Addressing Dementia in Tribal and Urban Indian Communities: Cares Program

This program is intended to support Tribal and Urban Indian communities in strengthening dementia care and services for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people. Rooted in Indigenous values and community self-determination, the program will fund meaningful, measurable improvements that span the full dementia care continuum, from early recognition to caregiver support. Option A – Dementia CAReS (Care Access, Resources, and Support). One national awardee will coordinate four integrated priorities: Mini-Project Funding to help Tribal and Urban Indian clinics launch culturally tailored services. A Dementia Champion Network connecting frontline leaders. Success Sharing through case studies and toolkits. Evaluation & Data using common performance measures and dashboards. Option B – Dementia Caregiver Support and Training Center. One national awardee will deliver dementia caregiver support training, services, resources, and technical assistance. Services will support Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations. The awardee will develop and implement a comprehensive, culturally relevant caregiver support and training model. It will prioritize leadership, caregiver support, and knowledge and skills development. Across both options, recipients will document emerging practices using standardized measures. These measures will guide continuous quality improvement and improve outcomes for AI/AN people and their caregivers.