The mission of the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY®) is to recognize, support, and promote the awareness of dual role youth that are both students and caregivers of a family member who is ill, injured, elderly or disabled. AACY strives to address the needs of pre-teens, teens, families, and professionals through education and awareness, research, and direct services in cooperation with social, education, healthcare, government, and community corporations, organizations, and agencies.
During the 2011-2012 school year, the Caregiving Youth Project (CYP), under the auspices of the AACY®, served 496 middle and high school caregiving youth who are from primary programs in 8 middle schools and who are scattered among 17 high schools. There were 127 new CYP enrollees of whom 11 were in high school. Needs-driven support services were provided in school, in the home and out of school..
In school - of the 114 middle school students who participated in 83 skills building/support group sessions, 90% agreed or strongly agreed that they are using what they learned to help them in school and to manage anger; 1,336 individual student contacts with CYP staff occurred during 261 Lunch and Learn sessions; Club Soaring Eagles met in four schools presenting fun and education workshops such as “All About Money”; and, 69 students participated in high school workshops with 22 groups held in three schools and 25 in a community center.
Out of school - Camp Treasure/reunion camp was enjoyed by 93 students; 360 students received back to school supplies to begin the school year with the tools they need. CYP members have also participated in a fishing trip, Y wellness days, Whole Foods cooking class, field days, pool parties and many other resources and support. Families received Thanksgiving meals and participated in the Holiday Celebration where family portraits were taken and students and siblings not only received gifts but selected those to give to family through the Holiday Shoppe provided by corporate partners.
The 2011-2012 end of the school year feedback represented 225 students who took care of 369 individuals with 48.5% of students that provided care to more than one person. The CYP has seen only four students drop out of school – one a teen mom is now working to get her GED – and three students were retained. Of 25 graduates this school year, 18 (72%) are going on to post secondary education; several received coaching for applications and scholarships through the AACY® AmeriCorps member.
Students report "Now I know I am not alone" along with improved grades, confidence, less stress, managing time, staying connected with new CYP friends and taking more time for themselves are the most frequent responses from these dual role student-caregivers. Unanimously, students want other caregivers in more schools to be helped as they have been helped. This past year The School District of Palm Beach County approved a formula for caregiving youth to be awarded community service hours for the work they do at home. This recognition, along with other facets of the CYP as it brings together healthcare, education and the community, is the model for replication as evidenced by the CNN filming at two middle schools and in the homes of three caregiving youth to help achieve AACY’s ultimate goal that no child in our country should have to drop out of school to care for a family member.
For additional valuable information check out: www.aacy.org or call (800) 725-2512