Lifespan Respite Care Program: State Program Enhancement Grants

About this grant

ACL is seeking applications from eligible state agencies that will advance the provision of respite services through their statewide Lifespan Respite Care system as outlined in the Act. Eligible states applying must use funds to enhance respite services through their existing Lifespan Respite Care system and have already received a program enhancement grant and looking to continue to scale and build collaborations and partnerships. Funds supplement, not replace existing funds. The goal of the pr Grant Number: HHS-2026-ACL-AOA-LRLI-0053. Expected awards: 10.

Eligibility requirements

All of the following criteria must be met:

• Based on statutory requirements for the Lifespan Respite Care Program authorized by Congress in 2006 under Title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C 201), and the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2020, awards may only be made to eligible state agencies administering the state"s program under the Older Americans Act of 1965 or Title XIX of the Social Security Act (Medicaid),
• Grant Number: HHS-2026-ACL-AOA-LRLI-0053

What the funding covers

• Award Range: $300K to $500K
• Expected Number of Awards: 10
• Total Program Funding: $5M

How to apply

1. 1Check eligibility: Confirm your organization type (e.g., nonprofit, state government), project alignment, and deadlines from the opportunity synopsis.
2. 2Register: Create a Grants.gov account via Login.gov, complete SAM.gov and UEI registration, and authorize organization representatives (takes 2-4 weeks).
3. 3Prepare application: Select "Apply" to open Workspace, download forms (e.g., SF-424), complete offline/online with validation checks, and upload supporting docs like budgets and narratives.
4. 4Submit and track: Check package for errors, sign/submit via Authorized Organization Representative (AOR), and monitor status with your tracking number
5. 5Applications must be submitted through grants.gov
6. 6Grant Number: HHS-2026-ACL-AOA-LRLI-0053
7. 7Posted: 2025-09-05

Application tips