Addressing Dementia in Tribal and Urban Indian Communities:CAReS Program

The Addressing Dementia in Tribal and Urban Indian Communities CAReS Program is administered by the Indian Health Service within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through its Division of Clinical and Community Services. The program is designed to strengthen culturally responsive dementia care systems serving American Indian and Alaska Native populations. It responds to a growing need as aging demographics and co-occurring chronic conditions increase dementia prevalence in Tribal and Urban Indian communities. The program emphasizes Indigenous values, community self-determination, and culturally grounded approaches to care delivery. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to improve care, services, and outcomes for individuals living with or at risk of dementia, as well as their caregivers and communities. The program supports activities across the full dementia care continuum, including early recognition, diagnosis, clinical management, caregiver support, and community-based services. Applicants must design programs that reflect the culture, history, and needs of the communities they serve, while also incorporating evaluation and continuous quality improvement practices. Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, meaning that the Indian Health Service maintains substantial involvement throughout the project period. There are two distinct funding tracks. Option A supports a national awardee to coordinate a Dementia CAReS initiative, which includes mini-project funding for Tribal and Urban Indian clinics, development of a dementia champion network, dissemination of best practices, and standardized evaluation systems. Option B funds a national caregiver support and training center that provides culturally relevant training, technical assistance, and resources to support caregivers and improve system capacity. Allowable activities include program development, training delivery, technical assistance, evaluation, outreach, and dissemination of tools and best practices. Option A recipients must provide subawards beginning in the second year and promote evidence-based dementia care approaches. Option B recipients must develop comprehensive caregiver support systems and expand access to culturally appropriate services. Both options require hiring a full-time project lead, participating in regular coordination meetings with the Indian Health Service, and contributing to national evaluation efforts. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, Urban Indian Organizations, and certain nonprofit organizations with demonstrated experience supporting American Indian and Alaska Native health systems. Applicants must submit required documentation such as Tribal Resolutions or proof of nonprofit status, along with detailed project narratives, work plans, evaluation plans, and supporting attachments. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov following federal registration requirements including SAM.gov and Grants.gov accounts. Applications are evaluated based on need, project design, evaluation approach, organizational capacity, and budget justification. The total possible score is 100 points. The application deadline is September 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, with awards expected by November 1, 2026 and project start dates anticipated the same day. The program is structured as a five-year effort with annual budget periods, contingent on funding availability and satisfactory progress. Key contacts include program leadership within the Indian Health Service and grants management staff available via designated email addresses for technical and administrative support.

Align project design closely with provided logic models and evaluation metrics; demonstrate culturally grounded approaches; clearly document prior experience serving AIAN communities and dementia care capacity