POLICY SERIES: NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM: EVALUATION RESULTS AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Established in 2000, the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) of the Older Americans Act Title III-E is administered by the Administration on Aging within the Administration for Community Living (ACL). The NFCSP supports caregivers through grants to States and Territories for a range of services that assist unpaid family and friend caregivers to care for someone at home for as long as possible. A growing expectation for quality federal programs is a requirement for rigorous evaluation. This session will highlight results of from the first national evaluation of the NFCSP. The first paper sets the stage by describing NFCSP services, participating caregivers, funding levels, and the rationale for the recent process and outcome evaluations. The second paper, focusing on results of the Process Evaluation, highlights program operations based on results of surveys with State Units on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), and Local Service Providers. The third paper presents the experience of Massachusetts, and how NFCSP is integrated with other programs in the state to support family caregivers. The final paper takes a multi-level approach by combining data from the process study and the caregiver outcomes study to look at the association between AAA assessment processes and outcomes of caregivers. To close the session, an expert in federal policy related to unpaid family caregiving will lead discussion about next steps for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers in light of the evaluation results.