Lifespan Respite Care Program - Project Summary/Abstract The Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) proposes a three-year project to improve the delivery and quality of respite services for family caregivers across the lifespan. The goal is to establish a coordinated, statewide Lifespan Respite Care System, guided by the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers1, to reduce caregiver burden and prevent costly institutionalization. This project is specifically designed to meet the grant's definition of lifespan respite care by bringing together federal, state, and local resources to support, expand, and streamline services for families of children and adults with special needs, regardless of age, disability, or chronic condition. Key objectives include: 1) launching the online Oklahoma Lifespan Respite Registry (OKLRR) as a single point of entry to a searchable provider database; 2) expanding the workforce by recruiting and training up to 500 new providers annually through the OKCares Trained Respite Provider (OKTRP) program; 3) reducing financial barriers by providing respite vouchers to at least 50 new families each year; and 4) ensuring long-term sustainability through data-driven advocacy for state funding. Anticipated outcomes include measurable reductions in caregiver stress, increased access to services for vulnerable populations, greater caregiver choice in providers, significant multi-system cost savings for the state, and a strengthened direct care workforce. Major products will include the fully functional OKLRR online registry, the OKTRP training curriculum and materials, an expanded financial assistance voucher program, and a replicable mini-grant program model to be shared nationally.
