Addressing Dementia in Tribal and Urban Indian Communities: CAReS Program | HHS 2026 IHS ALZ 0001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the Addressing Dementia in Tribal and Urban Indian Communities: CAReS Program?

The CAReS Program (Funding Opportunity Number HHS 2026 IHS ALZ 0001) is an Indian Health Service (IHS) discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement. It is designed to strengthen dementia care and related supports for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people by making measurable improvements across the dementia care continuum, from earlier recognition to clinical and community supports, caregiver training, and outcome tracking.

2) What is the main goal of the CAReS Program?

The main goal is to help Tribal and Urban Indian communities improve dementia care in culturally grounded ways that reflect Indigenous values and community self-determination. The opportunity emphasizes real, measurable improvements and continuous quality improvement through standardized performance measures and shared evaluation approaches.

3) Who is the sponsoring agency?

The sponsoring agency is the Indian Health Service (IHS).

4) What type of funding mechanism is used?

This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement. The description notes that a cooperative agreement typically involves substantial federal involvement and collaboration during the project period.

5) How many awards are expected, and what is the maximum award amount?

The opportunity expects to make two national-level awards (Expected Awards: 2). The award ceiling is $750,000.

6) What are the two application options applicants can compete under?

Applicants compete under one of two options:

• Option A: Dementia CAReS (Care Access, Resources, and Support)
• Option B: Dementia Caregiver Support and Training Center

7) What is Option A (Dementia CAReS) intended to do?

Option A will fund one national awardee to coordinate and drive four connected priorities focused on strengthening dementia services in Tribal and Urban Indian clinics and spreading effective approaches nationally. These priorities include mini-project funding, a Dementia Champion Network, success sharing through toolkits and case studies, and common evaluation/data efforts using shared measures and dashboards.

8) What does Option A mean by "mini-project funding"?

Under Option A, the national awardee is expected to provide mini-project funding that Tribal and Urban Indian clinics can use to launch or expand culturally tailored dementia services. The stated intent is to help local programs move quickly from planning to implementation.

9) What is the Dementia Champion Network in Option A?

The Dementia Champion Network is described as a network that links frontline leaders into a community of practice, where staff can share challenges, tools, and real-world approaches that work in practice.

10) What does "success sharing" mean in this opportunity?

Success sharing refers to developing practical case studies and toolkits so that lessons learned in one location can be adapted and used by other Tribal and Urban Indian programs.

11) What are the evaluation and data expectations under Option A?

Option A includes leading evaluation and data efforts using common performance measures and dashboards. The purpose is to track progress consistently and use the findings to guide decision-making and continuous improvement over time.

12) What is Option B (Dementia Caregiver Support and Training Center) intended to do?

Option B will fund one national awardee to deliver caregiver-focused training, services, resources, and technical assistance for Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations. The awardee is expected to develop and implement a comprehensive caregiver support and training model that is culturally relevant, practical, and scalable.

13) What does Option B prioritize?

Option B prioritizes leadership development, direct caregiver support, and building caregiver and provider knowledge and skills. The opportunity notes this can include structured training and technical assistance, culturally relevant resources, and service models that strengthen day-to-day caregiving capacity while reducing caregiver strain.

14) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include federally recognized Tribal governments, Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations, along with certain nonprofits. The opportunity also lists nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status as eligible, and Urban Indian Organizations must provide proof of nonprofit status.

15) What definition must federally recognized Tribes meet to be eligible?

Federally recognized Tribes must meet the definition of "Indian Tribe" under 25 U.S.C. 1603(14).

16) What definition must Tribal organizations meet to be eligible?

Tribal organizations must meet the definition under 25 U.S.C. 1603(26) and related provisions of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.

17) Are letters of support or Tribal Resolutions required?

Yes, when an applicant proposes to serve one or more Tribes, the applicant must submit letters of support or Tribal Resolutions from the Tribes to be served. These documents are described as demonstrating buy-in and authorization.

18) What definition must Urban Indian Organizations meet to be eligible?

Urban Indian Organizations must meet the definition under 25 U.S.C. 1603(29).

19) What additional eligibility requirements apply to Urban Indian Organizations?

Urban Indian Organizations must be currently administering a contract or receiving an award under 25 U.S.C. 1653, and they must provide proof of nonprofit status.

20) What is the program's approach to cultural relevance and community control?

The program is described as being built around Indigenous values and community self-determination. It emphasizes culturally grounded approaches that Tribal and Urban Indian communities define and lead.

21) What parts of the dementia care continuum does this program aim to improve?

The opportunity describes improvements across the full continuum, including earlier recognition and identification of dementia, better clinical and community supports, stronger caregiver training and respite-style supports, and practical systems for tracking outcomes and continuously improving services.

22) What are the shared measurement and reporting expectations across both options?

Under both options, the selected recipient is expected to document emerging and effective practices using standardized performance measures. These shared measures are intended to make results comparable across sites, support ongoing quality improvement, and improve outcomes for AI/AN people living with dementia and for their family members and caregivers.

23) Why does the opportunity emphasize standardized performance measures?

The opportunity explains that shared measures make results comparable across sites, support ongoing quality improvement, and help improve outcomes for AI/AN people with dementia and their caregivers.

24) What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?

The activity category is health.

25) What is the application deadline?

The closing date is September 4, 2026.

26) Is this a local clinic funding program or a national program?

It is structured around national-level awards (two total), but it is designed to produce local impact (such as mini-projects and clinic-level improvements) and national learning (through networks, toolkits, shared evaluation methods, and standardized reporting).

27) What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to improve?

The opportunity focuses on improving outcomes for AI/AN people living with dementia and for the family members and caregivers supporting them, using measurable improvements and standardized tracking to guide ongoing service improvement.