Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2026 ACL AOA LRLI 0053
The Lifespan Respite Care Program: State Grants is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living (ACL), designed to strengthen how states plan, coordinate, and deliver respite services for family caregivers. The focus is on building or improving statewide "lifespan respite" systems that serve caregivers of both children and adults, across all ages and across a wide range of disabilities, chronic conditions, and caregiving situations. In practice, the program is meant to make respite care easier to find, easier to access, and more available by improving statewide infrastructure, partnerships, and coordination, rather than funding isolated, one-off services.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity offers two tracks within the same announcement. Option A is aimed at states that are new to this program or that previously had a Lifespan Respite grant but let the program lapse and now want to restart it. The emphasis for Option A is rebuilding or establishing core statewide respite infrastructure, meaning the foundational systems, processes, and partnerships needed to run a coordinated respite network. Option B is for states that have already participated in the program through at least one prior grant and want to keep building on what they have, with an emphasis on program enhancement. Under Option B, states are expected to expand and improve program activities in ways that increase the availability and reach of lifespan respite services statewide.
Awards will be made as cooperative agreements, which typically means ACL expects to have an active role in supporting and overseeing the work, rather than simply providing funds with minimal federal involvement. The opportunity is categorized under Income Security and Social Services (Assistance Listing/CFDA 93.072). ACL anticipates making about 10 awards, and the maximum award amount is $500,000 per award (award ceiling). The application closing date listed for this competition is July 22, 2026.
Eligibility is limited to state governments, and more specifically to eligible state agencies defined in the program statute. Awards may only go to state agencies that administer the state program under the Older Americans Act of 1965 or Title XIX of the Social Security Act (Medicaid), or to another agency formally designated by the Governor to administer the program under this authority. A key structural requirement is that the eligible state agency must be, or must work with, an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and/or a No Wrong Door System, reinforcing the expectation that respite access will be integrated into broader statewide entry points for long-term services and supports. Applicants must also work in collaboration with a statewide respite care coalition or organization that is public or private nonprofit, ensuring the program is anchored in statewide stakeholder coordination rather than operating solely within a single agency.
Across both options, grantees are expected to collaborate closely with state respite organizations and coalitions to enhance and expand respite availability. The underlying statutory foundation includes the Lifespan Respite Care Program authorized in 2006 under Title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act and later updated through the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2020. Foreign entities are explicitly not eligible to apply for or receive funding under this announcement.Apply for HHS 2026 ACL AOA LRLI 0053
- The Administration for Community Living in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Lifespan Respite Care Program: State 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 2026-06-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-22. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Lifespan Respite Care Program: State Grants opportunity?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL), intended to strengthen how states plan, coordinate, and deliver respite services for family caregivers.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The purpose is to build or improve statewide "lifespan respite" systems that make respite care easier to find, easier to access, and more available. The focus is on statewide infrastructure, coordination, and partnerships rather than funding isolated, one-off services.
Who is the target population for the statewide respite system supported by this program?
The program is designed to support family caregivers of both children and adults, across all ages, and across a wide range of disabilities, chronic conditions, and caregiving situations.
What does "lifespan respite" mean in this context?
"Lifespan respite" refers to a statewide approach to respite services that serves caregivers across the entire lifespan (children through older adults) and across many types of conditions and caregiving needs, rather than focusing on a single age group or disability category.
Does this funding pay for direct respite services?
Based on the opportunity description, the program is meant to improve statewide infrastructure, partnerships, and coordination to increase availability and access to respite, rather than funding stand-alone, one-time respite services.
How is the funding opportunity structured?
This Notice of Funding Opportunity includes two tracks within the same announcement: Option A and Option B.
What is Option A?
Option A is aimed at states that are new to the Lifespan Respite Care Program or states that previously had a Lifespan Respite grant but let the program lapse and now want to restart it. The emphasis is on rebuilding or establishing core statewide respite infrastructure (foundational systems, processes, and partnerships needed to run a coordinated respite network).
What is Option B?
Option B is for states that have already participated in the Lifespan Respite Care Program through at least one prior grant and want to continue building on their existing program. The emphasis is on program enhancement, including expanding and improving activities to increase the availability and reach of lifespan respite services statewide.
How are awards made (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Awards will be made as cooperative agreements, which typically means ACL expects to have an active role in supporting and overseeing the work rather than only providing funds with minimal federal involvement.
What federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by HHS, Administration for Community Living (ACL).
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number and category?
The Assistance Listing/CFDA number is 93.072, and the opportunity is categorized under Income Security and Social Services.
How many awards does ACL expect to make?
ACL anticipates making about 10 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $500,000 per award.
When is the application due?
The application closing date listed for this competition is July 22, 2026.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to state governments, specifically eligible state agencies defined in the program statute.
Which state agencies are considered eligible under this opportunity?
Awards may only go to state agencies that administer the state program under the Older Americans Act of 1965 or Title XIX of the Social Security Act (Medicaid), or to another agency formally designated by the Governor to administer the program under this authority.
Can a Governor-designated agency apply?
Yes. The opportunity states that an agency formally designated by the Governor to administer the program under the specified authority may be eligible.
Are foreign entities eligible to apply?
No. Foreign entities are explicitly not eligible to apply for or receive funding under this announcement.
Is there a requirement related to Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) or No Wrong Door Systems?
Yes. The eligible state agency must be, or must work with, an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and/or a No Wrong Door System, reflecting the expectation that respite access will be integrated into broader statewide entry points for long-term services and supports.
Is collaboration with a statewide respite coalition required?
Yes. Applicants must work in collaboration with a statewide respite care coalition or organization that is public or private nonprofit, to ensure the program is grounded in statewide stakeholder coordination.
What is ACL expecting grantees to do in collaboration with respite organizations and coalitions?
Across both options, grantees are expected to collaborate closely with state respite organizations and coalitions to enhance and expand respite availability statewide.
What is meant by building "core statewide respite infrastructure" (Option A)?
In this opportunity, core statewide respite infrastructure refers to foundational statewide systems, processes, and partnerships needed to operate a coordinated respite network.
What is meant by "program enhancement" (Option B)?
Program enhancement refers to expanding and improving existing program activities in ways that increase the statewide availability and reach of lifespan respite services.
What law authorizes this program?
The program is authorized under the Lifespan Respite Care Program created in 2006 under Title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act, and later updated through the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2020.
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