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Lifespan Respite Care Bill to
be Introduced By The National
Respite Coalition
For more articles visit
www.bridges4kids.org.
Parents and interested organizations may be interested in
learning about a federal bill that was recently
introduced, the Lifespan
Respite Care Act of 2002 (S.2489). The bill was introduced in
the Senate on
May 9, 2002, by Senators Clinton (D-NY), Snowe (R-ME),
Mikulski (D-MD) and Breaux (D-LA).
Senators Inouye (D-HI) and Smith (R-OR) have joined as
cosponsors. A companion bill is expected to be
introduced shortly in the
House.
The bill would authorize funds for development of Lifespan
respite programs at the state and local levels;
evaluation of such programs;
planned or emergency respite care services; training
and recruitment of respite care
workers and volunteers; and caregiver training to help make
informed decisions about respite
care services.
What is a Lifespan Respite
Program?
Lifespan respite programs are
defined in the bill as "coordinated
systems of accessible, community-based
respite care services for all
caregivers of individuals regardless of the individual's age,
race, ethnicity or
special need."
Who Can Access Lifespan
Respite Programs?
Caregivers who are family members
(including grandparents caring for
grandchildren), foster parents, or
other adults providing ongoing
unpaid care for an individual with a special need may
access these programs.
Special need is defined broadly
as: Alzheimer's disease and related
disorders; developmental disabilities;
mental retardation; physical
disabilities; chronic illness; behavioral, mental and
emotional conditions;
situations in which there exists a high risk of abuse
or neglect, or of being placed in
the foster care system, or in which
a child's parent is unavailable due
to parent's death, incapacitation, or incarceration; or
any other
conditions established by regulation.
Lead Agency Eligibility
Funds would be provided on a competitive grant basis to
state agencies, other public or private nonprofit
entities capable of operating
on a statewide basis, a political subdivision of a state that
has a population
greater than 3 million, or any already recognized State
respite coordinating body.
Priority would be given to
applicants that show the greatest
likelihood of implementing or enhancing Lifespan respite care
statewide.
Federal Administration
Coordination is required at the federal level between
the administering agency, the
Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health
Resources and Services
Administration, and these federal
agencies: National Family Caregiver
Support Program of the Administration on Aging, the
Administration for
Children, Youth and Families, the Administration on
Developmental Disabilities, and the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration.
Funding
Authorization levels: $90.5 million in FY03 rising to $200
million in FY07. If you would
like get additional information or
express your opinion about this
issue, contact Jill Kagan, National Respite Coalition,
at
jbkagan@aol.com.
National
Respite Coalition:
http://www.chtop.com/ARCH/NRC.htm
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