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Department of Aging

Maryland Has Been Awarded the ACL Caregiver State Implementation Grant for a Second Consecutive Cycle

News |

Award matches $490,000 in federal funds with $173,271 in state investment to help strengthen Maryland’s cross-sector capacity to support family caregivers   

For Immediate Release
October 2, 2026

Baltimore, MD — The Maryland Department of Aging (MDOA) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded an Administration for Community Living (ACL) Caregiver Implementation Grant for a second consecutive cycle, providing an opportunity to extend Maryland’s progress in strengthening support for family caregivers across the lifespan.

The two-year initiative will build upon the foundation established through the 2024 grant award and the state’s broader caregiving strategy under Longevity Ready Maryland (LRM) and the Maryland Commission on Caregiving (MCC) to expand efforts to better understand caregivers’ experiences, strengthen connections to resources, and ensure trusted organizations across Maryland are better equipped to recognize and support family caregivers.

Maryland is home to more than 1.16 million family or informal caregivers who provide more than 1 billion hours of unpaid care each year. Their annual contributions are valued at approximately $24 billion, yet they often face physical, financial, and emotional hardships that impact their ability to care for themselves and others. 

The funding will help expand Maryland’s reach by bringing new partners into the caregiving network and creating lasting tools and resources that will support more family caregivers across the state.

“When caregivers need help, they often turn first to people they already know and trust,” said Molly Wisniewski, Family Caregiver Programs Manager at MDOA. “By building on the relationships, resources, and lessons learned through the first grant cycle, Maryland has the opportunity to expand the respite care network, strengthen cross-sector partnerships, and put better information and resources in the hands of more service providers who can help family caregivers the most.” 

The grant will focus on three interconnected areas:

  • Understanding the needs of Maryland caregivers across generations and caregiving circumstances
  • Strengthening caregiver navigation systems through training and resource development
  • Working with trusted community partners across sectors to build awareness of caregiver needs and resources 

The project runs through September 2028, when its findings and resources—including statewide caregiver data, an expanded respite care network, an information hub, and a family caregiver awareness toolkit—will be shared with policymakers, service providers, community organizations, and the public to strengthen the caregiving landscape across the state. 

Learn more about MDOA’s commitment to family caregivers through the LRM multisector plan for aging. 

 

Media Contact:  Colleen Doyle, MDOA Acting Communications Director, [email protected]

 

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The Maryland Commission on Caregiving serves as the state’s central advisory body to advance caregiving coordination among Maryland’s aging, health, disability, human services, workforce, and community sectors.

The Respite Care Ambassador Program is a statewide network of caregiving professionals dedicated to raising awareness about respite care, champion caregiver support, and strengthen communities across the state.