b'CARES 2.0: Expanding Reach, Elevating ImpactCARES data promises to become even more impactfulEach state should view CARES thanks to the CDC CARES Expansion and Modernizationas their own state registry. We Grant, awarded in October 2023. The new funding channelgenerate state-level reports, along was made possible by federal legislation signed into law inwith local and regional reports. December 2022.This localized information holds significant power to help The Cardiovascular Advances in Research andcommunities track quality Opportunities Legacy (CAROL) Actintroduced in 2021 byimprovement efforts to improve Congressman Andy Barr in honor of his late wife, Carolsurvival outcomes. Leavell Barr, who died from sudden cardiac deathled toDr. Michael Carrthe Congressional appropriation that is now fueling CARESCARES Chief Quality and Innovation Officertransformative journey. THE CAROL ACT, PASSED BY CONGRESS IN 2022, ENABLED CARES NATIONAL EXPANSIONWith this support, CARES plans to expand its reach from 37 states to all 50, ensuring that measurement and improvement initiatives are more widely accessible to communities nationwide. The CARES Expansion and Modernization Grant has also enabled the program to forge critical connections between its quality improvement efforts and two influential national initiatives:The Resuscitation Academy Foundation A well-established non-profit that offers programs and workshops to help communities worldwide strengthen their cardiac arrest survival rates, by translating resuscitation science into actionable practice.CPR LifeLinks (National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration) A national initiative aimed at improving survival rates from cardiac arrest by encouraging widespread implementation of telecommunicator CPR programs and high-performance CPR practices across 911 agencies.These collaborations help translate CARES data into targeted, life-saving action. By combining robust data with The Resuscitation Academyproven training programs and implementation support, helps communities turn CARESCARES, the Resuscitation Academy, and CPR LifeLinks are data into real-world impactstrengthening every link in the Chain of Survivalfrom the by identifying improvementinitial emergency call to post-resuscitation carehelping opportunities and guiding data- communities nationwide improve response, increase driven action. Through workshops,survival, and deliver better outcomes for cardiac arrest mentorship, and proven strategies,patients.we empower EMS leaders to strengthen systems, training, andAnother major priority of the grant is the modernization of survival. the CARES software platform. This transition promises to Ann Doll expedite the delivery of actionable insights to healthcare Executive Director of the Resuscitation Academy professionals, thereby facilitating more informed decision- 21making and improving outcomes.'