About Us

Family Caregiver Alliance

Founded in 1977, Family Caregiver Alliance was the first community-based nonprofit organization in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care at home. Long recognized as a pioneer in health services, FCA now offers programs at national, state and local levels to support and sustain caregivers.

History
More than 30 years ago, a small task force of families and community leaders in San Francisco came together to create support services for those struggling to provide long term care for a loved one who did not "fit" into traditional health systems: adults suffering from Alzheimer's disease, stroke, Parkinson's, traumatic brain injury and other debilitating disorders. The diagnoses were different, but the families shared common challenges: isolation, lack of information, few community resources, and drastic changes in family roles.

The task force's early efforts had three lasting results: the formation of Family Caregiver Alliance; the genesis of California's statewide network of Caregiver Resource Centers; and the beginnings of a national movement to recognize the immense contribution of family caregivers to the long-term health care of the ill and elderly in our country.

National, State and Local Programs
Uniting research, policy and practice, FCA established the National Center on Caregiving (NCC) to advance the development of high-quality, cost effective programs and policies for caregivers in every state in the country. The NCC sponsors the Family Care Navigator to help caregivers locate support services in their communities.

FCA also oversees Link2Care, an Internet support and information system for clients of California's system of Caregiver Resource Centers and operates the Bay Area Caregiver Resource Center in the six-county San Francisco Bay Area. In that capacity, FCA staff social workers work closely with families caring for ill or elderly loved ones. Our services, education programs and publications are developed with their expressed needs in mind, to offer real support, essential information, and tools to manage the complex and demanding tasks of caregiving.

Family Caregiver Alliance is a public voice for caregivers, illuminating the daily challenges they face, offering them the assistance they so desperately need and deserve, and championing their cause through education, services, research and advocacy.

National Center of Caregiving

Established in 2001 as a program of Family Caregiver Alliance, the National Center on Caregiving (NCC) works to advance the development of high-quality, cost-effective policies and programs for caregivers in every state in the country. Uniting research, public policy and services, the NCC serves as a central source of information on caregiving and long-term care issues for policy makers, service providers, media, funders and family caregivers throughout the country.

NCC services include:

Family Care Navigator: a first-of-its-kind, state-by-state, online guide to help families in all 50 states locate government, nonprofit, and private caregiver support programs. The easy-to-use Navigator lists programs for family caregivers as well as resources for older or disabled adults living at home or in a residential facility.

It also includes information on government health and disability programs, legal resources, living arrangements, disease-specific organizations, FAQs, a glossary and more. There is no charge to use the Navigator.

Caregiver Alerts/State & National Policy Initiatives: the NCC tracks state and national legislation of importance to policymakers, legislators, advocates, researchers, caregivers, providers and the disability and aging communities.

Caregiver Information & Assistance: personalized help to identify local resources and services for families, caregivers and providers nationwide, as well as publications on a wide array of topics. For information, e-mail [email protected].

Research & Publications: NCC public policy briefs, Fact Sheets, monographs and research studies document current issues, caregiver needs, services and Best Practices. Our electronic newsletter, Caregiving PolicyDigest, highlights legislation, research, policy changes, events and new program developments.

Technical Assistance: telephone consultation and onsite assistance for program developers, with an emphasis on identifying and replicating Best Practice model programs. For information, call (800) 445-8106 or e-mail [email protected].

Training: specialized educational programs, professional seminars and conferences.

For more information about FCA's National Center on Caregiving, contact us at [email protected] or (800) 445-8106.