Executive Summary

Parents of children with autism, PANDAS/PANS, epilepsy, and other complex neurodevelopmental conditions are among the most chronically underserved populations in the United States health and wellness system. Research consistently documents that these caregivers experience significantly elevated rates of depression, anxiety, burnout, metabolic dysregulation, and social isolation, yet they are rarely the subject of targeted federal health investment.

Pure Living Family Foundation (PLF) is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving parents of children with autism, PANDAS/PANS, and epilepsy. Our mission is simple: heal the caregiver so the caregiver can heal the family. The philosophy that drives everything we do is this: you cannot pour from an empty cup.

This strategic plan outlines a three-component Caregiver Wellness Initiative seeking federal grant funding to provide personalized functional medicine health assessments for qualifying caregivers, annual wellness retreats for mothers and fathers separately, and sustainable organizational infrastructure through executive director support. Total funding requested: $250,000 to $300,000 annually.

The Problem: Caregiver Health as a Hidden Public Health Crisis

The United States currently serves approximately 1 in 31 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, and that number does not include the hundreds of thousands of families navigating PANDAS/PANS, epilepsy, and comorbid neurodevelopmental conditions. Behind every one of those children is at least one parent whose own health is deteriorating under the weight of caregiving.

Research documents the following among special needs caregivers:

• Significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety compared to the general population
• Chronic sleep deprivation leading to metabolic dysregulation, hormonal imbalance, and immune dysfunction
• Higher incidence of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes risk factors
• Social isolation and loss of personal identity outside the caregiver role
• Divorce rates significantly higher than among parents of neurotypical children
• Neglect of personal preventive healthcare due to time, cost, and caregiver guilt

The IACC 2026-2028 Strategic Plan Working Draft explicitly names caregiver mental health and respite services as a federal priority, acknowledging that a depleted caregiver cannot advocate effectively, navigate complex systems, or provide the consistent, high-quality support their child needs. Caregiver wellness is autism policy.

Program Design: The Three-Component Caregiver Wellness Initiative

Component 1: The Caregiver Health Assessment Grant

PLF will provide qualifying caregivers with a $1,500 Caregiver Health Assessment Grant covering a personalized functional medicine health evaluation through Function Health's comprehensive blood panel and a follow-up coaching engagement to develop an individualized wellness protocol.

Projected reach: 60 qualifying caregiver grants annually at $1,500 each = $90,000

Component 2: Annual Wellness Retreats, Moms and Dads Separately

PLF will host two annual wellness retreats, one exclusively for mothers and one exclusively for fathers of special needs children, at a retreat facility in Utah. These are healing experiences designed to address the specific physical, emotional, and relational needs of caregivers who have put themselves last for years, including functional medicine and nutrition education, breathwork and nervous system regulation sessions, structured peer support, and unstructured recovery time.

Budget per retreat: $15,000. Two retreats annually (Moms Retreat + Dads Retreat) = $30,000

Component 3: Executive Director Support, Organizational Infrastructure

Pure Living Family Foundation has been built by a founder who has hosted community events, produced a podcast, delivered federal policy testimony, and managed all organizational operations, largely without dedicated staff support. Federal salary support would allow the Executive Director to devote full-time capacity to growing organizational impact rather than managing personal financial instability while serving families in crisis.

Consolidated Annual Program Budget

Line Item	Amount	Notes
Caregiver Health Assessment Grants	$90,000	60 grants x $1,500 each
Annual Moms Wellness Retreat	$15,000	20-25 participants
Annual Dads Wellness Retreat	$15,000	20-25 participants
Executive Director Compensation	$80,000	Full-time founder salary
Operating and Administrative (10%)	$20,000	Compliance, reporting, insurance
Total Annual Funding Request	$220,000

Note: Organizations may also consider phased funding at $150,000 in Year 1 (30 grants, 2 retreats, partial ED support), scaling to full program by Year 2.

Measurable Outcomes and Evaluation Framework

Year 1 targets:

1. 60 caregivers receive Caregiver Health Assessment Grants and complete Function Health lab panels
2. 100% of grant recipients complete at least one functional medicine coaching session
3. 40-50 caregivers attend annual Moms or Dads Wellness Retreat
4. Pre and post self-reported wellness surveys administered to all grant recipients and retreat participants
5. Biomarker improvement tracked at 6-month follow-up for willing participants
6. PLF community grows from 2,000 to 3,000+ active families through increased visibility and social media reach

Long-term impact indicators:

• Reduction in self-reported caregiver burnout, anxiety, and depression scores at 6 and 12 months
• Improvement in key metabolic biomarkers, including vitamin D, B12, magnesium, and inflammation markers, among grant recipients
• Increased family stability and caregiver capacity as reported in qualitative follow-up interviews
• National replication model for other special needs caregiver organizations to adopt

Organizational Capacity and Track Record

Pure Living Family Foundation was incorporated in February 2022 and achieved federal 501(c)(3) recognition as EIN 88-1015327. In four years of operation without paid staff, the organization has:

• Grown a community of 2,000+ families across Utah and nationally through authentic content, community events, and word-of-mouth referrals
• Hosted annual Moms Wellness Retreats, bi-monthly Dad events, and inclusive family community gatherings
• Produced the Pure Living Family Podcast, featuring researchers including Dr. James Adams PhD of Arizona State University, licensed marriage and family therapists, and nurse practitioners specializing in functional medicine
• Raised $28,500+ in FY2024 through donor campaigns, affiliate partnerships, and community fundraising
• Delivered public testimony before the federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) in April 2026
• Submitted formal public comment on the IACC 2026-2028 Strategic Plan calling for caregiver mental health as core federal infrastructure
• Pursued a formal research-practice partnership with Dr. James Adams at Arizona State University through the HRSA Autism Research Consortium framework
• Developed a $27 digital product (The Special Needs Parent Wellness Starter Guide) providing functional medicine tools to families nationwide

The Foundation is currently pursuing SAM.gov registration and WebGrants.utah.gov eligibility to position PLF for federal and state grant funding. NAICS code: 624190 (Other Individual and Family Services).

Federal Funding Alignment

This program aligns with the following federal funding priorities:

• SAMHSA Community Mental Health Services Block Grant: caregiver mental health and wellness programs for families of individuals with disabilities
• ACL Disability Innovation Fund: community-based innovation serving people with disabilities and their caregivers
• HHS Administration for Children and Families (ACF) / CSBG: family strengthening and caregiver support programs reducing poverty risk
• HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau: autism and neurodevelopmental conditions community programs
• IACC 2026-2028 Strategic Plan Priority Area: caregiver mental health, respite services, and wellness infrastructure

This initiative directly responds to the IACC's explicit call for community-based caregiver organizations to serve as formal delivery partners for caregiver support, a call that PLF's founder helped shape through his April 2026 IACC testimony.