State Lifespan Respite Advocacy Initiatives
Alabama
A VOICE THAT MATTERS -The Impact of Family Caregiving in Alabama as a whitepaper providing an update for public policymakers presented by the Alabama Lifespan Respite Coalition, the Alabama Department of Senior Services, and Alabama Lifespan Respite
Arkansas
The Arkansas Lifespan Respite Coalition has held several Respite Legislative Awareness Days at the State Capitol. Material distributed includes an Agenda, Awareness Day Proclamation, and a Respite Infographic.
Nebraska
In 2017, The Nebraska Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities awarded a grant to the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI) to convene a Respite Task Force. The Task Force was a workgroup made up of family caregivers, state and community nonprofit agencies, and coordinators from the Nebraska Lifespan Respite Network. They were charged with developing a framework to "strengthen, support and expand the Nebraska Lifespan Respite Network and to advance the capacity to deliver respite care services to family caregivers" in the state. At the conclusion of its year-long investigation, the Task Force released its report, including a series of programmatic, policy and administrative recommendations to improve respite services and access to them. Read the final report.
New York
In October 2021, the NY State Caregiving and Respite Coalition held a State Lifespan Respite Summit on Sustainability. The aim of the Summit was to connect policymakers, researchers, family caregivers, and statewide partners to exchange knowledge and expertise, leading to the development of a statewide strategy for strengthening the respite care system for all individuals and caregivers, across the lifespan. The purposes of the Summit were to strengthen state and community partnerships to sustain New York’s Lifespan Respite activities; develop strategies to maximize use of existing respite resources; identify and leverage new respite funds; engage in sustainability planning; and generate innovative activities for future development, with a focus on advocacy and policy. View Part 1 and Part II of the Summit sessions
Oklahoma
In October 2018, Oklahoma’s Caregiving and Respite Care Programs presented an Interim Study at the Oklahoma State Capital. A panel of service providers representing different age groups shared their community's perspectives on respite services. In addition, information was shared about the Oklahoma Caregiver Needs Assessment Survey; the benefits of caregiving and respite as an alternative to costly institutionalization; and policy suggestions to balance caregiving and respite resources in Oklahoma. View the Event Agenda, the Interim Study presentation and a table of OK's Statewide Respite programs.