News from Community Care Corps

March 2022

Successful Learning Collaboratives Continue

Learning Collaboratives have been an effective tool for our grantees. They begin with a presentation on a subject of interest to grantees that is followed by small breakout sessions that allow grantees to connect, share their experiences and problem-solve together. In January and March, the Community Care Corps team coordinated two successful learning collaboratives! In January, Elizabeth Pawloski from Oasis Institute joined grantees to discuss volunteer recruitment and retention ideas, the dynamic approach needed to adjust to the pandemic environment, and tailored engagement to specific groups such as men, college students and older adults. The Altarum Institute led a discussion in March focused on the value and impact of evaluation and shared tips and strategies for making evaluation manageable and meaningful.

Grantees in the News

• Feonix - Mobility Rising, a Community Care Corps grantee based out of Corpus Christi, TX, was featured in a news segment about assisting a local family. (KRIS 6 News, January 27, 2022)

The Gift of Experience vs. The Stress of Isolation

The Kaiser Health Foundation recently hosted a webinar panel of diverse older adults from across the country who spoke about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many reflected on the isolation and loneliness borne out of pandemic risk and restrictions but also offered feelings of hope and resilience as they found support in their spouses, housemates and communities.

Community Care Corps Blog Series

In honor of International Women’s Day celebrated each March, this month’s blog post focuses on the important role of female caregivers and the challenges they navigate. Check out our blog post highlighting key statistics and other interesting facts on the topic of female caregivers. Catch up on previous blogs here!

Check Out New Videos from Our Grantees

Our grantees continue to produce videos showcasing the value and impact of the volunteer models they are using in their local communities. Visit the Community Care Corps Vimeo page to stay up to date on their work. While you’re there, be sure to watch our partner videos to learn more about each organization’s commitment to this very important work!

Resources

• The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has issued a Solicitation for Nominations To Serve on the Family Caregiving Advisory Council. ACL is seeking individuals who will support the preparation of updates to the RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council’s Initial Report to Congress, which may include new developments, challenges and opportunities to support family caregivers. To be considered for selection to this council, submit all information to either RAISE.mail@acl.hhs.gov or SGRG.mail@acl.hhs.gov by April 11, 2022.
• Generations United recently published its State of Grandfamilies in America Annual Report, Reinforcing a Strong Foundation: Equitable Supports for Basic Needs of Grandfamilies. The report includes recent data, highlights challenges faced by grandfamilies and offers recommendations to address inequities and provide critical supports.

Caregiving in the News

• Conversation with National Indian Council on Aging’s Larry Curley: Improving Quality of Life for Older Native Americans through Caregiving (Native News Online, November 30, 2021)
• Biden pushes for paid family leave in State of the Union address (CNBC, March 2, 2022)
• Finding help for teens who grow up caregiving for their disabled military parents (NPR, March 7, 2022)
• 2021 Winners of the Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Award (Family Caregiver Alliance, March 14, 2022)