G2: Objective 1

Strengthen Maryland’s ongoing commitment to family caregivers.

Strategies:

Increase the capacity of state agencies and the Maryland Commission on Caregiving to adopt actions within the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.

Overview of Progress Made

  • MDOA is expanding outreach, strengthening partnerships, and enhancing support for family caregivers through a $490,000 cross-agency initiative funded by The Maryland Caregiver Navigation Grant. Maryland was one of only four states to receive this funding from the Administration for Community Living.

Key Initiatives

  • The Respite Care Ambassador Program is a statewide network of dedicated ambassadors who inspire, educate, and raise awareness about respite care in Maryland. 
  • Caregiver Webinar Series are 10 evidence-based training sessions intended to implement caregiver support, education, and resources to caregivers in targeted populations.
  • Johns Hopkins Memory Care Family Checklist© helps caregivers of people living with cognitive difficulties identify different types of care needs they may have and offer personalized recommendations and resources to help address those needs. The tool is currently in its pilot testing phase and is scheduled to launch January 2025.

Improve coordination between state-led caregiver support programs such as the National Family Caregiver Support Program, Kinship Care, and the Lifespan Respite Care Program, including through collaboration with the National Technical Assistance Center on Grandfamilies and Kinship Families and other technical assistance partners.

Overview of Progress Made

  • Respite care professionals from every AAA jurisdiction in Maryland along with Maryland Departments of Health, Human Services, and Disabilities have been assembled to apply their collective expertise with Maryland’s No Wrong Door system to effectively engage and educate family caregivers on the availability and importance of Respite Care.

Key Initiatives

  • The Respite Care Ambassador Toolkit, currently under development, is a resource developed by the The Respite Care Ambassador Program that will include guides, fact sheets, and other supports to empower respite care professionals  educate others on respite care.

Explore the recommendations within the 2024 Together in Care initiative, including the adoption of a coordinated statewide training initiative for paid and unpaid caregivers.

Collaborate across state agencies to formulate policy that increases the opportunity for people to work more years with more flexibility, supporting family care across the lifespan.

Expand the reach of existing caregiver support programs to underserved populations through targeted and culturally appropriate outreach in collaboration with federal, state, and local partners.

Overview of Progress Made

  • MDOA and Johns Hopkins University are in the process of piloting a Memory Care Checklist tool to support informal, unpaid, and family caregivers across diverse Maryland communities with resources and supports specific to each individual’s needs.

Key Initiatives

  • Johns Hopkins Memory Care Family Checklist© helps caregivers of people living with cognitive difficulties identify different types of care needs they may have and offer personalized recommendations and resources to help address those needs. The tool is scheduled to launch January 2025.

Improve Maryland’s No Wrong Door access to information and supports for family caregivers.

Overview of Progress Made

  • MDOA, the AAA network, Maryland Department of Health, and Maryland Department of Disabilities have organized a caregiver leadership program with participants connected to Maryland’s No Wrong Door system to effectively engage family caregivers, highlight their important role, and provide information on caregiver-related support.

Key Initiatives

Adopt policies for home- and community-based services and health care delivery that ensures the incorporation of caregivers in the care team, when appropriate.

Outcomes:

Short-Term (1-3 years)

  • Enhance service delivery models to align with key national strategies
  • Increase awareness of caregiving programs and benefits

Mid-Term (4-6 Years)

  • Develop collaborative data sharing and evaluation methods
  • Advance training opportunities for caregivers

Long-Term (7-10 years)

  • Increase the number of caregivers who access supportive resources