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Lifespan Respite Care Program
Authorizing Legislation: Title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C 201)
The Purpose of the Program and How it Works
The Lifespan Respite Care Program was authorized by Congress in 2006. Lifespan Respite Care programs bring together Federal, state and local resources and funding streams to help support, expand and streamline the delivery of planned and emergency respite services while also providing for the recruitment and training of respite workers and caregiver training and empowerment.
The Lifespan Respite Care Act is intended to accomplish multiple objectives, including:
- Expanding and enhancing respite services in the states;
- Improving coordination and dissemination of service delivery between the various programs available;
- Improving access to programs by streamlining the means by which consumers access programs and by filling gaps in service where necessary; and
- Improving the overall quality of the respite services currently available.
Since FY 2009, Congress has appropriated approximately $2.5 million per year for grants to eligible State agencies to implement the program. Lifespan Respite Care programs are coordinated systems of accessible, community-based respite care services for family caregivers of children or adults of all ages with special needs.
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Lifespan Respite Care Program Grantees
For the past three years, the U.S. Administration on Aging issued Program Announcements seeking applications from eligible State agencies to implement the Lifespan Respite Care Program. In 2011, AoA funded six new states to begin implementing Lifespan Respite Care Programs bringing to 30 the number of states who are working to improve the availability and quality of respite across the lifespan.
Additionally in 2011, AoA funded eight of the FY 2009 and FY 2010 grantees (indicated by *) to expand their Lifespan Respite Care Programs by focusing on the delivery of services and the enhancement of activities begun under their initial funding. For more information about the implementation of the Lifespan Respite Care Program and to learn more about the key activities of each of the state grantees, please click on the State name below to read a project summary:
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Lifespan Respite Care Program – Reauthorization
In 2011, Congress will consider reauthorization of the LRCP effective in FY 2012. From January 6 through March 31, 2011, AoA solicited input regarding the reauthorization from interested individuals and organizations. Select this link for a summary of the input that was received.
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Resources and Useful Links
The ARCH National Respite Network
http://chtop.org/ARCH.html
Full text of the Lifespan Respite Care Program legislation may be found at:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/T?&report=hr716&dbname=109&
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| Last Modified: 9/28/2011 1:16:58 PM |
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