CARES Hotline Act

This bill proposes to amend the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 by establishing a national, toll-free, 24/7 hotline for caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities. The hotline's primary purpose is to offer emotional support, information, brief intervention, and mental health resources, alongside comprehensive referral services to local, State, and Federal programs.

The service will be staffed by trained personnel, including peer-to-peer staff, who will receive specialized training in caregiver support, crisis response, and culturally and linguistically appropriate services. To ensure broad reach and effectiveness, the bill mandates consultation with the RAISE Family Caregivers Act Advisory Council, the development of a national database of services, and a robust public awareness campaign.

Additionally, the Secretary is required to submit annual reports to Congress evaluating the hotline's effectiveness and providing a directory of referral entities. To fund these critical services, the bill authorizes an appropriation of $10,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2032.