Opportunity Overview
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging, is accepting applications for one organization to serve as the statewide hub agency for Project C.A.R.E. (Caregiver Alternatives to Running on Empty). The program supports family caregivers and care partners of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias across all 100 North Carolina counties through information and referral, individualized care consultation, respite support, education, training and community awareness.
Funding and Timeline
The RFA lists $665,000 in estimated funding available for the initial fiscal year, July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028. Continuation for SFY 2029 and SFY 2030 is subject to legislative appropriations. Applications are due October 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM. NCDHHS does not separately label the deadline time zone on the public page, so applicants should follow the agency’s submission instructions exactly.
Eligible Hub Agencies
NCDHHS is seeking community-based human-service agencies, government entities or university-based programs interested in becoming the statewide Project C.A.R.E. hub. Organizations with prior experience serving caregivers, dementia caregivers and people living with dementia should apply, and prior statewide coverage is preferred.
Required Operating Model
The selected hub must employ and manage six full-time Family Consultants, provide travel reimbursement and mobile phones, and supply office or remote-work capacity, equipment, IT support, supplies, email and administrative infrastructure. The consultants will deliver caregiver assessment and care planning, dementia education, community-resource linkage, respite-voucher administration, training and statewide outreach in partnership with Area Agencies on Aging and other community organizations.
Application Requirements
The application package includes the Project C.A.R.E. Hub Agency Application, proposed budget, North Carolina Sub W-9 and a Form 990 for nonprofit applicants. After selection, additional requirements include a conflict-of-interest policy, signed certifications, a notarized certification of no overdue taxes, eProcurement service-provider registration and an indirect-cost-rate letter when applicable.
Atlas Fit Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 88/100. This is a substantial statewide aging and caregiver-support opportunity with recurring funding and a clearly defined operating model, but only one hub agency will be selected and successful applicants need strong dementia-caregiver experience and statewide administrative capacity.
N9+ Direct Vendor Fit: 10/100. QC Healthcare Fit: 15/100. The RFA permits administrative equipment and IT support, but the funded model is centered on caregiver consultation, navigation, respite, education and Family Consultant staffing rather than clinical examination technology or physician coverage. Atlas should not force N9+ or QC Healthcare into this program unless NCDHHS later clarifies a distinct, material and allowable clinical role.
Next Action
Qualified community-based human-service agencies, governmental entities and university-based programs should review the full RFA, confirm statewide caregiver/dementia-service capacity, define how six Family Consultants will be staffed and supervised, build the $665,000 operating budget and submit the complete application by October 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM.
Verified source: North Carolina DHHS Division of Aging Grant Opportunities.