Opportunities for Nursing Leadership in Family Caregiver Policy: A Policy Analysis of the RAISE Family Caregivers Act Using the Health Policy Triangle and Multiple Streams Framework.

This article analyzes the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act of 2018, the first U.S. federal policy establishing a coordinated national framework to support unpaid family caregivers of older adults and individuals with chronic illness or disability. Using Walt and Gilson's Health Policy Triangle and Kingdon's Multiple Streams Framework, the study highlights how the Act institutionalizes caregiving as a shared federal responsibility through multi-sector collaboration, recurring strategy updates, and public transparency, without creating new funding streams. The Act mandates a Family Caregiving Advisory Council to develop and update a National Family Caregiving Strategy, emphasizing evidence-based practices, care coordination, caregiver education, and workforce development. Nursing professionals are identified as key leaders in implementing the Act's provisions, particularly in care transitions, caregiver training, evaluation, and advocacy, with attention to equity and sustainability. The policy's design fosters incremental, durable improvements in caregiver support by leveraging collaboration and transparency rather than regulatory mandates or new appropriations.