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The American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) is dedicated to identifying, supporting, and advocating for Caregiving Youth across the United States. AACY’s programs, research, and the experiences of Caregiving Youth have been featured by local and national media, helping bring greater visibility to this often-overlooked population.

Daniel & Nate | Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
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Working with Abbey Hoekzema-Russell and Lauren Cater on their documentary in conjunction with the FAU Card Program has been a privilege.

These two dedicated filmmakers have put together something really special focusing on Daniel & Nate, two incredible brothers with whom the AACY has had the pleasure of working through our Caregiving Youth Project: “Daniel’s a typical sarcastic teenager. He’s into football and video games. But for most of Daniel’s life, he’s assisted his family as a Caregiving Youth, providing essential care for his younger brother Nate.

Ep. 23 – Palm Beach County Residents See A Need And Meet It – Palm Beach County Perspective
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Our very own Founder & President, Dr. Connie Siskowski, was on the Palm Beach County Perspective podcast with Palm Beach County Mayor Robert S Weinroth. Check out the episode from this past weekend! Thanks to all involved. AACY was happy to be a part of this and to address the community and our need for Caregiving Youth services.

¿Maduras por necesidad? La historia de Mía y Mina, quienes cuidan de sus padres enfermos | Por Marisa Azaret, CNN Publicado
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The pandemic has been hard on everyone, but especially hard on Caregiving Youth. CNN en Español reached out to AACY to learn more about how Caregiving Youth and their families are dealing with the added challenges brought on by Covid-19 and produced these two stories, one of which profiles Mía y Mina, two youth who care for their parents.

More youths are becoming home caregivers. Experts say they need more help and support | WXXI News | By April Franklin
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Daniela Castro-Martinez (R) with her mom, Sandra. Daniela became a youth caregiver after her mother’s ALS diagnosis. Daniela Castro-Martinez remembers how dedicated and active her mother was before she got sick, giving her only child a lot of attention.

“Every weekend, she’d take me to tennis tournaments. Sometimes they were like an hour, two hours away. She would do that because she knew that I loved the sport,” Castro-Martinez said. “She did everything for me and never complained about it.”

That was before Sandra Martinez was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. The disease is progressive and affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

Now Is the Time to Act for Youth Caregivers | GENERATIONS NOW, by Feylin Lewis
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I am 34 years old and have been a caregiver for 23 of those years. My mother became disabled when I was 11, a result of a relatively routine spinal surgery performed incorrectly. I primarily assisted my mother with mobility aid, wound and intimate care and medication administration. My childhood was marked by social isolation, anxiety over my mother’s health and our family finances and internalized pressure to succeed.

At-Risk Population: Caregiving Youth with Connie Siskowski of The American Association of Caregiving Youth | COMCAST NEWSMAKERS HOSTED BY: NATHALIA ORTIZ
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5.4 million young people are providing care for a loved one in the United States, with 290,000 of them coming from Florida. The American Association of Caregiving Youth provides a vital outlet for this hidden at-risk population. Connie Siskowski is the Founder and President and talks about their efforts.

Connie Siskowski, president and founder of the American Association of Caregiving Youth in Boca Raton, displays art from some of her clients in AACY headquarters. | Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
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It’s difficult to get Connie Siskowski to talk about herself. Seated in her sunny, plant-filled office, she deflects questions about her status as a local — and even national — hero by talking instead about the secret world of caregiving children. The children, she says softly, are the real heroes.

‘Wounded healers’: Advocates spotlight hidden struggles of young caregivers | By Adriana Gonzalez-Chavez/Cronkite News
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Brenda Donovan was 12 when her mother was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, and by her senior year in high school, she’d become her mother’s primary caregiver. Like most young people thrust into that role, she had little training or support.

“…Siskowski authored a 2006 study examining the effects of caregiving on youth. She found that the physical, psychological and financial ramifications that adult caregivers struggle with also affect young caregivers…”

A Graceful Life – Our Caregiving Youth. | NEWSRADIO WINA
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With an estimated 3.5 – 4.5 million youths are caring for a loved one at home. This segment of children are more likely to have significant issues with school, tardiness and absences which often leads to dropping out of school. The American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) is addressing this social issue. Jeanne discusses this topic with Dr. Richard Lindsay, AJ & Charlie Poole.

S4: Episode 46: Dr. Connie Siskowski | The Waiting Room Revolution
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This episode features our conversation with Dr. Connie Siskowski, founder and President of the American Association of Caregiving Youth. Sammy, Hsien, and Connie discuss her experience as a young caregiver, how the American Association of Caregiving Youth helps young caregivers, and what signs to look for to see if a young person is caregiving for someone.

Palm Beach County non-profit provides resources for youth caretakers. | Angela Rozier 25 WPBF News
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BOCA RATON, Fla. — Ali Enlow is a seventh grader at Loggers’ Run Middle School near Boca Raton. The 12-year-old likes helping people. She also helps take care of her little sister. “My sister Eva, she’s 7 years old and sometimes she needs help around the house,” Enlow said. “I help my parents with whatever they need so that means sometimes I’ll brush teeth, change diapers, help with potty training.”

The non-profit organization called American Association of Caregiving Youth is there for Enlow.

An Interview with Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD. CEO American Association of Caregiving Youth | Caregiver Podcast
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Gary Edward Barg, founder and Editor-in-Chief of Today’s Caregiver magazine and caregiver.com interviews Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD. the founder and CEO of the American Association of Caregiving Youth. She was named as a Purpose Prize winner in 2009 and a top 10 CNN HERO in 2012.

Millions of youth caregivers help sick, disabled or elderly relatives but they need support. | This story was produced through the New York & Michigan Solutions Journalism Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations and universities dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about successful responses to social problems. The group is supported by the Solutions Journalism Network.
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Invisible Army: Caregivers on the Front Line: Part of an occasional series supported by the Solutions Journalism Network

Daniela Castro-Martinez remembers how dedicated and active her mother was before she got sick, giving her only child a lot of attention.

Florida Congresswoman Offers Resolution to Designate National Caregiving Youth Week | Angela Rozier 25 WPBF News
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This week, U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., showcased her resolution, which she introduced last week, to designate a week in November as National Caregiving Youth Week in order “to recognize the efforts and sacrifices of youth under 18 caring for a loved one.”

U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee, D-Calf., and Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., are among the six co-sponsors.

Youth Caregivers: The Challenges of Providing Home Care for Disabled Relatives | TEEN VOGUE
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Disability (In) Justice is a package exploring where the fight for disability justice stands.

BY JACQUI GERMAIN

ILLUSTRATION BY ANANYA RAO-MIDDLETON
SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

This story is published as part of Teen Vogue’s 2022 Economic Security Project fellowship.

Lizzie’s mom has had sacral agenesis since birth. The condition impacts her mom’s spinal cord and makes it difficult for her to walk without assistance. As a single parent for most of Lizzie’s life, Lizzie’s mom was the primary caregiver for her and both her sisters — but the girls were their mom’s caregivers, too.