Families Care Act

This bill updates the National Family Caregiver Support Program so it can offer peer support to families. It also tells states to look closely at the needs of different caregivers—especially children and older relatives in families affected by substance use, including opioids—when they provide services under the program. It further directs the Assistant Secretary to actively prepare, publish, and share resources for this program, rather than just “make available” information.

Key points

• Who is affected: Family caregivers, including children and older relatives in families touched by substance use disorders; state programs that deliver caregiver services.
• What changes: Adds peer support as a service; requires states to consider the unique needs of these caregivers; strengthens federal information-sharing duties for the program.