WHO ARE CAREGIVING YOUTH? Children & adolescents <18 years of age who provide significant assistance to relatives or household members who need help due to: Physical or mental illness Disability Frailty associated with aging Substance misuse Other conditions At least 1.3 – 1.4 million caregiving youth, ages 8 to 18, exist nationwide as of 2005 2

ABOUT AACY American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) Florida based non-profit corporation Established in 1998 The only organization in the US dedicated solely to addressing caregiving youth issues Established the Caregiving Youth Institute in 2014 Affiliate Network Caregiving Youth Project (CYP) Established in 2006 Addresses the needs of pre-teens, teens, families, & professionals through education, awareness, research, & direct services Brings together healthcare, education, & the community Works in partnership with school districts

AACY SUCCESS STRATEGIES Kids are the clients and they are first Evidence of need Comprehensive system services to ameliorate impacts Crucial collaborators Caring team Outcome monitoring & change ready Persevering “can do” attitude

KIDS FIRST Caregiving youth are the clients Unable to change health condition of family members Able to change how they manage

EVIDENCE OF NEED Among >12,000 middle & high schools students in Palm Beach County who took the What Works Survey, >4,000 or 1 in 3 reported missing school, not completing homework, and/or had trouble focusing Of young adults who dropped out of school for personal reasons, 22% said it was to care for a family member In 2016 among 2427 6th grade students in 10 middle schools, 547 (22.5%) qualify for the CYP https://www.saanys.org/uploads/content/TheSilentEpidemic-ExecSum.pdf 7

SYSTEMS APPROACH Healthcare Education Community Body, Mind & Spirit

COMPREHENSIVE 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, dining, educational and fun activities

CRUCIAL PARTNERS & COLLABORATORS Schools – it’s where the kids are Funding Resources - $ and in-kind Home Healthcare – providers of respite Community Agencies Equipment Counseling Family Needs Food Access to medical care/insurance Repairs Special Projects

CARING TEAM Weekly team meetings Ongoing learning and feedback Shared knowledge and resources CQI Accountable In office family Flexible schedules Valuable volunteers

OUTCOME MONITORING - CHANGE READY Quality is consistency If it’s not broken, don’t fix If it’s not the best it can be, make it the best

“CAN DO” ATTITUDE

CYP END OF YEAR RESULTS - PLUS GRADUATION RATE >98%

THROUGH IT ALL - AACY CORE VALUES Responsiveness Collaboration Compassion Empowerment Innovation

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

Thank You! www.aacy.org Website: www.aacy.org/ Phone number: 800-725-2512