Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2021 ACL AOA EESC 0075
The National Information and Referral Support Center grant opportunity is a federal cooperative agreement run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living (ACL), through the Administration on Aging (AoA). Its purpose is to fund one national-level organization to operate and continue the Support Center, a long-standing resource that has been active since 1991. The Center exists to strengthen the quality, consistency, and professionalism of Information and Referral/Assistance (I&R/A) services across the aging and disability networks. In practical terms, the funded Center serves as a hub that helps state and local agencies, tribal organizations, and community-based providers improve how they connect older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers to services and supports.
The opportunity is grounded in the reality that I&R/A is not a side activity but a foundational service in the Older Americans Act (OAA) network, required since 1973. State Agencies on Aging and Area Agencies on Aging must ensure I&R is available in sufficient numbers so older adults across a state or region can access help. The scale is large: the aging network includes more than 2,400 I&R providers, handling roughly 11.9 million contacts each year. The work also extends beyond aging services. Since 2003, the Support Center has broadened its reach to include disability-focused partners, reflecting the growth of “No Wrong Door” approaches to long-term services and supports (LTSS) and the central role of information and referral in Centers for Independent Living nationwide.
A major emphasis of the Support Center is workforce development and standard-setting in the I&R/A field. Over time, it helped expand specialized credentials with the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS), including the earlier aging-focused certification and the newer aging/disability credential now called the Community Resource Specialist - Aging/Disabilities (CRS-A/D). Under this grant, the Center is expected to continue offering training and clear guidance for agencies and individual professionals seeking CRS-A/D credentialing, reinforcing consistent skills and practices across the country.
The rationale for continued investment is tied to changing consumer needs and rising complexity. People seeking help are often trying to make decisions across multiple systems at once, including healthcare, housing, transportation, caregiving, and other LTSS options, and they frequently experience these systems as confusing and fragmented. The COVID-19 public health emergency further highlighted how essential timely, accurate, and informed information is during crises. At the same time, demographics and equity concerns are front and center: programs must respond to a more diverse older adult population and improve racial and ethnic equity in access to services. Technology is another driver. Modern I&R/A is no longer limited to phone calls; consumers increasingly expect support through web tools, chat, web conferencing, smartphones, and even virtual assistants. The opportunity explicitly points to the need for innovative technology investments, including tools like APIs, to improve access and efficiency and to better link state and local resource information.
The funded applicant is expected to propose a national strategy for training and technical assistance that responds to what the field actually needs right now. A first-order task is to examine and document the current state of aging and disability I&R/A programs and systems, using that assessment to set priorities for training and technical assistance. From there, the Center must deliver a blend of in-person and virtual learning and provide hands-on technical assistance. Each project year includes coordinating one national, in-person symposium focused on both foundational and emerging issues in aging, disability, and I&R. The symposium may be held alongside another major gathering such as the AIRS I&R Training and Education Conference. Beyond that, the Center should pursue additional teaching opportunities at national and regional conferences and significantly expand virtual training through multiple formats like online courses, webinars, and podcasts to reach more professionals cost-effectively.
Ongoing technical assistance and consultation is another required pillar. The Center must build a technical assistance strategy that supports agencies across both the aging and disability networks on core I&R/A functions and related operational challenges. To support this role as a national hub, the Center must also develop and maintain a modern, “state-of-the-art” website that functions as a comprehensive, practical repository for tools, guidance, and learning materials. The website is also where the Center will collect, document, and promote best practices and model approaches, with special attention to three priority themes: using technology effectively to connect resources and improve service delivery; improving emergency preparedness and continuity (including pandemics and natural disasters); and strengthening programs to ensure racial and ethnic equity in access to aging and disability services.
Coordination and field leadership are built into the expectations. The Center is meant to represent the interests of aging and disability I&R/A with national organizations and federal partners, and it is specifically directed to work with AIRS on shared priorities that advance professionalism in I&R/A systems. It should also collaborate with other ACL resource centers and ACL-funded grantees (examples named include the State Health Insurance Assistance Program resource center, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman resource center, and the Alzheimer’s Call Center) so that I&R/A practices align with and support related national efforts. Another explicit coordination duty is engagement with the Eldercare Locator: the Center should serve on the Eldercare Locator Advisory Committee, help promote the service, and provide training support to its staff as needed.
Finally, the grant requires a formal advisory structure. The Support Center must convene an Advisory Committee, in consultation with ACL, to help guide the Center’s direction and keep its work connected to real-world needs. The committee should include representatives from State and Area Agencies on Aging, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, Centers for Independent Living, and other relevant organizations, with the goal of improving I&R/A service quality, strengthening service delivery systems, and increasing the professionalism of the I&R/A workforce.
Key grant details include that this is a discretionary funding opportunity (CFDA 93.048) using a cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning ACL is likely to have substantial involvement and collaboration during the project. The opportunity anticipated a single award (Expected Awards: 1) with an award ceiling of $225,000, under the income security and social services activity category. The funding opportunity number is HHS-2021-ACL-AOA-EESC-0075, created March 25, 2021, with an original closing date of May 24, 2021, and eligibility described broadly as “Others” with additional eligibility details provided in the full notice.Apply for HHS 2021 ACL AOA EESC 0075
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Information & Referral Support Center" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.048.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 25, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 24, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $225,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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