Merger will bring increased support for family caregivers across systems of care, mental health and policy advocacy.
ATLANTA (Feb. 14, 2025) — The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers will merge with the Carter Center’s Mental Health Program. The merger, to be completed by June 2025, will connect two issues — mental health and caregiving — championed by the late former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter.
“Rosalynn Carter was truly ahead of her time in recognizing the need to improve the lives of all Americans who live with mental illnesses and those who provide care for loved ones,” said Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander. “This merger unifies two of Mrs. Carter’s primary areas of focus and builds upon decades of successes we’ve realized in advancing national mental health and caregiver policies.”
The Carter Center’s Mental Health Program currently focuses on public policy, school-based mental health, strengthening mental health care capacity globally, and fostering quality media coverage of mental health and substance use disorders throughout the world.
RCI, founded in 1987 by Mrs. Carter, is committed to prioritizing America’s family caregivers, defined as those providing care to someone who is aging, ill, or disabled. There are 105 million family caregivers in the United States who provide compassionate care to tens of millions of people who are aging, ill, or disabled.
“Joining forces with The Carter Center will improve outcomes for caregivers by dramatically increasing our impact to see, hear, and support family caregivers,” said Paurvi Bhatt, interim CEO of RCI. “This transformative step in our nearly 40 years of dedication to family caregivers builds on Mrs. Carter’s vision and leadership and on the tireless work of generations of staff and partners to serve the millions of family caregivers in need.”
Josh Carter, a mental health advocate and grandson of Rosalynn Carter, welcomed news of the merger.
“My grandmother spent her life championing those who help others. Through her work at the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, my grandmother elevated caregivers onto the national stage,” he said. “This merger will allow the important work of the RCI to grow using the strengths of The Carter Center, providing the RCI with the tools to advance and advocate for caregivers globally, for years to come.”
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Contact: In Atlanta, media@cartercenter.org
The Carter Center
Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.
A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
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The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers
The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers promotes the health, strength, and resilience of family caregivers across the United States by transforming systems to better support them. Founded in 1987 by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, RCI is dedicated to making caregivers visible, valued, and supported through advocacy, innovative research, and evidence-based programs. RCI’s work centers on elevating the unique expertise of family caregivers, advocating for systemic change, and advancing long-term solutions that enhance the well-being of caregivers and their care recipients.