ACL Announces 2026 Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Grant Recipients

ACL is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) grants. They will receive approximately $8 million in combined funding to implement evidence-based CDSME programs across seven states.

The CDSME program's goal is to provide older adults and adults with disabilities with education and tools to help them better manage their chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, and depression. Evidence-based CDSME programshave been proven to maintain or improve health outcomes of older adults with chronic conditions, including behavioral health conditions.

With this opportunity, ACL sought to develop capacity for, deliver, and sustain evidence-based CDSME and support programs to improve the behavioral health of older adults and adults with disabilities through a statewide initiative. The primary outcome is to increase knowledge in the aging field with successful partnerships and innovative approaches to deliver evidence-based CDSME programs that can be replicated statewide. This funding aims to expand CDSME programs to older adults with behavioral health conditions, improving their health outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and sharing successful strategies nationwide to enhance access and care.

Seven new CDSME grant recipients will reach nearly 19,000 older adults and adults with disabilities in greatest economic need and greatest social need over the next three years. Grant recipients will focus on serving those with behavioral health conditions such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorder, and those with behavioral health stressors such as a recent diagnosis of a chronic condition, loss of a loved one, or being a caregiver.

The 2026 cohort of CDSME grant recipients are:

• Comagine Health (WA)
• Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (IA)
• Lamprey Health Care (NH)
• Mid-America Regional Council (MO)
• Monitor My Health, Inc. (CT)
• Prince George's County (MD)
• University of North Carolina at Asheville (NC)

These recipients join a large network of CDSME program providers who empower older adults and adults with disabilities to manage their chronic conditions, collaborate with healthcare providers and payors, accelerate impact and outcomes, and expand reach.

For questions about the CDSME Program, contact [email protected].

See Notice of Funding Opportunity: HHS-2025-ACL-AOA-CSSG-0034,"Advancing Strategies to Deliver and Sustain Evidence-Based Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Programs to Support Older Adults with Behavioral Health Conditions," posted July 28, 2025.