Administration for Community Living

The purpose of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) program is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by conducting advanced engineering research on and development of innovative technologies that are designed to solve particular rehabilitation problems or to remove environmental barriers. The purpose of this RERC is to conduct research on, develop, and evaluate Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven assistive and rehabilitation technologies that enhance independence, participation, and quality of life for people with disabilities. Many existing assistive and rehabilitation technologies lack adaptability, personalization, and seamless integration into daily life. AI and machine learning (ML) offer trans-formative potential to address these gaps by enabling smarter, more responsive, and individualized assistive and rehabilitation technologies. AI-driven innovations in assistive and rehabilitation technology can shift them from static tools to dynamic, intelligent systems that continuously learn and adapt in real time to individual preferences, needs, and changing abilities. This grant will have a 60-month project period, with five 12-month budget periods.&nbsp;

States; public or private agencies, including for-profit agencies; public or private organizations, including for-profit organizations; IHEs; and Indian tribes and tribal organizations.  Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity announcement.

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on AI-Driven Assistive and Rehabilitation Technologies

Cooperative agreements under the Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI)- State Programs for Dementia-Specific Respite Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to expand and strengthen additional supports for family caregivers by providing dementia-specific respite services delivered through the National Aging Services Network (State Units on Aging (SUA), Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), and aging network service providers). The program is designed to provide respite relief in support of unpaid family caregivers of people &nbsp;with a probable diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia (ADRD) who need access or additional access to respite care or related services. The primary goal is to reduce caregiver burden and delay institutionalization of people with a probable diagnosis of ADRD through the availability and delivery of dementia-specific respite services. &nbsp; Through this demonstration grant opportunity, states will partner with Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) to coordinate and provide respite services for caregivers with a focus on dementia-specific respite services comparable to existing services provided under the Older Americans Act (OAA). Grant funds will be awarded to SUAs, which will distribute the funds to AAAs to carry out program implementation. Dementia-specific respite services will be made available to eligible unpaid family caregivers of people with a probable diagnosis of ADRD, as well as those under age 60 with younger-onset dementia of any age who would otherwise meet eligibility requirements under OAA funded programs. Participating SUAs will establish and define the terms and conditions governing the implementation of their dementia-specific respite program. &nbsp;Successful applications will include an independent third-party evaluation to assess and document the program’s impact on participating, community-residing unpaid family caregivers and individuals living with dementia.&nbsp;

Competition limited to State Units on Aging Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.

Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) - State Programs for Dementia Specific Respite

Cooperative agreements under the ADPI funding Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), are intended to support and promote the development and expansion of dementia-capable home and community-based service (HCBS) systems in&nbsp;States and Communities. There are two application options contained in this single NOFO:&nbsp;Grants to States (Option A) and&nbsp;Grants to Communities (Option B). No entity is eligible to apply for both State and Community options and no entity is eligible to hold more than one ADPI grant at a time. The dementia-capable systems resulting from program activities under either option are expected to provide quality, person-centered services and supports that help individuals living with dementia and their caregiver remain independent and safe in their communities.OPTION A: Grants to States Applicants for&nbsp;Option A (36 month cooperative agreements) are the governmental entities within states and territories designated as the state agency for dementia-capability and that have working relationships with their state agencies that enable creating and sustaining a dementia- capable HCBS System.&nbsp;Option A has two required objectives, the first of which is the creation, expansion and sustainability of a dementia-capable state HCBS system that includes Single Entry Point/No Wrong Door (SEP/NWD) access for people with dementia and their family caregivers. The second objective is to ensure access to a comprehensive, sustainable set of quality state HCBS that are dementia-capable and provide innovative services to the population with dementia and their caregivers.States and territories eligible for&nbsp;Option A are those that do not have active ACL ADPI State dementia-capability grants. All states without active grants are eligible to apply, however those states that have not benefited from ADSSP grants since before 2014 will be given priority consideration in the post-review decision-making process.OPTION B: Grants to Communities Cooperative agreements under&nbsp;Option B (36 month cooperative agreements) are available to private and/or public community-based organizations (CBO) that are able to: 1) demonstrate their operation within an&nbsp;existing dementia-capable HCBS system dedicated to the population that they serve; and 2) articulate opportunities and additional services in the targeted gap areas that would enhance and strengthen the existing system.Option B cooperative agreements are designed to aid community-based HCBS providers in addressing three specific service gaps in existing dementia-capable HCBS systems for persons living with or those at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their caregivers.Option B applicants must address each of the following three gap areas:<ul><li>Provision of effective supportive services to persons living alone with ADRD in the community;</li><li>Improvement of the quality and effectiveness of programs and services dedicated to individuals aging with intellectual and developmental disabilities with ADRD or those at high risk of developing ADRD; and&nbsp;</li><li>Delivery of behavioral symptom management training and expert consultations for family caregivers.</li></ul>Community-based organizations are only eligible to hold one ADPI grant at a time. All community-based organizations without active ADPI grants are eligible to apply, however those that have not benefited from ADI-SSS and ADPI grant programs since before 2014 will be given priority consideration in the post-review decision-making process.

Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity announcement.

Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) - State and Community Grant Program

AoD's Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (OIDD) within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) forecasts the availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funds to make five-year grants to up to two entities designated as University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD). These grantees carry out four core functions: (1) interdisciplinary pre-service preparation and continuing education of students; (2) community services, including training, technical assistance, and/or demonstration and model activities; (3) research; and (4) dissemination of information. UCEDDs are interdisciplinary education, research and public service units of universities, or public or not-for-profit entities associated with universities that implement the four core functions addressing, directly or indirectly, one or more of the areas of emphasis (e.g., quality assurance, education and early intervention, child care, health, employment, housing, transportation, recreation and other services available or offered to individuals in a community, including formal and informal community supports, that affect their quality of life). Funds made available under this proposed funding opportunity will be used to pay for the Federal share of the cost of the administration and operation of programs.&nbsp;

Section 151(a) of the DD Act of 2000 states that appropriations authorized under section 156(a)(1) of the DD Act shall be used to make five-year grants to entities in each State designated as a UCEDD to carry out the four core functions of interdisciplinary pre-service preparation and continuing education, community services, research and information dissemination.  Entities eligible to apply for funds under this funding opportunity announcement are the grantees which were awarded in FY 2021. Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity announcement.

University Centers for Developmental Disabilities in Education, Research, and Service

The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to implement the demonstration authority in Section 373(i) of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended (OAA). Successful grantees will use the framework provided by the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers (the Strategy) as the basis for their proposed projects. Under this NOFO, ACL is interested in supporting state implementation of the principles, recommendations and actions as stated in the Strategy. Grantees will be expected to develop a range of cross-agency partnerships at the state level to identify which of the Strategy's goals, recommendations and stated actions they wish to address on a statewide basis. Up to, but not to exceed, the first six months of their projects, grantees will be permitted to undertake a period of planning and coordination with project partners. At the end of the planning period, grantees must submit a sustainability plan detailing how project activities and accomplishments will be maintained and continued following the period of federal funding. &nbsp;During the remainder of their two-year projects, grantees will focus on implementation and execution of their proposals.&nbsp;

Eligible entities will be limited to state units on aging, those entities that administer Title III-E of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended. The ACL program office has verified with OGM and the Department that a limitation in competion of this nature is permissible. Per the Chapter 11.2 of the GPAM  &quot;An awarding agency is not required to get an exception if it is initiating supplements to a limited pool of existing recipients that were initially awarded as part of a competition, when the supplemental funding is offered to all recipients in that cohort, and where there is no change to the scope of the awards.&quot; applications will be sought from a previously identified list of awardees (the SUAs) to improve the administration of their current awards.  Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.

Advancing State Implementation of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers

The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity is to support one organization through a cooperative agreement to serve as the National Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) Resource Center. This center will act as a central connector to the aging network for the discretionary and formula funded CDSME grants. It will offer individualized and tiered technical assistance, high-quality education, and a wide range of resources to increase the number of older adults and adults with disabilities who participate in evidence based CDSME and Self-Management Support Programs. The Resource Center will help the network provide cost-effective services that align with the purposes of the Older Americans Act, Title III-D. They will promote the advancement of the CDSME network through building partnerships, supporting data collection, reporting metrics, highlighting key achievements, and engaging stakeholders to encourage long-term sustainability of the programs.

ACL National Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Resource Center

Cooperative agreements under this Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) are intended to support and promote the development and implementation of dementia-capable home and community-based service (HCBS) systems in Indian Country. The Dementia Capability in Indian Country program is intended to support federally recognized tribes, tribal organizations and/or consortiums representing federally recognized tribes in these targeted activities. The dementia-capable systems resulting from activities under this program are expected to provide quality, strengths-based services and supports that help people living with dementia and their caregivers remain independent and safe in their communities. There are two application options contained in this single NOFO: Grants to Tribes and Tribal Entities that have previously received ADPI grants (Option A) and Grants to Tribes and Tribal Entities that are new to the ADPI program (Option B).&nbsp; Applicants for the 36-month Dementia in Indian Country cooperative agreement are those entities that are presently responsible for the provision of and actively providing home and community services in tribal communities (i.e. tribes, tribal organizations and/or consortiums representing federally recognized tribes). Applicants for Option A will propose the ways in which they will expand on their previously funded ADPI programs (this grant program is not intended to sustain previously funded ADPI activities) and applicants under option B will propose to enhance existing service systems with dementia services, resulting in the provision of services to Tribal Elders and their caregivers through a dementia-capable system. Responsive applications will demonstrate tribal leadership support and the authority to conduct the activities proposed in their application.

Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.

Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) - Dementia Capability in Indian Country

The purpose of the&nbsp;National Technical Assistance Center (NTAC) on Kinship and Grandfamilies&nbsp;is to increase the services provided to grandfamilies and kinship families through the National Aging Services Network.&nbsp;&nbsp;This center will&nbsp;increase&nbsp;the National Aging Services Network capacity and effectiveness to&nbsp;support the health and well-being of members of grandfamilies and kinship families, including caregivers, children, and their parents.&nbsp;NTAC will catalyze implementation of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers by scaling replicable models proven to support grandfamilies and kinship families in their caregiving roles. The NTAC will do this through collaboration with subject matter experts,&nbsp;provision of&nbsp;technical&nbsp;assistance, resources and training across systems,&nbsp;fostering peer-to-peer&nbsp;learning, and&nbsp;planning responses to emergencies and disasters.&nbsp;&nbsp;

National Technical Assistance Center on Kinship and Grandfamilies

<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;">&nbsp;</td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;">&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>AoD plans to fund one (1) 3-year cooperative agreement to developsustainable peer support models for individuals who use or can benefit from the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) across the lifespan. The funded project must include, but not be limited to, individuals that use AAC, nonprofit community-based service-provider organization(s), self-advocacy organizations, youth and adults with I/DD, families, and others in their support system. The project will address the needs of and provide support for the estimated five million people in the US that experience speech disabilities including individuals intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who use AAC or could benefit from AAC to ensure access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of community life. The goal will be to provide a community where people who need or use AAC can come together in a safe space to share their positive and negative experiences and to increase knowledge, usage, and awareness of AAC for people with speech disabilities to live independent, self-determined lives using AAC that meets their interests and communicaion preferences.&nbsp;&nbsp;

AoD plans to fund one (1) 3-year cooperative agreement to develop sustainable peer support models for individuals who use or can benefit from the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) across the lifespan. The funded project must include, but not be limited to, individuals that use AAC, nonprofit community-based service-provider organization(s), self-advocacy organizations, youth and adults with I/DD, families, and others in their support system. Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity announcement.

Administration for Community Living

Grant programs

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on AI-Driven Assistive and Rehabilitation Technologies

$970.0K–$980.0K

Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) - State Programs for Dementia Specific Respite

$300.0K–$2.0M

Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) - State and Community Grant Program

$850.0K–$1.0M

University Centers for Developmental Disabilities in Education, Research, and Service

~$630.0K

Advancing State Implementation of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers

$450.0K–$490.0K

ACL National Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Resource Center

~$990.0K

Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) - Dementia Capability in Indian Country

$200.0K–$300.0K

National Technical Assistance Center on Kinship and Grandfamilies

$750.0K–$1.0M

Peer Supports for Augmentative and Alternative Communication

$750.0K–$780.0K

Funder Details

~$820K

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