Programs & Services

The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving works at four levels:

Training Caregiver Leaders at Georgia Southwestern State University: We have implemented the first Caregiving Specialist Certificate program in the nation to train leaders in the emerging field of caregiving. The certificate program provides interdisciplinary training in the major issues in caregiving in long-term, home and community-based care. We offer more than $100,000 in scholarships and fellowships each year through the Pope Fellowship Program for students preparing for leadership careers in Caregiving. RCI has also developed and supports the Caring for You/ Caring for Me Curriculum for both family and professional caregivers.

Serving Caregiving Families in South-Central Georgia; RCI operates a full service caregiver support center for caregivers living in south-central Georgia. We offer information and referral, telephone learning, education and training and access to evidence-based programs. This Support Center is supported by generous funding from the Mix Trust of Americus. RCI also conducts regular assessment of resources and needs of caregivers in the region. We also operate the Relative Caregiver Program and the Telephone Learning Series for family and professional caregivers in our region.

The Georgia CARE-NETS and Quality Care Network: Working closely with a state-wide network of twelve Care-Net Coalitions in all parts of the state, we provide leadership in workforce development in long-term, home and community-based care. These Care-Nets conduct needs assessments, offer conferences and caregiver education, publish directories, recognize outstanding caregivers and provide information and training on evidence-based caregiver supports. (Find our More about Georgia's CARE-NETS)

Building Quality Care Systems to Support Caregivers: With generous funding from Johnson and Johnson, RCI works to overcome the "quality chasm" in supports for caregivers. RCI builds partnerships between leading researchers and community organizations to assure that caregivers have access to the most effective supports and programs available. Quality Care Connections, (formerly the J&J/RCI Caregivers Program) provides more than $250,000 each year in grants to build such partnerships around the country. We also present a number of prestigious awards including the Rosalynn Carter Leadership in Caregiving Award($20,000), three Georgia Caregiver of the Year Awards, and the Mattie Stepanek scholarships offered in cooperation with Johnson and Johnson.

In 2007, RCI is launching the National Quality Care Network with support from Johnson and Johnson. This national network involving community organizations, universities, associations and government agencies will serve as a vehicle for developing and disseminating evidence-based interventions to improve the quality of caregiving and of caregiver supports in our communities.