Some of the Lifespan Respite grantees in collaboration with their state respite coalition and/or other partners, have used their initial Lifespan Respite infrastructure building grants, expansion grants or integration and sustainability grants to offer mini-grants to local community-based organizations to expand or enhance respite services in local communities. Examples of the RFPs/RFAs used by state grantees to solicit proposals, PPT presentations on mini grant implementation and outcomes, and other related information are included here.

Alabama

In 2022, Alabama Lifespan Respite issued an RFP for Respite Care Program Grants to increase direct respite care services to existing and start-up programs that provide services to underserved populations. Priority is given to programs serving rural communities, Hispanic/Latino and/or African American families, and children at risk for abuse and neglect. Other populations will be considered as well.

Colorado

The Colorado Respite Care Program (CRCP) periodically awards Community Grants to qualified for-profit, nonprofit agencies or governmental entities currently providing respite services. This program is an effort to respond to the respite care needs of Colorado's family caregivers of individuals with special needs, chronic conditions, older adults, foster children and kinship relations and more. Organizations will be awarded funds to support families in need of respite care.

Colorado mini-grants RFP

Massachusetts

Request for Responses, Massachusetts Lifespan Respite Coalition (MLRC), Respite Innovation Mini-Grants, Application for Funding, Issued by the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services

New York

2016 Mini-grants

Using Lifespan Respite grant funds, the New York State Caregiving and Respite Coalition awarded mini-grant awards to community and faith-based organizations using Lifespan Respite grant funds. See the NYSCRC Oct 2016 newsletter for mini-grant descriptions. New York has awarded additional minigrants several times since then. 

2022-23 Mini-grants

• Communication Protocol between NYSCRC and Mini grantees
• Post Respite Survey
• 2022-23 Mini grant Application

North Carolina

Money Follows the Person Partnership

A joint effort of the Lifespan Respite Care Project, under the Division of Aging and Adult Services and the Money Follows the Person Project, under the Division of Medical Assistance

Between March 2012 - May 2013:

• 14,126 hours of respite provided to 235 new families.
• Trained 86 volunteers.
• 12 new or enhanced services have been sustained (summer camps, private pay options, volunteer teams).

PPT Presentation, 2013 National Lifespan Respite Conference, Giving Your Communities the Freedom to Care: How a Little Money Can Go a Long Way includes outcomes from the mini grant initiative.

Mini-grants Lessons Learned:

• It was time consuming to manage nine grantees, but funding catalyzed nine communities across the state to create a lasting effect on peoples’ lives.
• Timing and approach seem to be key elements in introducing and using the “Maximizing Respite Time” planning tool.
• In more than one setting, caregivers no longer receiving grant-funded services looked for informal/unpaid respite supports. Once experienced, respite was viewed as valuable.
• Average caregiver burden scores significantly declined from pre to post-respite only for those caregivers that talked to their provider about respite planning using the respite planning tool. Burden scores did decline for those caregivers that did not receive consultation from their provider on respite planning, but the decline was not significant.

Mini-Grant Tools and Reports

Setting Goals to Maximize Your Respite Time Tool
Mini-grant Summary Tables
Mini-grant Summary Report, March 2012-May 2013
Caregiver Survey  Results  

NC Lifespan Respite Mini-Grantee Quarterly Reporting Form 

Ohio

OH Lifespan Respite Volunteer Respite Expansion Mini-grants

Oklahoma

OK Lifespan Respite local grantees (awarded 2014)

South Carolina

2020-2022.  Samples from South Carolina’s Alzheimer’s Resources Coordinating Council (ARCC) mini grant program and modified versions used by South Carolina for the Breakroom minirants:

2012 Mini grant program.  South Carolina Lifespan Respite Care Project, Supplemental Grant Program: Expansion of Respite Care Through the Faith Community. Released by the South Carolina Respite Coalition, Issue Date: Feb 15, 2012, click here for RFP.

Wisconsin

Current: RCAW currently has in place several grant awards for respite providers and community-based programs to expand and enhance respite care, including:

• The CORE Grant Program supports agencies in hosting community and outreach events that recruit respite care providers and educate primary caregivers about long-term care resources, including respite care. Agencies that assist family caregivers and care recipients across the lifespan (ADRCs, County Agencies, etc.) are encouraged to collaborate for such events.
• The Group Respite Grant Program provides funding to enable agencies and organizations to hire respite care providers to offer on-site respite care that allows primary caregivers to participate in activities such as support groups, classes, conferences, etc.
• The Respite Care Provider Grant (RCPG) provides funding twice a year to increase direct respite care services to existing and start-up programs that provide services to underserved populations.