ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center

The National Respite Coalition (NRC) extends our thanks to Congressman Nick Langworthy and U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda for introducing the bipartisan Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 2560) in the House on April 1. They join U.S. Senator @Susan Collins and Senator Tammy Baldwin, who introduced the Senate bill (S. 830) on March 4th, in leading the charge to reauthorize the program. The NRC spearheaded endorsements for both the House and Senate bills from 39 national organizations and we are grateful for their support. See letters at https://lnkd.in/eruS5uYp In addition to extending the Lifespan Respite Care program for another five years to enable state grantees and State Respite Coalition partners continue to help family caregivers caring for individuals across the lifespan pay for and find respite; recruit and train respite workers and volunteers; and start up new community and faith-based respite care services, we are especially grateful for inclusion of the NRC provision to expand eligibility for services to young caregivers under age 18. ACTION Contact your Representative and Senators and urge them to cosponsor the bill and support swift passage.

We closed out the 2025 National Lifespan Respite Conference by Amplifying Family Caregiver Voices, featuring family caregivers Feylyn Lewis, PhD, young caregiver advocate and researcher extraordinaire; María Gutiérrez, Auburn University Regional Autism Network, and Jonathan Cottor, National Center for Pediatric Palliative Care Homes (NCPPCH) and Children's Respite Homes of America in a panel moderated by Nick Nyberg, Alabama Department of Senior Services. Theresa Vollor, VA Caregiver Support Program Manager, Birmingham VA Healthcare System also spoke to the unique needs of Veteran caregivers. #LaunchRespite2025 #LifespanRespite #Autism #respitecare #Hispaniccaregivers #respitehomes #Pediatricpalliativecare #Veterans

The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center was proud to showcase the 2025 Innovative and Exemplary Respite Services at the 2025 National Lifespan Respite Conference and learn more about their person- and family-centered respite care services. Patricia Dominguez, Duet: Partners In Health & Aging, Kinship Care Services Lisa McCoon, Pause for Parents Play for Kids Amy Dewitt-Smith, Neighbor Network of Northern Nevada (N4) Megan Schwalm, Tennessee Caregiver Coalition, Sumner Senior Volunteers #LaunchRespite2025 #LifespanRespite #caregiving #respitecare

A highlight of the 2025 National Lifespan Respite Conference hosted by the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center and Alabama Lifespan Respite was showcasing excerpts from the PBS documentary, Caregiving, that will air on PBS stations across the country on June 24. Following the screening, we were excited to hear from Josh Carter, grandson of President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter and spokesman for the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers; Lynnette Canedy, PMP, family caregiver and 2023 Elizabeth Dole Fellow; Tom Chiodo, Executive Producer of Caregiving & Special Projects, National Productions, WETA/PBS; and Chris Durrance, Director & Senior Producer of Caregiving, Ark Media in a panel moderated by Marcus Escobedo, Vice President, Communications and Senior Program Officer, The John A. Hartford Foundation. Thank you for a very personal and moving discussion about the nature of caregiving across the lifespan and the need to raise the national consciousness about family caregiver needs. #LaunchRespite2025 #LifespanRespite #caregiving #respitecare

The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center is both excited and proud to be featuring a screening of excerpts from the PBS Documentary, Caregiving, on the opening day of the National Lifespan Respite Conference next week in Huntsville, AL. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Josh Carter, grandson of President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter and spokesman for the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers; Lynnette Canedy, PMP, Family Caregiver and 2023 Elizabeth Dole Fellow; Chris Durrance, Director & Senior Producer of Caregiving, Producer at Ark Media; and Tom Chiodo, Executive Producer of Caregiving for WETA. The panel will be moderated by Marcus Escobedo, Vice President, Communications and Senior Program Officer, with The John A. Hartford Foundation. Our deepest gratitude to the Foundation for supporting this work and the National Lifespan Respite Conference. The full documentary, created with executive producer Bradley Cooper, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of caregiving in America, will premiere Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings), and on the PBS YouTube Channel. Caregiving will be available to stream on PBS.org and the PBS App beginning Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Award-winning actress Uzo Aduba (The Residence, Painkiller, Orange is the New Black) will narrate the film, bringing her own experience as a caregiver for her mother to the project. #LaunchRespite2025 #LifespanRespite #respitematters #caregiving #respiteCare

As Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month draws to a close, ARCH is pleased to share this resource to help family caregivers of people with developmental disabilities learn more about and access respite care services with Nine Steps to Respite Care for Family Caregivers of Children and Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, available in English and Spanish. We are grateful to the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities for spearheading the month's activities and awareness campaign, We're Here All Year! https://lnkd.in/eUWZdQj7 For more information about model respite services for family caregivers of children and adults with IDD, please visit ARCH Innovative and Exemplary Respite Services at https://lnkd.in/eH_yiHwH #WeReHereAllYear #NACDD #DDAwareness #LifespanRespite #LaunchRespite2025 #Respitecare

Uncertain and unsettling futures exist for many right now, but what is constant, is excellence in service delivery within the respite network. With great pride, ARCH will recognize the 2025 Innovative and Exemplary Respite Services at the National Lifespan Respite Conference next week. We hold them in high esteem and have deep gratitude for their commitment to providing exemplary person and family-centered services to children, people with disabilities, older adults and their family caregivers. By recognizing high quality respite services across the country, ARCH hopes to encourage the study, expansion and replication of such services. Congratulations to Patricia Dominguez, Duet: Partners In Health & Aging, Phoenix, AZ, Lisa McCoon, Pause For Parents, Play for Kids, Liberty Twp, OH, Amy Dewitt-Smith, Neighbor Network of Northern Nevada (N4), and Megan Schwalm, PhD, Sumner Senior Volunteers, Tennessee Caregiver Coalition. #LaunchRespite2025 #LifespanRespite #RespiteMatters #CareCantWait #respitecare #caregivers

The 2025 National Lifespan Respite Conference, RAISE and Engage -Launch Respite Now! is only one week away. ARCH and our cohosts, Alabama Lifespan Respite are very grateful to our sponsors for their generous support! It's going to be an amazing event! Read more about the keynotes and breakout sessions at https://lnkd.in/eam2fMMt Many thanks to UCP Huntsville & Tennessee Valley, Inc., The John A. Hartford Foundation, New York State Caregiving and Respite Coalition, Trualta , the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network, and CareAcademy! #LaunchRespite2025 #LifespanRespite #Respitecare #RespiteMatters #Caregivers

Only one more week until the 2025 National Lifespan Respite Conference, but we can't wait to hear Feylyn Lewis, PhD Lewis share her personal and compelling story of caregiving for her mother. As a staunch advocate for young caregivers, and a respected researcher on youth caregiving, she is uniquely positioned to raise up her voice for these important caregivers! She will be presenting on a panel on Amplifying Family Caregiver Voices at the Respite Conference in Huntsville, AL on April 3. Register and learn more at https://lnkd.in/eam2fMMt #launchrespite2025 #lifespanrespite #respitecare Tracy Brady Cieniewicz Cheryl Smith UCP Huntsville & Tennessee Valley, Inc. Sara Poole Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) @

Less than two weeks until the National Lifespan Respite Conference in Huntsville, AL! Kristin Scroggin, genWHY Communication Strategies, is just one of many incredible speakers who will be joining us. She'll be talking about "Generation “THEM”: Bridging the Generational Divide for Caregivers." Don't miss out! Register today at https://lnkd.in/exhPtXTW Tracy Brady Cieniewicz Cheryl Smith #LaunchRespite2025 #LifespanRespite #respitecare #caregivers