Care Across Generations Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
- Committees
- Education and Workforce Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Mar 3, 2025
Bottom line
The Care Across Generations Act creates a federal grant program to encourage and fund the co-location of child care facilities within long-term care facilities, aiming to foster intergenerational activities and provide child care services.
What it actually does
This bill establishes a new competitive grant program under the Older Americans Act of 1965. It authorizes the Assistant Secretary for Aging to award grants to eligible long-term care facilities to operate or contract with qualified child care facilities, coordinate multigenerational activities between these integrated facilities, and build or expand facilities for these purposes. Grant recipients are required to evaluate their programs and report findings to the Assistant Secretary, who then reports to Congress.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue this bill addresses critical societal needs by fostering meaningful social interaction between older adults and children, which can reduce social isolation in seniors and provide enriching developmental environments for youth. They contend it offers an innovative solution to the growing demand for affordable child care while leveraging existing long-term care infrastructure to create vibrant community hubs.
Opponents contend
Critics might raise concerns about the administrative complexities and potential safety challenges of integrating two distinct vulnerable populations within the same facility, despite the bill's safety provisions. Some may question the federal government's role in funding such localized initiatives, or whether the proposed grant amounts would be sufficient to cover the significant costs of establishing and maintaining high-quality integrated programs.
The bill is very concise and clearly written, allowing for a quick and thorough understanding of its provisions by any interested reader.
Section 2, adding new Section 423(a) to the Older Americans Act of 1965
Establishment of Competitive Grant Program
This provision directs the Assistant Secretary for Aging to create and administer a competitive grant program. Grants will be awarded to long-term care facilities to either run their own child care services, partner with existing child care providers, or construct/expand facilities to accommodate both older adults and children. The core purpose is to facilitate multigenerational activities.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that this provision directly addresses the dual benefits of enhancing the quality of life for older adults through intergenerational connection and providing much-needed child care options for families. They believe it fosters a sense of community and purpose for seniors while offering children unique learning and social experiences.
Critics contend
Critics may contend that while the concept is appealing, the practical implementation of integrating child care within long-term care facilities could be challenging, potentially leading to unforeseen logistical and operational burdens on facilities that are primarily focused on elder care.
Tradeoffs
This provision balances the desire for innovative intergenerational programming with the practical challenges of funding and integrating distinct care environments. It seeks to maximize social benefits while requiring careful planning for operational feasibility.
Section 2, adding new Section 423(b) and (g) to the Older Americans Act of 1965
Grant Application and Safety Requirements
This section outlines the requirements for entities applying for grants, including submitting information as requested by the Assistant Secretary. Crucially, it mandates that applicants certify their compliance with all state and local sanitation and infection control requirements, and that they conduct a screening process for all visitors to the facility, specifically for infection control and prevention purposes.
Section 2, adding new Section 423(c) and (d) to the Older Americans Act of 1965
Program Evaluation and Congressional Reporting
This section requires all grant recipients to conduct an evaluation of their programs, assessing the effectiveness of their child care operations, multigenerational activities, and the overall impact on older individuals and children. These evaluations must be submitted to the Assistant Secretary. Subsequently, the Assistant Secretary is mandated to compile these reports into a comprehensive report for Congress, including a strategy for disseminating findings and policy recommendations.