CAREGIVING YOUTH PROJECT

"I have learned I am no longer alone…"

The first program in the US to provide services for the youth caregiver population began as the Caregiving Youth Project (CYP) in the Fall of 2006 at one middle school in partnership with The School District of Palm Beach County. By the end of its 15th year, it regionally enrolled more than 2,000 students among 35 middle and high schools. Its participants are in 23 other schools which have yet to have a formal program. There are many more Caregiving Youth and their families yet to serve and strengthen. The CYP expansion is limited only by resources. Students remain in the CYP for nearly five and a half years. The CYP team provides services to students from grades six through twelve and has a newly formed alumni group.

The stressors and responsibilities of caregiving have profound effects on education, health and overall development of youth; all youth deserve the opportunity to learn, experience childhood and become productive adults.

Learning, a child’s job, requires focus and occurs at school, at home and at play;

Focus for the student is tough when family health conditions create a decline in independence accompanied by stressors and require caregiving;
Family caregiving is typically an adult responsibility; but adults are not always available, thus thrusting children into this role;
More than a million young people bathe, dress, feed, assist with walking, give medications and do many other tasks for family members leaving little play time.

The Caregiving Youth Projects breaks through stresses and barriers to learning with direct services:

In School – Skills-Building classes and Lunch and Learn Sessions – Grades 6-12;
At Home – home visits by a social worker links families with resources, provides school supplies, food, laptops, respite, tutoring, counseling, and solutions for special project needs.
Out of School – overnight Camp Treasure and Reunion Camp, family Holiday Celebrations, picnics, college prep, other education and fun activities.

Integrated CYP services strengthen students, families, schools and communities. Caregiving Youth learn they are no longer alone and their families feel cared about:

As of June 30, 2022 more than 2,000 Caregiving Youth and their families have enrolled in the CYP. Typically they begin with CYP from 6th grade and are from 35 middle and high schools in Palm Beach County, FL stretching from Boca Raton north to Palm Beach Gardens and west to Belle Glade and Pahokee. Participants are also from 22 other schools in the County.
Caregiving Youth elect to remain with the CYP into high school – and they do for an average of 5.46 years concluding with an eight year average 98.7% high school graduation rate and more than 90% going on to post-secondary education or the military!
Caregiving Youth report that the CYP has helped them with grades, confidence, skills, family life, communication and managing anger and stress.

Be aware of family health situations and the effects on the whole family, especially on children and their education
Know that parents & grandparents who are themselves overwhelmed may not realize the effects of family health situations on their children
Refer concerns about caregiving youth to the school nurse, social worker or guidance counselor
Support school personnel in identifying and supporting caregiving youth
Connect, when possible, caregiving youth peers with each other
Foster relationships with community support services to strengthen caregiving families
Encourage caregiving youth to read ‘I’m a Teen Caregiver. Now What?’ and request help by calling their local information hotline
Advocate for caregiving youth with legislators, religious and business leaders, the public and in educational and professional groups
Attend the Caregiving Youth Institute conferences
Take a proactive role – contact AACY about developing a Caregiving Youth Project or components of it through a non-profit in your community
Refer students to Internet resources especially including www.aacy.org – American Association of Caregiving Youth

Thank you on behalf of our nation’s more than 3.4 million caregiving youth!