H.R. 8620 — CARES Hotline Act

This section establishes a national toll-free, 24/7 hotline under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 to provide emotional support, information, brief intervention, mental health resources, and referrals to caregivers—including family and household members—of individuals with developmental disabilities. The hotline must offer voice and text support; be staffed by trained personnel (with standardized training in caregiver support, crisis response, and culturally/linguistically appropriate services) alongside peer-to-peer staff; connect callers to specialized services via consultation with the RAISE Family Caregivers Act Advisory Council; and maintain a national database of services. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must prioritize grants or contracts to nonprofits with national reach and state systems experience that partner with community-based organizations; conduct public awareness via a website and materials; and submit annual reports to Congress beginning one year after enactment evaluating effectiveness and listing referral entities. To carry out the hotline, $10 million is authorized annually for FY2027 through FY2032.