What is AACY American Association of Caregiving Youth

What is AACY? American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) – – Florida based non-profit corporation Established in 1998 Evolved to become AACY in 2010 The only organization in the US dedicated solely to addressing caregiving youth issues – Developing Affiliate Network – Established the Caregiving Youth Institute in 2014 Caregiving Youth Project (CYP) of AACY – Established in 2006 – Addresses the needs of pre-teens, teens and families – Brings together healthcare, education, & the community – Works in partnership with schools and collaborating partners – Provides services in school, out of school and at home

TRENDS – CHANGING POPULATION Economic Influences Women Working Single Parent & Multi-generation Households Grandparents as Parents Healthcare & Long-term Care Systems – – Increased home care Complex care at home Cultural variances Veterans

Caring for Sister

Kids in CNN Stories

Caring for Brother

WHY BE CONCERNED? Academic Challenges Physical Strain & Somatization Emotional & Traumatic Distress Socialization Impacts Childhood Lost Long-term Impact

REWARDS OF CAREGIVING Special relationship with the care recipient Enhanced self-esteem when recognized for contribution Mature life skills Sense of purpose Increased empathy

CAREGIVING YOUTH PROJECT (CYP) SERVICES In School - skills-building classes, support groups, lunch and learn sessions At Home - linking families with resources, providing computers, tutoring and solutions for special needs Out of School - overnight camp, fishing, educational and fun activities

Questions at Camp Treasure XX – 11/5/2016 If you help someone with medicine and you give them more than what you need will it harm them? How to remember that a person has problems but looks like a normal person. How can I get someone out of bed if they don’t have anything to help them with When you lost your loved ones, will it effect your life? What happens when they need help but you can’t help them? (What can you do? )

CYP RESULTS

CAREGIVING YOUTH INSTITUTE Established in April 2014 to provide the venue & opportunity to create the formal structure for what AACY has been informally providing for several years Formed the Caregiving Youth Research Collaborative Second conference to be held April 27, 2017 in Boca Raton The CYI’s goal is to raise the level of awareness & multi-system needs of caregiving youth along with solutions or their support through the multiple aspects of C. A. R. E C onnection A dvocacy R esearch E ducation

Caregiving Youth Research Collaborative Members include professionals from:

YOU CAN HELP! Raise awareness about the issues caregiving youth face Identify student-caregivers – at school, in congregations and other settings Work for system change & collaborations between healthcare, education & community Promote legislation; end reverse age discrimination

Morally & Economically Supporting Caregiving Youth for Today & Tomorrow is the Right Thing to Do… On behalf of these Hidden Heroes, for the benefit of our Children & Grandchildren, our greater Community & our Country