Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2021 ACL AOA LRLI 0045
The Lifespan Respite Care Program: State Program Enhancement Grants is a discretionary cooperative agreement funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL), designed specifically for state governments to strengthen and expand statewide respite care systems. Respite care is defined here as temporary relief for family caregivers who provide ongoing care to an individual of any age with special needs. The overarching intent is to reduce caregiver strain by making respite easier to find, easier to access, better coordinated, and higher quality across a whole state, rather than leaving families to navigate a fragmented set of programs on their own.
The opportunity builds on the premise that many states have already made meaningful progress since the Lifespan Respite Care Program began in 2009, particularly if they previously received Lifespan Respite grants. Under this round of funding, states are pushed to take a hard, practical look at how much their current respite system actually delivers direct services to caregivers, not just planning, convening, or coordination. Applicants are expected to assess the current reach of their Lifespan Respite system of direct service and then propose concrete approaches to increase, step by step over the project period, the amount (often described as a percentage) of grant-supported effort that results in direct respite services and related supports reaching families.
A central theme is that caregivers face real barriers to using respite, even when services exist. Those barriers can include limited availability of providers, uneven geographic coverage (especially rural areas), lack of awareness, complicated eligibility rules, waitlists, cultural and language obstacles, and challenges coordinating across aging, disability, and child-serving systems. The grant’s focus is to help states address those obstacles through a more organized, lifespan approach, meaning respite supports should be accessible for caregivers of children, adults, and older adults, rather than being siloed by age group or diagnosis. In practice, states are expected to advance their existing respite infrastructure by adding or scaling direct service activities that proactively expand the state’s ability to deliver respite and related caregiver supports.
The funding announcement makes it clear that grantees should not start from scratch, but instead build on what earlier Lifespan Respite Care Program grants have already established. A key expectation is incremental growth in direct services each grant year. While the narrative references a 3-year grant in describing year-over-year increases, it also states that successful applicants should propose measurable performance goals and objectives tied to direct service expansion goals over the course of a 5-year project period, so applicants are expected to present a clear, measurable, multi-year path for increasing direct respite delivery and demonstrating results. In addition to direct services, grantees are expected to provide the required services laid out in the Lifespan Respite Care Act (as amended), and may also implement optional services if they make sense for the state, with an emphasis on increasing statewide capacity to meet the Act’s objectives by the end of each grant year.
Operationally, this is a cooperative agreement, which typically means ACL will be more involved than under a standard grant. Grantees must participate in ACL-supported technical assistance activities and meet regularly with the ACL program officer to review activities, troubleshoot challenges, and track progress toward measurable goals. States must also dedicate some portion of the award specifically to providing direct respite services, consistent with the Act’s requirements, rather than using all funds solely for system-building or administrative purposes. The expectation is a balanced approach: strengthen the system while also ensuring families experience tangible, increased access to respite during the project.
Key administrative details from the notice include: the funding opportunity number is HHS-2021-ACL-AOA-LRLI-0045; the CFDA number is 93.072; the activity category is Income Security and Social Services; the eligible applicants are state governments; the award ceiling is $275,000; ACL anticipated making about 8 awards; the opportunity was posted March 22, 2021, with an original closing date of May 21, 2021. Overall, the grant is aimed at helping states move beyond planning and coordination alone and demonstrate year-by-year growth in actual respite services delivered to family caregivers across the lifespan, supported by clear performance measures and ongoing collaboration with ACL.Apply for HHS 2021 ACL AOA LRLI 0045
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Lifespan Respite Care Program: State Program Enhancement Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.072.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 22, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 21, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $275,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Lifespan Respite Care Program: State Program Enhancement Grants?
It is a discretionary cooperative agreement funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL). The purpose is to help state governments strengthen and expand statewide respite care systems so respite is easier to find, easier to access, better coordinated, and higher quality across the entire state.
What does "respite care" mean in this grant opportunity?
Respite care is defined as temporary relief for family caregivers who provide ongoing care to an individual of any age with special needs. The intent is to reduce caregiver strain by making it more feasible for caregivers to get breaks and support.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are state governments.
Which federal agency administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by HHS through the Administration for Community Living (ACL).
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The funding opportunity number is HHS-2021-ACL-AOA-LRLI-0045, and the CFDA number is 93.072.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $275,000.
How many awards does ACL expect to make?
ACL anticipated making about 8 awards.
When was the opportunity posted and when was it originally due?
The opportunity was posted on March 22, 2021, and the original closing date was May 21, 2021.
What is the main goal of the grant?
The main goal is to strengthen and expand a statewide respite system so families experience increased, tangible access to respite and related caregiver supports, rather than having to navigate a fragmented set of programs on their own.
What is meant by a "statewide respite care system" in this context?
It refers to an organized, coordinated approach to respite across a whole state, with improvements in availability, access, coordination, and quality. The grant emphasizes statewide impact rather than isolated efforts.
What is meant by a "lifespan approach" to respite?
A lifespan approach means respite supports should be accessible for caregivers of children, adults, and older adults, rather than being separated into silos based on age group or diagnosis.
Is this opportunity focused on planning and coordination, or on direct services?
It is focused on both, but with a clear push toward increasing direct services. States are expected to assess how much their current system actually delivers direct respite services to caregivers (not just planning, convening, or coordination) and propose concrete steps to expand direct service reach over time.
Do applicants need to start a new respite system to be competitive?
No. The announcement indicates grantees should not start from scratch and should build on what earlier Lifespan Respite Care Program grants have already established.
What kinds of barriers to respite use does the grant expect states to address?
The notice highlights barriers such as limited availability of providers, uneven geographic coverage (especially in rural areas), lack of awareness, complicated eligibility rules, waitlists, cultural and language obstacles, and challenges coordinating across aging, disability, and child-serving systems.
What are applicants expected to assess before proposing activities?
Applicants are expected to assess the current reach of their Lifespan Respite system of direct service and then propose practical approaches to increase the portion of grant-supported effort that results in direct respite services and related supports reaching families.
What does "incremental growth in direct services" mean under this grant?
It means proposing a step-by-step increase, year over year, in the amount (often described as a percentage) of grant-supported activity that results in direct respite services and related supports delivered to families.
How long is the project period described in the notice?
The narrative references a 3-year grant when describing year-over-year increases, but it also states that successful applicants should propose measurable performance goals and objectives tied to direct service expansion over the course of a 5-year project period. Applicants are expected to present a clear multi-year path for increasing direct respite delivery and demonstrating results.
What performance expectations are emphasized?
Applicants are expected to propose measurable performance goals and objectives that are tied to direct service expansion goals, showing how results will be demonstrated over the multi-year project period.
What required services must grantees provide?
Grantees are expected to provide the required services laid out in the Lifespan Respite Care Act (as amended). The notice also indicates optional services may be implemented if they make sense for the state, with emphasis on increasing statewide capacity to meet the Act's objectives by the end of each grant year.
Are states required to spend part of the award on direct respite services?
Yes. States must dedicate some portion of the award specifically to providing direct respite services, consistent with the Act's requirements, rather than using all funds only for system-building or administrative purposes.
What does it mean that this is a "cooperative agreement"?
A cooperative agreement typically means ACL will be more involved than under a standard grant. The notice describes expectations such as participating in ACL-supported technical assistance and meeting regularly with the ACL program officer to review activities, troubleshoot challenges, and track progress toward measurable goals.
What ongoing coordination with ACL is expected after an award?
Grantees must participate in ACL-supported technical assistance activities and meet regularly with the ACL program officer to review activities, troubleshoot challenges, and monitor progress toward measurable goals.
What is the activity category listed for this opportunity?
The activity category is Income Security and Social Services.
How does this opportunity build on the Lifespan Respite Care Program that began in 2009?
The opportunity is framed around the idea that many states have already made progress since the program began in 2009, especially if they previously received Lifespan Respite grants. This round pushes states to strengthen what exists and demonstrate increasing delivery of direct respite services over time.
Is the grant trying to reduce caregiver strain?
Yes. The overarching intent is to reduce caregiver strain by improving statewide access to respite, making it easier for families to locate, qualify for, and use respite services.
What is the core difference between a fragmented respite landscape and the system this grant is trying to promote?
The grant is intended to move states away from a patchwork of disconnected programs and toward a coordinated statewide system where caregivers can more easily find and use respite services, with improved coordination and quality across the state.
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| National Information & Referral Support Center Apply for HHS 2021 ACL AOA EESC 0075 Funding Number: HHS 2021 ACL AOA EESC 0075 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| National Center on Elder Abuse Resource Center Apply for HHS 2021 ACL AOA ABRC 0036 Funding Number: HHS 2021 ACL AOA ABRC 0036 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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| University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service Apply for HHS 2021 ACL AOD DDUC 0071 Funding Number: HHS 2021 ACL AOD DDUC 0071 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $577,449 |
| Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance-Esther Martinez Immersion Apply for HHS 2021 ACF ANA NB 1958 Funding Number: HHS 2021 ACF ANA NB 1958 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - ANA Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $300,000 |
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| Social and Economic Development Strategies - Growing Organizations (GO) Apply for HHS 2021 ACF ANA NN 1918 Funding Number: HHS 2021 ACF ANA NN 1918 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - ANA Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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| Environmental Regulatory Enhancement Apply for HHS 2021 ACF ANA NR 1907 Funding Number: HHS 2021 ACF ANA NR 1907 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - ANA Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $300,000 |
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| OVC FY 2021 Invited to Apply Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Grant Program Apply for O OVC 2021 90001 Funding Number: O OVC 2021 90001 Agency: Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| National Adult Protective Services Training Center Apply for HHS 2021 ACL AOA EJRC 0101 Funding Number: HHS 2021 ACL AOA EJRC 0101 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
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