The Winter 2025 edition of Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Magazine features the article “Shining a Light on Caregiving Youth,” highlighting Connie Siskowski, RN, Ph.D., Founder and President of the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY).

The article examines Dr. Siskowski’s leadership in advancing recognition of Caregiving Youth and her call for greater awareness across healthcare, education, research, and policy. She emphasized that caregiving youth face unique challenges balancing school responsibilities with demanding caregiving roles and navigating complex healthcare systems, while also demonstrating resilience, empathy, and purpose.

Key takeaways from the article include:

Recognition and Support: Youth caregivers are often invisible in policy, education, and healthcare. Dr. Siskowski calls for systemic changes to identify and support them, including integrating caregiving questions into school and health assessments.

Education Impact: Caregiving responsibilities can lead to absenteeism, lower academic performance, and school dropout. AACY’s school-based model demonstrates how targeted support can improve graduation rates and long-term outcomes.

Health Equity Issue: Youth caregiving intersects with poverty, race, immigration status, and disability, underscoring the need for culturally responsive approaches while recognizing the strengths caregiving youth bring.

Opportunities for Research and Policy: The article highlights the need for national prevalence studies and for incorporating youth caregiver experiences into nursing and medical education to advance the field.

Read the article:
https://nursing.jhu.edu/magazine/articles/2025/09/shining-a-light-on-caregiving-youth/