Supplemental Respite Grant Program

Effective April 22, 2025:

Applicants can reapply for the SRGP every 60 days / 2 months

Family caregivers perform various complex services, including bathing, dressing, medication management, coordinating care, financial assistance, and critical medical services. They often are employed, and their other responsibilities include cooking, cleaning, laundry, lawn care, snow removal, transportation, and ensuring their home is accessible and safe for their loved ones. Our Supplemental Respite Grant Program (SRGP) can support family caregivers by providing $250 for supplemental respite services.

Imagine being able to:

Take a special day to rest, fresh, and recharge while someone else helps you with housekeeping duties, laundry, and meal prep,
Use SRGP grant funds to pay for home safety interventions, sensory items, and technology to decrease isolation and increase social engagement,
Take respite, knowing someone else is assisting with lawn care or snow removal.

Getting a break from these duties isn’t a luxury; it is necessary for caregivers’ mental health. Affording to pay someone to provide supplemental services should not be a barrier to receiving the break family caregivers deserve.

Am I eligible?

RCAW grants are for family caregivers who cannot access timely, adequate, or appropriate support through other programs. This includes people who are waiting for waiver services, have been denied, have exhausted their funding, need help with services their current program will not cover, or are not eligible for waiver programs at all.

Start Here: Explore Other Support Options First

Before applying for RCAW grants, many families may qualify for other programs that provide ongoing or more comprehensive support. We strongly encourage you to review these options first to ensure you are accessing the best fit for your situation.

To qualify for the grant:

You are the primary or family caregiver for a child or adult with special needs or disabilities.
A supporting professional (e.g., ADRC staff member, Tribal ADRS, county case-manager) must complete the Supporting Documentation Form showing the care-recipient meets at least one of the conditions below:
- Applied for a Long-Term-Care Waiver or similar program but will not receive services/approval within 30 days
- Denied Long-Term-Care Waiver support or other respite program
- Approved for such program but have already used all available funds
- Receiving other support but currently need flexibility for services not covered by that funding
- Did not apply for a waiver because they were not eligible for other supports

Please view the user-friendly video below, which explains the step-by-step process for applying for the Supplemental Respite Grant Program.

Instructions on How to Apply

Read the Overview, and Policy and Procedure Document

SRGP Overview, Policy, and Procedure Form

This explains the eligibility requirements, application procedures, additional resources, and program terms and conditions.

Eligibility Criteria Form (ECF)

The SRGP Eligibility Criteria Form can be found HERE

Supporting Documentation Form (SDF)

The link to the Supporting Documentation Form can be found HERE

Link to the Application

Once RCAW has notified the applicant (via email) that the ECF & SDF have been received, they will receive a link to the SRGP application.

Grant Report

Applicants need to track expenses using the Grant Report. RCAW will email a link to this form to approved applicants.

Appeals: RCAW’s board of directors will review SRGP applicants’ disputes if they have been denied a grant application and provide resolution requirements for RCAW. Anyone who wishes to file an appeal must use the Grant Denial Appeal Form.

Grant Program Fraud Statement RCAW funds the majority of its programs with state and federal funds. RCAW is responsible for ensuring funds are used for their intended purpose and in a manner to conduct the goals and objectives identified in the grant. RCAW reserves the right to deny a grant application if it suspects or detects fraudulent information contained on a grant application RCAW also reserves the right to report suspected fraud to the appropriate officials, and applicants will be banned from applying for grants in the future. They may be subject to repayment of said grant funds to RCAW. All parties involved in grant fraud can potentially be charged with government grant fraud. Using state and federal grant dollars for unjust enrichment, personal gain, or other than their intended use is a form of theft, subject to criminal prosecution. Read the Grant Program Detailed Fraud Disclaimer.