ACL has awarded $5 million to the Oasis Institute for a new grant that will further the development, expansion, and refinement of the Community Care Corps model.
Between the need for caregiver respite and home care workforce shortages, volunteers are a valuable asset in support of the work of the 53 million family caregivers and 2.3 million direct care professionals across the country each year. Volunteers can also benefit, as the act of service has been linked to better mental and physical health and increases in satisfaction.
This project is designed to increase the number of community-based volunteer programs, thus decreasing the number of older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers who need assistance but cannot obtain help. Additionally, this project seeks to leverage the opportunities and principles contained in the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.
The Oasis Institute received an initial grant for this work in 2019, and, under this five-year grant, they will continue to carve out the models that they have established with partner agencies: the Caregiver Action Network, USAging, and the Altarum Institute.
For questions about the grant award or the Community Care Corps program, contact nikaela.frederick@acl.hhs.gov.
See Notice of Funding Opportunity: HHS-2024-ACL-AOA-CCDG-0032, "Volunteer Community Care Corps: Expanding and Refining Models for Volunteer Programs to Support Older Adults, People with Disabilities, and their Family Caregivers," posted April 9, 2024.