Increasing Caregiver Support Implementation Through Training And Education (INCITE) Training Program

Social worker sits with patient during appointment

A major challenge in advancing support for family and friend caregivers of individuals with cancer is the lack of guidance on how to implement evidence-based programs into practice. To address this need, the INcreasing Caregiver support Implementation through Training and Education (INCITE) program is a new national training initiative for cancer center teams, including clinicians, administrators, and other support staff, led by nationally-recognized caregiving experts, Allison Applebaum, PhD, FAPOS, Director, Steven S. Elbaum Family Center for Caregiving, and J. Nicholas Odom, PhD, RN, University of Alabama at Birmingham. The program will include pre-workshop online learning, a two-day in-person workshop, and six months of post-workshop technical assistance with national experts. Interprofessional teams of clinicians and administrators will learn how to identify, adapt, implement, evaluate, and sustain evidence-based programs for family caregivers of people with cancer. Participants will gain practical tools for mission alignment, workflow integration, billing and business planning, and long-term sustainability, helping their institutions enhance patient and caregiver outcomes and strengthen supportive care services.

The INCITE Training Program, hosted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, is funded through 2030 by the National Cancer Institute (NCI)/National Institutes of Health (NIH) with collaborating organizations, including the Center to Advance Palliative Care, American Cancer Society, The John A. Hartford Foundation, and the National Alliance for Caregiving. It is supported by NIH/NCI Research Grant R25CA291554.

The INCITE Training Program will host and provide two national trainings each year to competitively selected interprofessional teams at U.S. cancer centers. Each training cohort will include approximately 15-20 cancer center teams, each team consisting of two to five members.

The training includes three main components:

  1. Pre-Work Preparation Activities: After an orientation call with INCITE program leaders, each cancer center team will be given access to a series of 15-20-minute online learning modules with reading materials and resources. These modules provide essential background knowledge, ensuring participants arrive ready to engage in hands-on, collaborative program design. Teams will complete a caregiver program preparation worksheet and present their initial ideas and plans as a poster during the in-person workshop. The worksheet guides teams in defining their target caregiver population, program goals, potential program components, resources, funding strategies, and evaluation metrics.
  2. In-Person 2-Day Workshop: Cancer center teams will come together in Birmingham, Alabama for an in-person two-day workshop led by INCITE faculty, Dr. Allison Applebaum and Dr. Nicholas Odom. Through a mix of highly-interactive presentations, small-group exercises, and peer-to-peer learning, teams will refine their caregiver program goals, identify strategies for implementation, and troubleshoot barriers to success. Faculty will provide tailored feedback, while structured networking opportunities allow teams to exchange ideas and build collaborations. By the end of the workshop, each team will leave with a concrete action plan and the skills to launch or strengthen sustainable caregiver support programs in their home institutions.
  3. Post-Workshop Monthly Virtual Technical Assistance: Following the in-person workshop, teams will take part in monthly, one-hour virtual technical assistance sessions to support program development and implementation. These live, interactive Zoom calls provide ongoing coaching from INCITE program leaders, opportunities to problem-solve real-world challenges, and a forum for peer learning across participating cancer centers. Teams receive guidance on refining their caregiver programs, adapting evidence-based strategies, securing institutional resources, and evaluating impact. This structured follow-up ensures that the momentum from the workshop continues, helping each team move from planning to sustainable action in their home setting.

The INCITE Training Program welcomes interprofessional teams from U.S. cancer centers* nationwide. Each team should include at least 2 and up to 5 individuals, including clinicians (e.g., medicine, nursing, social work, psychology, chaplaincy), administrators (e.g., operations, billing, finance, information technology, project management), and other oncology staff who would be positioned to design, implement, and ultimately champion a caregiver support program. All team members are expected to participate fully in every component of the training, ensuring shared knowledge and commitment to program success. By bringing together diverse expertise, teams are better equipped to create comprehensive, sustainable programs that address the unique needs of family caregivers in cancer care.

*Eligible U.S.-based organizations and groups that are eligible to apply include:

  • Cancer centers
  • Community hospitals or health systems that deliver cancer care
  • Academic medical centers with oncology programs
  • Cancer-focused nonprofit organizations that provide direct health care services
  • Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers with oncology services
  • Oncology practices or multi-specialty groups with established cancer programs

All INCITE modules, resources, and events are free to participating teams. The INCITE Program will provide a flat amount of $1,200 per participating team member for the two-day in-person workshop to cover travel-related costs (airfare, ground transportation, lodging, and meals outside of what is provided during the workshop). Travel expenses incurred above the $1,200 per person allowance must be covered by home institutions or individuals.

Interested organizations must complete an online application during the open enrollment period, which begins December 1, 2025.

In addition to asking basic information about your cancer center and team members, the application includes several short essay questions (150–300 words each). These ask about your team’s goals, existing caregiver services, gaps or challenges at your center, resources, leadership support, and plans for future program development. Because thoughtful responses are required, we encourage teams to review the application in advance and prepare their answers before submitting online. Applicants will also complete attestations confirming their commitment to full participation in all aspects of the program.

Interested organizations can email the program manager, Elisha Underwood, at [email protected] to request a link for the application.

Request for applications – Opens: December 1, 2025

Request for applications – Closes: January 15, 2026

Notification of acceptance: Mid to Late January 2026

Access to online pre-workshop training: February 1, 2026

2-day in-person workshop (in Birmingham, AL): May 19-20, 2026

Monthly virtual technical assistance calls: June through November, 2026

Have questions or need more information? Email the INCITE coordinator, Elisha Underwood, at: [email protected]

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