What is now AACY, began in 1998 as Boca Raton Interfaith in Action with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to provide volunteer support services to homebound persons and caregiving families. In 2005 the corporation’s name was changed to Volunteers for the Homebound and Family Caregivers. Then, after transitioning adult services to another nonprofit, effective January 1, 2010 the name officially changed to the American Association of Caregiving Youth® (AACY) which continues as a Florida based 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation.

The focus on youth began after doctoral research in Palm Beach County identified an otherwise hidden population of child caregivers and their concomitant academic challenges. Findings from the 2005 Young Caregivers in the US report indicated that there are at least 1.4 million child caregivers ages 8-18 years of age. Months later, the 2006 Silent Epidemic supported the national and County research. It documented that among young adults who had dropped out of school 22% did so to care for a family member.

The first program in the US to provide services for the youth caregiver population began as the Caregiving Youth Project (CYP) began in the Fall of 2006 at one middle school in partnership with The School District of Palm Beach County. By the end of its 11th year, it regionally enrolled more than 1,500 students among 25 middle and high schools and has many more yet to serve. 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 it also works to strengthen families.