from the private sector and select government agencies. When information about Lifespan Respite Care Program Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA) are available from the Administration for Community Living, they will be posted on the Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance Center.
May 6, 2021
American Rescue Plan Supplemental Funding for the Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention Program
The American Rescue Plan, recently signed into law, provides $250 million in supplemental funding for the Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention Program (CBCAP) for FY 2021. The Children’s Bureau in HHS normally allocates $60 million in CBCAP funds annually to all states through a formula grant, so the one-time $250 million represents a large and immediate influx of new funds to states.
CBCAP use of funds includes “support the additional needs of families with children with disabilities through respite care and other services.” See Attachment A. While many other prevention services are also authorized under this program, the additional funds may allow state leads to award local grant funds for respite even if they currently do not. A few states, such as Alabama (Respite Evaluation Brief), Illinois and Utah already use CBCAP funds for respite and crisis nurseries. To read more about respite funding as detailed in the CBCAP program, see page 53 of ARCH’s Federal Funding and Support Opportunities for Respite. Attachment B includes state allotments of these supplemental funds.
States have until 2025 to spend these additional funds, but state CBCAP leads will be making decisions in the very near future about how to spend the dollars. ARCH strongly encourages you to reach out to the CBCAP lead in your state to see how you might be able to offer your assistance in dispensing funds for respite and crisis care services to the family caregivers of children with special needs, including parents with disabilities (a priority population to be served by this program), in your networks. Remember to highlight the impact of COVID 19 on children with disabilities and their families.
Ongoing opportunities
RRF Foundation for Aging
RRF Foundation’s grant program supports projects that have a significant focus on older adults, ages 65 and over. The types of grants they fund include:
Advocacy: Achieve enduring social change around issues that affect older Americans
Direct Service: Improve availability and quality of community-based and residential long-term services and supports
Professional Education and Training: Increase the competency of professionals and paraprofessionals who serve older adults
Research: Seek causes and solutions to significant problems for older adults
Investigator-Initiated Research to Build a Culture of Health
A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation project, Evidence for Action accepts Letters of Intent on a rolling basis to support rigorously designed quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research that yields convincing findings regarding the population health, well-being, and equity impacts of specific policies, programs and partnerships. ARCH has been in discussion with them about respite research in relation to the work of the Expert Panel on Respite Research and they are very willing to entertain research proposals that follow the Expert Panel’s Research framework. For more information, please feel free to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., author of the report and ARCH facilitator of the Expert Panel.
The application process and requirements can be found at http://www.evidenceforaction.org/applicants#informational-webinar--2 . Letters of Intent that are viewed favorably will be invited to submit a more detailed proposal and awards are for 36 months. Preference is given to applicants that are public entities, institutes of higher education, or nonprofit organizations based in the U.S. or its territories. 501(c)(3) organizations as well as other types of non-profit and for-profit organizations are welcome to apply.
