[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 165 (Monday, August 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68445-68446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19070]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Announcing the Intent To Award a Single-Source Supplement for the 
Eldercare Locator

AGENCY: Administration Community Living, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) announces its 
intent to award a single-source supplement to the current cooperative 
agreement held by USAging for the Eldercare Locator. The purpose of 
this funding is to continue operation of the Disability Information and 
Access Line (DIAL). Originally funded in FY 2021 to connect people with 
disabilities to information about COVID-19 and assistance with 
accessing the COVID-19 vaccine, DIAL has become a critical resource for 
people with disabilities to get information and connect to state and 
local organization able to provide assistance serving over 100,000 
since launching in June, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or comments 
regarding this program supplement, contact Erica McFadden, U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community 
Living, Office of Independent Living Programs, email 
[email protected] or phone (202) 795-7446; or Bernice 
Hutchinson, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 
Administration for Community Living, Administration on Aging, phone 
(202) 795-7313, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Program Name: The Eldercare Locator.
    Recipient: USAging.
    Period of Performance: Supplemental funds will be added to the 
current project year's Notice of Award (NOA) to operate DIAL from 
October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025.
    Total Award Amount: $1 million in FY 2024.
    Award Type: Cooperative Agreement Supplement.
    Statutory Authority: This program is authorized under 42 U.S.C. 
15081 and 29 U.S.C. 796.
    Basis for Award: USAging is currently funded to carry out the 
objectives of this program, entitled The Eldercare Locator. Older 
adults and their caregivers and people with disabilities face a 
complicated array of decisions regarding home and community-based 
services.

[[Page 68446]]

For almost 30 years, the Eldercare Locator has helped older adults and 
their families navigate this complex environment by connecting those 
needing assistance with State and local agencies on aging that serve 
older adults and their caregivers.
    The Eldercare Locator serves approximately 450,000 people a year 
through the call center. To ensure that the needs of those who contact 
the Eldercare Locator are carefully matched with the appropriate 
resources, information specialists are trained to listen closely to 
callers, identify relevant local, state and/or national resources and, 
when needed, provide a transfer to a particular resource.
    As a trusted national resource, the supplement to the Eldercare 
Locator will be used to expand the capacity of the service to link a 
larger number of people with disabilities, including older adults and 
their family caregivers needing services from local organizations that 
can assist.
    With the supplemental funding, ACL will fund the maintenance of the 
DIAL call center to support at least of 40,000 calls from people with 
disabilities and their caregivers. In addition, DIAL will utilize, 
maintain, and update a list of trusted resources to assist callers in 
making appropriate local connections. Having to sift through countless 
websites and make multiple phone calls to gain education and access to 
important community resources is a significant issue for people with 
disabilities.
    Having an established one-stop call center to provide accurate and 
up-to-date state and local specific information and referrals on 
important information regarding local community resources for people 
with disabilities is critically needed. Using the established DIAL and 
Eldercare Locator infrastructure, this supplement will be used for 
maintaining and providing technical assistance about DIAL to assist 
people with disabilities to make appropriate state and local linkages 
to resources. The grantee, working with appropriate national disability 
organizations, will maintain a call center with a dedicated line and 
trained information specialists to serve approximately 40,000 people 
with disabilities.

    Dated: August 20, 2024.
Alison Barkoff,
Principal Deputy Administrator, for the Administration for Community 
Living, performing the duties of the Administrator and Assistant 
Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. 2024-19070 Filed 8-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P