2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

7. 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 th grade students in 10 middle schools, 547 (22.5%) qualify for the CYP 7

8. SYSTEMS APPROACH
Healthcare
Education
Community
Body, Mind & Spirit

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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

13. “CAN DO” ATTITUDE

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

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

16. 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

17. Thank You! www.aacy.org Website: www.aacy.org/
Phone number: