The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center, in collaboration with the Alabama Lifespan Respite Network, hosted the 2025 National Lifespan Respite Conference in Huntsville, AL, on April 1-3, 2025. The conference was preceded by the Lifespan Respite Grantee and Partner Learning Symposium (by invitation only) on April 1, 2025.

The theme for the conference, RAISE and Engage – Launch Respite Now, is not only a nod to the incredible history of the space industry in Huntsville, AL, also known as Rocket City USA, but also is a call to action. In 2022, the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers was released by the Administration for Community Living. The National Strategy was developed jointly by the RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council and the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, with extensive input from the public, including family caregivers and the people they support. The report includes nearly 500 actions that can be adopted at every level of government and across the public and private sectors, including actions that each of us can take, to advance supports to strengthen the nation’s more than 53 million family caregivers.

Since its release, ARCH and the Lifespan Respite Network have been fully engaged in leading efforts at the state and local levels to implement respite actions in the National Strategy. The theme of this conference invites you to join us and engage your partners to launch respite now!