.

• Successful applicants will be required to establish, or reestablish, state and local coordinated Lifespan Respite Care systems to serve family caregivers regardless of the age, disability, or chronic condition of the care recipient.

• The state agency must work in concert with the state’s aging and disability resource center (ADRC)/No Wrong Door (NWD) system and with a statewide public or private respite care coalition or organization. Awardees should commit to working with other state and community-based agencies in developing and administering the program while demonstrating an understanding of respite care and family caregiver

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9 https://www.congress.gov/109/plaws/publ442/PLAW-109publ442.pdf https://archrespite.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PLAW-116publ324.pdf https://acl.gov/CaregiverStrategy https://acl.gov/CaregiverStrategy issues across all age groups, disabilities, and chronic conditions. Awardees should also have the capacity to ensure meaningful involvement of family members, family caregivers, and care recipients in the design and implementation of the program.

Respite care services should provide meaningful, person and family-centered respite options that further reduce isolation and barriers to accessing support services. For the purposes of this program, eligible respite recipients are adult family caregivers who provide unpaid support to people of any age who have a disability or chronic condition.

Additionally, Lifespan Respite Care programs should strive for equitable access to services for family caregivers and care recipients. They should address barriers to access, including but not limited to:

• Age

• Race

• Sexual orientation

• Socioeconomic status

• Cognitive ability

• Language

• Ethnicity

• Employment status

• Housing situation

• Education level

• People transitioning back to the community from facilities

◦ This includes those needing medical or behavioral health care services (for example, substance use disorder and mental health treatment) to manage both chronic and acute conditions or support needs

Awardees will also be required to:

• Develop and provide new and emergency respite services

• Train and recruit respite workers, including volunteers

• Help caregivers gain access to respite care services that support both the caregiver and care recipient

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10

Awardees may also wish to:

• Identify opportunities to build collaborations and partnerships across the state

• Initiate recruitment and training of respite workers and volunteers

• Offer adequate respite provider training

• Identify gaps in current services and conduct outreach to reduce those gaps

• Continue or increase efforts to target underserved and unserved populations across the lifespan to further help all family caregivers gain access to needed respite services

By no later than the second and third years of the project period, all awardees should be providing respite services while continuing to expand and enhance the statewide respite infrastructure.

From the outset, all programs must address the respite needs of allpopulations regardless of the age, disability, or chronic condition of the care recipient population.

There is no phase-in or preference for specific age groups, disability categories, or populations.

Background

Who are family caregivers?

Family caregivers are often referred to as the backbone of America’s long-term care system. Most people will either need a caregiver or become one at some point in their life. Family caregivers assist relatives and other loved ones on a daily basis with various tasks ranging from routine to complex. According to the 2020 report Caregiving in the

U.S. an estimated 53 million adults in the United States have provided unpaid care to an adult or a child in the prior 12 months.[4]

Family caregivers are found in every community. They are any gender; young or old; and related by blood or by a close personal connection.

While the spectrum of individuals classified as family caregivers is diverse, several key factors come into play when considering the best ways to support them in their roles:

• Family caregivers perform tasks ranging from administrative, such as bill paying and household management, to providing complex medical care to their loved ones.

• Recent studies indicate family caregivers are performing tasks typically assigned to nurses, now labeled as medical/nursing tasks.

◦ These tasks comprise complex care responsibilities such as injections, tube feedings, and catheter and colostomy care. Approximately 6 in 10 caregivers are involved in medical/nursing tasks.[5]

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11 https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2020/05/full-report-caregiving-in-the-united-states.doi.10.26419-2Fppi.00103.001.pdf https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2020/05/full-report-caregiving-in-the-united-states.doi.10.26419-2Fppi.00103.001.pdf

• Half of family caregivers perform medical/nursing tasks for individuals with challenges in physical, cognitive, or behavioral health. [6]

• Many family caregivers do not view themselves as caregivers. Instead, they see their role as simply fulfilling family duties, which can prevent them from accessing available support services. Many are thrust into the role suddenly, such as when an individual needing support is released from an acute care setting, nursing facility, or incarceration. This can place sudden expectations and responsibilities on the caregiver.

• Caregivers often seek help late, leading to unresolved problems like mental and physical health issues or maladaptive coping strategies.

• When caregivers ask for assistance like respite care, they often encounter fragmented, narrowly targeted programs or are unable to afford the respite options available to them.

• Many families and family caregivers may not possess adequate financial resources to meet their own daily needs or the needs of those for whom they care.

• Language; cognitive abilities; educational, communication, or learning styles; and geographic, social, or cultural barriers might also prevent respite care information from flowing to those caregivers in greatest need.

• Many family caregivers lack sufficient information about where to find supportive services, including respite, or how to choose from among the available options.

Lifespan Respite Care defined

The Lifespan Respite Care Act, as amended, defines lifespan respite care as a coordinated system of accessible, community-based respite care services for family caregivers of children or adults with special needs.

• Such a system brings together federal, state, and local resources and funding to support, expand, and streamline the delivery of planned and emergency respite services. It also includes the recruitment and training of respite workers and caregiver training and empowerment.

• Respite can strengthen family systems while protecting the health and well-being of both the caregiver and the care recipient.

• It is a key component of community-based long-term services and supports (LTSS).

All proposed project activities should seek to improve the delivery and quality of respite services available to families across age and disability spectrums, by establishing coordinated lifespan respite systems.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12

The Lifespan Respite Care Act: An overview

First passed by Congress in 2006 and reauthorized in 2020, the Lifespan Respite Care Act is intended to accomplish several objectives, including:

• Expanding and enhancing the supply and accessibility of respite services within the state

• Assuring that respite services are coordinated between and spread out across various funding streams and programs

• Streamlining caregiver access to programs and filling gaps in service

• Improving the overall quality and equity of available respite services

The evolving respite environment

Lifespan Respite Programs have been in existence in states since the 1990s. Since implementation of the federal program began in 2009, states have made considerable progress toward building sustainable programs capable of meeting the respite care needs of families and family caregivers across the lifespan.

In recent years, the environment in which Lifespan Respite Programs exist has been impacted by several key factors, including the current post-COVID-19 environment.

The passage of the Recognize Assist, Include, Support and Engage (RAISE) Family

Caregivers Act of 2017[7] and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (SGRG)

Act of 2018[8] and the release of the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family

Caregivers[9] highlighted the importance of cultural and linguistic competence, and the growing crisis brought about by shortages in the direct care workforce.

The passage of the RAISE Act and the formation and work of the Family Caregiving

Advisory Council (FCAC)[10] shined a spotlight on respite in its Initial Report to

Congress,[11] noting the importance of increasing awareness of respite and that it can mean different things for different family caregivers. For example, the report noted that

“what constitutes ‘respite’ for the spouse of an older adult living with dementia (typically

[in] an adult day program) differs significantly from what the parent of a child with autism who also has educational needs would view as an equivalent form of respite.”[12]

Similarly, from the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren’s

Initial Report to Congress,[13] we know that due to “the round-the-clock nature of caring for children, especially young children, and children with disabilities or exposure to trauma, [kin and grandparent caregivers] need a variety of formal and informal respite options.”[14]

The reports of both advisory councils included a similar recommendation: “Increase the availability of high-quality, setting-appropriate, and caregiver-defined [kinship family and

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13 https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/about-acl/2018-10/PLAW-115publ119%20-%20RAISE.pdf https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/about-acl/2018-10/PLAW-115publ119%20-%20RAISE.pdf https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/about-acl/2018-10/BILLS-115s1091enr%20-%20SGRG.pdf https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/about-acl/2018-10/BILLS-115s1091enr%20-%20SGRG.pdf https://acl.gov/CaregiverStrategy https://acl.gov/CaregiverStrategy https://acl.gov/programs/support-caregivers/raise-family-caregiving-advisory-council https://acl.gov/programs/support-caregivers/raise-family-caregiving-advisory-council https://acl.gov/RAISE/report https://acl.gov/RAISE/report https://acl.gov/SGRG/report grand family-centered] respite services [and childcare services] to give caregivers a healthy and meaningful break from their responsibilities.”

The 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers[15] provides an opportunity for states to rethink their respite systems of care and use the strategy as a roadmap for program planning and execution. The strategy represents the first time a broad cross-section of the federal government has collaborated with the private sector to respond to the longstanding national need for a comprehensive system of family caregiver support, including respite services. You are encouraged to review the latest policy brief.

Additional resources include:

• First Principles: Cross-Cutting Considerations for Family Caregiver Support:[16] This component of the strategy includes essential practices to support each of the four core principles that you may want to incorporate into your proposed plan.

• The National Center to Strengthen the Direct Care Workforce:[17] This technical assistance and resource center funded by ACL works to support recruitment, retention, and professional development of workers who provide home- and community-based services.

• ACL’s Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance and Resource Center (ARCH National

Respite Network and Resource Center) resource, “Providing and Receiving Respite

Care Safely During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Voluntary National Guidelines for

Respite Care Agencies, Providers, Family Caregivers, and Respite Care Recipients.”[18]

• ACL’s Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance and Resource Center (ARCH National

Respite Network and Resource Center) resource, “The Role of Respite in the

National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.”[19]

Program priority areas You are encouraged to consider a broad range of approaches, strategies, and partnerships to carry out program priorities. Additionally, state coalitions have had to utilize other means of service delivery, such as allowing the reimbursement of family or friends for respite services or providing virtual support groups, outreach, and even respite care.

The nation is still responding to public health complications created by the COVID-19 pandemic and its interaction with preexisting social determinants of health and other related issues. In response, respite programs continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of caregivers and care recipients of all communities and across all age groups.

Awardees continue to draw upon and apply lessons learned, and develop best practices to respond to and meet the urgent needs of caregivers as they did during the height of the pandemic.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14 https://acl.gov/CaregiverStrategy https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/RAISE_SGRG/NatlStrategyFamCaregivers_FirstPrinciples.pdf https://acl.gov/programs/direct-care-workforce https://archrespite.org/library/providing-and-receiving-respite-care-safely-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/ https://archrespite.org/library/providing-and-receiving-respite-care-safely-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/ https://archrespite.org/library/providing-and-receiving-respite-care-safely-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/ https://archrespite.org/library/the-role-of-respite-in-the-national-strategy-to-support-family-caregivers/ https://archrespite.org/library/the-role-of-respite-in-the-national-strategy-to-support-family-caregivers/

ACL acknowledges that states will start at different points when they design, reestablish, or scale their programs. Therefore, all proposals will be evaluated based on the extent of progress a state expects to make under either eligibility category (New or Returning

States).

You will be required to fully describe the State’s present capacity to deliver respite services across the lifespan and explain how proposed activities will build upon your current ability to provide such services.

Required services Whether you are reestablishing core respite infrastructures or establishing them for the first time, you must propose projects that align with requirements of the Act. You should use the funds awarded for the following required services:

• Developing and enhancing lifespan respite care at the state and local levels

• Providing evidence-informed, quality respite care services for family caregivers caring for children or adults

• Training and recruiting respite care workers and volunteers

• Providing information to caregivers about available respite and support services

• Helping caregivers gain access to such services

Optional services Additionally, funds available under this funding opportunity may be used to develop a range of optional services, including:

• Training family caregivers so they can make informed decisions about respite care services

• Training and educating new caregivers

• Providing other services essential to respite care

Required application elements By statute, proposal narratives must address each of the following application elements:

Required respite service delivery

• You are expected to provide services beginning no later than the second year of your project.

• You should clarify how much of your budgets in each year will be devoted to providing respite services.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15

• You should clearly articulate how, and under what circumstances, the Lifespan

Respite Program funds will be used to provide services — for example, gap-filling services for family caregivers who are ineligible for other programs.

For more information on emerging, model, or promising practices in the field of respite and family caregiver support, you may wish to review information available on the

Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance and Resource Center website.[20]

An understanding of the populations to be served

• Your application should demonstrate knowledge of the family caregiver populations for whom lifespan respite program services will be provided, and for whom respite care workers and volunteers will be recruited and trained.

• Describe any underserved populations to be served by your proposed program, as defined by Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for

Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, dated January 20, 2021[21] and Executive Order on Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals[22] consistent with Executive Order

13988 of January 20, 2021 (Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation).[23]

• You are expected to explain efforts and results under your current lifespan respite system of care that serves underserved and underrepresented populations across the lifespan.

◦ Based on this description, you should then explain how you propose to target and increase services to traditionally underserved populations that are identified in your local communities.

Person- and family-centered approaches

Lifespan Respite Care Programs should assist first identify current respite funding streams in the state and assist families with eligibility determination. Families that did not previously qualify for any existing respite programs or services may have those services paid for by the Lifespan Respite Care Program.

Therefore, you should describe how proposed activities will further enable families to choose, control, and navigate available service options and gain access to those services.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16 https://archrespite.org/ta-center-for-respite/ 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/ 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/2022/06/15/executive-order-on-advancing-equality-for-lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-queer-and-intersex-individuals/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/06/15/executive-order-on-advancing-equality-for-lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-queer-and-intersex-individuals/

Cross-age and disability focus

All adult family members regardless of the age, disability, or chronic condition of those they support should be able to access a Lifespan Respite Care Program to obtain information on how and where to find respite services and providers.

Eligible respite recipients include, but are not limited to:

• Unpaid family members

• Kinship caregivers

• Parents

• Other adults providing unpaid care to adults who need the care to meet basic daily needs or prevent injury, or to children who require care beyond that required to meet their basic needs

Family caregivers may also include grandparents of any age who are primary caretakers of children or adults with long-term support needs.

All activities proposed in response to this announcement must from the outset address the respite needs of all ages and disability/special needs populations.

You must describe your plan for serving all age groups and disability categories, without preference for a select demographic group or disability population. No phase-in or preferences for age groups or disability categories will be permitted.

Collaboration, partnerships, and consumer inclusion

The Lifespan Respite Care Act is designed to facilitate the coordination of respite programs in the state by reducing or eliminating duplicative efforts and assist in the development of the statewide respite care infrastructure.

You will be required to coordinate with existing public or private respite care programs.

You should demonstrate the broadest possible collaboration with relevant respite and other stakeholders from across the age and disability spectrum.

You must include a description of the eligible state agency’s:

• Ability to work with other state and community-based agencies such as disability or behavioral health services agencies, Centers for Independent Living or other community-based agencies, or faith-based initiatives supporting aging adults and people with disabilities

• Understanding of respite care and family caregiver issues across all age groups, disabilities, and chronic conditions

• Capacity to ensure meaningful involvement of family members, family caregivers, and care recipients from a person-centered and family-centered perspective

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17

Via letters of support and other mechanisms, you should clearly demonstrate the commitment of key state and local organizations and stakeholders from across the age and disability spectrum as full partners in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the Lifespan Respite Program.

Such organizations might include, but are not limited to:

• State government agencies providing human services programs across the age and disability spectrum, of which respite may (or may not) be a component service — for example, Medicaid, National Family Caregiver Support Program

• Providers of respite care serving the full range of population groups with varying disabilities and service needs and for whom respite is an essential component of remaining in the community

• State- and local-level nonprofits that provide education and coordinate a more comprehensive and appropriate service delivery between the social services network and the state service system for people with respite care needs, their families, and caregivers

You must propose how you will carry out the activities of your programs in collaboration with a nonprofit statewide respite coalition and the Aging and Disability Resource Center

(ADRC)/No Wrong Door (NWD) system. You should detail how the respite coalition/ organization and the ADRC/NWD will work collaboratively in designing, implementing, and managing the program.

Additional application elements In addition to the program priority areas described above, you should clearly and concisely address the following in your application:

Memorandum of Understanding/Agreement

A memorandum of understanding/agreement (MoU/A) regarding the joint responsibility for the development of the state’s lifespan respite program between the eligible State agency and the public or private nonprofit statewide respite coalition or organization must be in place at the time of application and submitted with the application. Applicants are encouraged to embed flexibility within the MoU/A so that all parties to the agreement can modify scope, tasks, or partnerships as the need arises. See attachments.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 18

Program performance and outcomes measurement

Performance measurement is an important part of creating a fully functioning Lifespan

Respite Care System. Your goals should identify relevant consumer-based, programmatic, and systems-level outcomes the state would like to measure, as well as proposed approaches.

You should choose and identify consumer-level outcome measures or draw on the ARCH

National Respite Network and Resource Center’s “Measuring Systems Change and

Consumer Outcomes: Recommendations for Developing Performance Metrics for State

Lifespan Respite Programs” to assist in conceptualizing, developing, and implementing useful performance metrics, such as caregiver or system change outcomes.[24]

You should describe how you plan to count and record the experiences of the people being served in their Lifespan Respite Program. You should describe how data will be collected together with current respite programs and funding streams.

Data collection and reporting

Awardees will work with ACL to complete the data collection and reporting requirements, as stated in Section 2904 of the Lifespan Respite Reauthorization Act of

2020.[25] Respite Care Program applicants, funded through this announcement, will use the Office of Management and Budget-approved data collection tools developed for this program.

Sustainability

Through this funding announcement, ACL expects to realize tangible, measurable, and sustainable advancements in state capacities to provide respite and related services (see proposed intervention section) to family caregivers across the age and disability spectrum.

You will be evaluated, in part, on the extent to which you have a clear, feasible plan for the project’s sustainability beyond the period of federal funding. You are encouraged to consider and propose a range of potential approaches for ensuring the sustainability of the project once federal funding has ended.

Tools and resources for the sustainability of Lifespan Respite Programs are available on the Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance and Resource Centers’ sustainability tools webpages.[26]

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 19 https://archrespite.org/library/measuring-systems-change-and-consumer-outcomes/ https://archrespite.org/library/measuring-systems-change-and-consumer-outcomes/ https://archrespite.org/library/measuring-systems-change-and-consumer-outcomes/ https://archrespite.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PLAW-116publ324.pdf https://archrespite.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PLAW-116publ324.pdf https://archrespite.org/ta-center-for-respite/sustainability-tools/ https://archrespite.org/ta-center-for-respite/sustainability-tools/

Product dissemination and sharing

To enable other states to replicate programs and approaches and eliminate the need to

“reinvent the wheel,” you will be asked to submit to ACL and the ACL Lifespan Respite

Technical Assistance Center key products that can serve as resource guides for future

Lifespan Respite Care Program development, enhancement, and expansion. You should submit copies of all final products to ACL at the conclusion of the award.

Participation in technical assistance efforts

You will be expected to participate in technical assistance activities as they pertain to

Lifespan Respite Care Program and System development, management, and integration.

This includes participating in regularly scheduled conference calls, webcasts, and one-on-one technical assistance opportunities initiated by yourself, the ACL project officer, or the

Lifespan Respite Program Technical Assistance and Resource Center.[27]

State project directors are strongly encouraged to budget resources for travel to and participation in the National Respite Conference, convened annually by the ARCH

Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance and Resource Center. This conference provides participants with the opportunity to learn about the latest trends in respite program development and the opportunity to network and share best practices associated with

Lifespan Respite Care Program implementation and Lifespan Respite Care System development.

Sub-awards and subcontracts

You may carry out your project directly or by sub-award to, or contract with, public or private entities. Due to the nature of this program, the state project director must maintain an active role in managing and leading all aspects of the state’s lifespan respite project. If you propose conduit or pass-through funding for another agency to lead the project, you will not be considered for funding.

You should clearly describe, if necessary, your processes for sub-awarding or subcontracting specific activities. For activities undertaken by partner organizations, whether through sub-awards or subcontracts, you should clearly describe how you will oversee all sub-activities to ensure continuity across the project. Finally, you should describe how the state project director, along with the stakeholder groups, will guide the design and implementation of the statewide lifespan respite care system.

Cooperative agreement terms Cooperative agreements require substantial ACL project involvement after an award is made. There are specific roles for both you and ACL.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 20 https://archrespite.org/ta-center-for-respite/

Your responsibilities

• Collaborate with ACL/AoA in finalizing, executing, and modifying the work plan

• Fulfill all the requirements of the initiative as outlined in this funding opportunity, and carry out project activities as reviewed, approved, and awarded

• Communicate with the ACL/AoA project officer regularly to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this agreement

• Meet with the ACL/AoA project officer at least semi-annually, or at such other times as are agreed upon by either party, to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this agreement

• Submit the required semi-annual and final progress reports

• Participate in technical assistance efforts as provided by the Lifespan Respite

Technical Assistance and Resource Center (TARC)

• Use the new semi-annual reporting and data collection tools as required in Section

2904 of the Act, approved for use by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

• In accordance with the Stevens Amendment, all HHS grant and cooperative agreement recipients are required to acknowledge federal funding when publicly communicating projects or programs funded through HHS federal financial assistance

• You must use the following language when issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other ACL-supported publications and forums describing projects or programs funded in whole with ACL funding:

This [project/publication/program/website, etc.] [is/was] supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $XX with XX percentage funded by ACL/HHS and

$XX amount and XX percentage funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Our responsibilities

The ACL/AoA project officer shall carry out the following activities for the cooperative agreement:

• Collaborate with you to finalize, execute, and modify the work plan

• Perform the day-to-day federal responsibilities of managing awards, working with you to ensure that the minimum requirements of the award are met

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 21 https://www.hhs.gov/guidance/document/stevens-amendment

• Work with you to clarify the programmatic and budgetary issues addressed by the project, and as necessary, negotiate with you to achieve a solution to any needs identified by you or ACL/AoA

• Assist you in understanding the policy concerns and/or priorities of ACL, the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services, and the federal government by conducing periodic briefings and carrying out ongoing consultations

• Share information with you about other federally sponsored projects and activities that are relevant to you and your activities

Funding policies and limitations For guidance on some types of costs we do not allow or restrictions on them, see 45 CFR part 75, General Provisions for Selected Items of Cost.

Funding policies

• Under this NOFO, you can’t continue existing projects without expansion or new and innovative approaches.

• Meals are allowed only in limited circumstances linked to program activities, like during travel or when approved in advance by ACL. See Allowable Costs and

Activities, Exhibit 4: Selected Items of Cost, Meals in the HHS Grants Policy

Statement.

• Certain telecommunications and video surveillance equipment. See 2 CFR

200.216 to make sure this does not apply to any proposed equipment in your application.

Unallowable costs

• Construction or major rehabilitation of buildings

• Basic research, such as scientific or medical experiments

Funding restrictions

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report number 11-43 has raised considerable concerns about awardees and contractors charging the federal government for additional meals outside of the standard allowance for travel subsistence known as per diem expenses. If meals are to be charged toward the award, they must meet the following criteria outlined in the Grants Policy Statement.

Meals are generally unallowable except for the following:

• For subjects and patients under study (usually a research program)

• Where specifically approved as part of the project or program activity, for example, in programs providing children’s services such as Head Start

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 22 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75/subject-group-ECFR5d90ba314caea08 https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/grants/grants/policies-regulations/hhsgps107.pdf https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/grants/grants/policies-regulations/hhsgps107.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.216 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.216 https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-11-43.pdf

• When an organization customarily provides meals to employees working beyond the normal workday as a part of a formal compensation arrangement

• As part of a per diem or subsistence allowance provided in conjunction with allowable travel

• Under a conference award, when meals are a necessary and integral part of a conference, provided that meal costs are not duplicated in participants’ per diem or subsistence allowances

◦ Note: This rule only applies if the sole purpose of the award is to hold a conference

Indirect costs

Indirect costs are those for a common or joint purpose across more than one project and that cannot be easily separated by project. Learn more at 45 CFR 75.414, Indirect Costs.

To charge indirect costs you can select one of two methods:

Method 1 – Approved rate. You currently have an indirect cost rate approved by your cognizant federal agency.

Method 2 – De minimis rate. Per 45 CFR 75.414(f), if you have never received a negotiated indirect cost rate, you may elect to charge a de minimis rate. If you are awaiting approval of an indirect cost proposal you may also use the de minimis rate. If you choose this method, costs included in the indirect cost pool must not be charged as direct costs.

This rate is 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC). See 45 CFR 75.2 for the definition of MTDC. You can use this rate indefinitely.

Program income

It is called program income if you make any income from your project activities. You will have to use those funds to add to the project activities. Find more about program income at 45 CFR 75.307.

Statutory authority The statutory authority for this program is the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C

201), as amended.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 23 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-75.414 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75#p-75.2(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR911e5e1a30bfbcb/section-75.307

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Get Registered 25

Find the application package 25

Get Registered SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity

Identifier. SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

To register, go to sam.gov entity registration and click Get Started. From the same page, you can also click on the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register.

Grants.gov You must also have an active account with grants.gov. You can see step-by-step instructions at the Grants.gov quick start guide for applicants.

Find the application package The application package has all the forms you need to apply. you can find it online. Go to

Grants’ search at grants.gov and search for opportunity number HHS-2024-ACL-AoA-

LRLR-0020. You can also refer to the readiness checklist:

Readiness checklist Applying for an award takes time. Registering with sam.gov can take over two weeks.

There are a few things that need to happen before you can apply:

• Make sure your organization is eligible.

• As soon as possible, register in sam.gov or make sure your registration is up to date.

• To register, go to sam.gov entity registration and click Get Started.

• See a checklist for what you will need to register in SAM.

• The Entity Registration page also includes a video that walks you through the registration process. If you need help, you can call (866) 606-8220 or live chat with the federal service desk.

• Get a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). You get your UEI when you register in sam.gov.

(This is different from a DUNS number. See DUNS to UEI transition information).

• Register in grants.gov. See how to register in grants.gov.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 25 https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://grants.gov/search-grants http://sam.gov/ http://sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://cz.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/Entity-Registration-Checklist.pdf https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp http://sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/duns-uei http://grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/register.html

• Begin working on gaining the required memorandum of agreement (MoA) or memorandum of understanding (MoU) and letters of commitment from key participating organizations and agencies. See attachments.

• Read over this NOFO.

• Make sure that you understand the screening and responsiveness factors that could affect your ability to get an award.

• Submit an optional letter of intent.

• Review the post-award requirements to make sure you can meet them.

To find the application package, go to grants.gov and search using keyword: Lifespan

Respite Care Program: Grants to New States and States Reestablishing Their Core

Respite Infrastructures and Opportunity Number: HHS-2024-ACL-AoA-LRLR-0020.

You can also find information on the ACL website at applying for grants.

ACL requires you to use grants.gov workspace. Workspace is a shared online environment where your team can access and edit at the same time. For instructions, go to get started on your workspace application.

Join the informational call LRLR 0020 Informational Conference Call

Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Time: 2 p.m. ET

Phone number: (888) 469-1602

Participant passcode: 9897610

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 26 https://grants.gov/search-grants https://acl.gov/grants/applying-grants http://grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview.html

Step 3:

Prepare Your Application

In this step

Application contents and format 28

Application contents and format Applications include five main components. This section includes guidance on each.

Make sure you include each of these:

Component Grants.gov Submission Forms

Project abstract Use the Project Abstract Summary form.

Project narrative Use the Project Narrative Attachment form.

Budget justification narrative Use the Budget Narrative Attachment form.

Attachments Insert each in the Other Attachments form.

Standard forms Upload using each required form.

Required format for project narrative

Font: Times New Roman or Arial

Format: PDF, double-spaced, on 8.5” x 11” plain white paper

Size: 11-point font

Footnotes and text in graphics may be 10-point.

Spacing for Project Narrative main content: Double-spaced

Spacing for project summary, tables, footnotes: Single-spaced

Margins: 1-inch

Include page numbers

Project Narratives that exceed 20 pages will have the additional pages removed.