Community Care Corps has released the 2022 Request for Proposals for a new round of grants. Since 2020, Community Care Corps has awarded grants to 44 local organizations from across the U.S. to establish, enhance and grow model programs in which volunteers assist with non-medical tasks, provide companionship and provide support to family caregivers. Community Care Corps will fund more projects this year to foster innovative volunteer models in support of this mission. Interested in applying? Visit the Community Care Corps website for more details and a link to the Request for Proposals.

Sibling Leadership Network, a Community Care Corps grantee headquartered in Chicago, IL, was highlighted in a news feature about the responsibilities and challenges of being a sibling caregiver.

The U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) has opened two new funding opportunities under the Lifespan Respite Care Program. Lifespan respite care programs are coordinated state systems of accessible, community-based respite care services for family caregivers of children and adults of all ages who have special needs. These programs reduce duplication of effort and work to improve the delivery and quality of respite care infrastructure at state and local levels.

• State Program Enhancement Grants applications are due June 14, 2022.
• Grants to New States and States Re-Establishing Their Core Respite Infrastructures applications are due June 17, 2022.

May is Older Americans Month, a month devoted to honoring older adults. The 2022 theme—Age My Way—focuses on exploring how older adults can age in their communities, live independently for as long as possible and participate in their communities in ways they choose. This month’s blog post highlights how Community Care Corps grantees provide essential support to family caregivers and empower older adults and adults with disabilities to thrive in community. Read it now.

Four Community Care Corps grantees participated in the 2022 Time to Care Summit. Aroostook Area Agency on Aging, New Mexico Caregivers Coalition, Hospice of the Valley and FamilyMeans joined the Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging, led by the Maine Council on Aging, for a panel discussion about how volunteer models can be used to fill local nonmedical service gaps and create a culture of care. Watch the panel discussion to hear grantees share their experiences, lessons learned and what’s next.

Grantees continue to produce videos showcasing the value and impact of their innovative volunteer models on their communities. Visit the Community Care Corps Vimeo page to stay up to date with these exciting projects. While you’re there, be sure to watch our partner videos to learn more about each organization’s commitment to this very important work!

• The Final Report from ACL’s volunteerism study demonstrates that volunteers play a key role in the capacity of ACL-funded programs that provide essential services and supports to help Americans remain independent in their homes and maintain their health and well-being. Many programs such as the OAA Title III programs, the OAA Title VII Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program and the State Health Insurance Program rely heavily on the contributions of volunteers. The report provides compelling statistics on the economic value of volunteerism.

• Caregiving Is The Ultimate Relationship Challenge. Here’s How To Reclaim Your Love And Yourself Through It All (Forbes Health, March 24, 2022)
• Finding Inspiration in the Face of Alzheimer’s: ‘A Caregiver’s Journey’ Looks at Life With the Disease (UConn Today, April 27, 2022)
• The Struggles and Rewards of ‘Sandwich Generation’ Caregiving (Alzheimer’s News Today, May 2, 2022)