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Monday, December 2, 2019
National Family Caregivers Month: Learning More about Caregiver Needs
By: Lance Robertson, ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary
for Aging
At this time of year, we stop to give thanks and spend time
with our friends and loved ones to reflect on our many blessings. We spend
time renewing the ties that connect families and sharing in the joys of the
season. Because November is also National Family Caregivers Month, this is
a time of year when we pause to think about the people whose support makes
it possible for their loved ones to live independently in their homes and
communities, as well as the increasing number of grandparents and other
older relatives who take over raising children when their parents
cannot. Without them, we could not effectively support community living for
older adults and people with disabilities, and millions more children would
enter the already overburdened foster care system.
Being here at ACL has given me the opportunity to meet some
truly amazing individuals, including many family caregivers, grandparents,
and older relatives who provide support for their loved ones. I have also
met many talented and dedicated professionals whose mission is all about
supporting family caregivers, grandparents, and older relatives. While
nearly every program ACL administers, along with many others across the
federal government, supports these folks in any variety of ways, I know we
have the opportunity to do more on behalf of these incredible people.
Last year, Congress passed two important pieces of legislation
that hold tremendous potential to strengthen how we support and sustain
family caregivers, and grandparents and older relative caregivers. The Recognize,
Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act
will establish a Family Caregiving Strategy to better support
families. The Supporting
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act focuses national
attention on better understanding the complex needs of grandparents and
older relative caregivers. It also will help to make information about
promising practices and programs more available to them.
Earlier this year, the Family
Caregiving Advisory Council and Advisory
Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren met for
the first time here in Washington, DC. I chaired these meetings and came
away from them more confident than ever about the potential they have for
improving family caregivers’ access to needed support. It was an inspiring
two days, and I was so happy to see the level of interest and engagement
from members of the public, key partners, and other stakeholders.
At ACL, we know that input from the people most affected by
our programs is critical to ensuring our work is relevant and responsive to
their needs. Public input will help shape the ongoing activities of the two
advisory councils and inform their recommendations. Right now, ACL is
seeking responses to a few key questions for each of the councils. We
especially need family caregivers, grandparents, and older relatives who
are raising children, and people who have been in those roles in the past,
to share their experiences and insights. We also need our partners and
other advocates to share their expertise.
The information we collect will provide up-to-date information
to the councils and enable them to better understand the challenges facing
family caregivers, solicit recommendations for how we can better
engage with family caregivers in meaningful ways, and identify the
latest promising practices for supporting family caregivers and
grandparents raising grandchildren.
I’m asking for your help in two ways. First, please provide
your input! Second, please help spread the word so we can ensure we
are considering the needs and experiences of the widest possible range of
people.
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