ACL Announces Caregiver Advisory Council in RAISE Act with ANCOR Member Representation

ANCOR is sharing this announcement by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) because we supported the passage and implementation of the RAISE Family Caregivers Act. Additionally, we are proud to share that two of our member organizations, Consumer Direct and ACHIEVA, have seats on the RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council – we share the full list of non-federal members of that council at the end of that article.

As written by the ACL:

“The Administration for Community Living is pleased to announce the first meetings of the advisory councils established by the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (SGRG) Act.

Both meetings will be held on August 28 – 29 at the Holiday Inn—Washington Capitol, located at 550 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20024.  The meetings will be open to the public (registration required) and will be live streamed.

A complete list of council members, as well as schedules and registration instructions for participating in the meetings, can be found at ACL.gov/RAISE and ACL.gov/SGRG.

‘The number of family caregivers, including grandparents who are raising grandchildren, is significant and growing. They are the backbone of our country’s caregiving system, and supporting them is critical,’ said ACL Administrator Lance Robertson. ‘ACL is proud to lead the implementation of the RAISE Family Caregivers Act and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act. We are excited to announce the membership of the two advisory councils, and we are looking forward to the inaugural meetings.’

The RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council is charged with providing recommendations on effective models of family caregiving and support to family caregivers, as well as improving coordination across federal government programs. These recommendations will support the development and execution of a national family caregiving strategy.  

The Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren will identify, coordinate, and promote information, resources, and best practices available to help grandparents and other older relatives meet the needs of the children in their care, while also maintaining their own physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Each council is composed of members of the public selected based on demonstrated knowledge, qualifications, and professional or personal experience with the issues each council will address. In addition, each includes representatives from federal organizations that play a role in these issues.”

Non-federal members of the RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council – please see the link above for their full biographies.

• Ben Bledsoe, MS – President and CEO, Consumer Direct Care Network (CDCN)
• Joe Caldwell, Ph.D. Director of the Community Living Policy Center, Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, Brandeis University.
• Diane Caradeuc, MPA. Ms. Caradeuc cared for her mother who had a diagnosis of dementia for 12 years.
• James Cheely. Mr. Cheely has a son with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and is the president of Arc of Barren County.
• Brenda Gallant, R.N. Executive Director, Maine Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.
• Catherine Alicia Georges, Ed.D., R.N., F.A.A.N. AARP National Volunteer President and AARP Board Member.
• Rhonda Montgomery, Ph.D.Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer, Tailored Care, Inc.
• Nancy Murray, MS. President of The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh/ACHIEVA, Pittsburgh, PA.
• James Murtha, MSW. Mr. Murtha suffered a spinal cord injury 4 years ago and serves as a peer mentor at the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (CIL).
• Casey Shillam, Ph.D., R.N.- BC Professor, University of Portland, Portland, OR.
• Alan Stevens, Ph.D. Director, Center for Applied Health Research.
• Theresa Tanous, MA. Ms. Tanous retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2012 after 33 years of service.
• Jisella Veath Dolan, JD. Global Advocacy Officer, Home Instead Senior Care.
• Deborah Stone-Walls, MC, LMHC, CSAC. Executive on Aging, Maui County Office on Aging.
• Carol Zernial, MA. Executive Director, WellMed Charitable Foundation.