During the 2012-2013 academic year, the Caregiving Youth Project (CYP), under the auspices of the American Association of Caregiving Youth® (AACY), served 557 middle and high school caregiving youth who were from primary programs in eight middle schools and who were scattered among 17 high schools. There were 138 new CYP enrollees. Needs-driven support services were provided in school, out of school, and at home.
In school: Of the 131 middle school students who participated in Skills building/support group six week sessions, 90% agreed or strongly agreed that they were using what they learned to help them in school and to manage anger. 1,168 individual student contacts with CYP staff occurred during 236 Lunch and Learn sessions. 116 seventh and eighth graders participated in Enhanced Skills Building sessions three to four times during the year at seven middle schools. An ice cream social was held by Boca Leadership high school group to ease the transition from middle to high school. Lastly, 45 students participated in 16 high school workshops.
In the home: 39 assessments resulted in 168 referrals to community resources to strengthen families. 51 students received academic support including tutoring, and computers (now more than 130 CYP students have computers). Additionally 265 students received back to school supplies to help level their playing field.
Out of school: Camp Treasure was enjoyed by 51 students. Smaller groups went swimming, fishing, participated in “Y” wellness days, Whole Foods cooking classes, and many other resources and support activities. Families received 321 delivered Thanksgiving meals. 238 participated in the Holiday Celebration where family portraits were taken and students/siblings not only received gifts but selected gifts to give to family through the Holiday Shoppe provided by corporate partners.
The 2012-2013 end of the school year feedback represented 264 students who took care of 392 individuals; 48.5% of these students provided care for more than one person. The CYP has seen only seven students drop out of school since its inception – one teen mom is now working to get her GED. Of 29 graduates of that school year, 22 (75.9%) were immediately going on to post-secondary education while two others planned to begin in January 2014. Several of these graduates received coaching for applications and scholarships through the AACY AmeriCorps member and staff.
In the 2012-2013 school year, there were 18 deaths among family members of CYP students including two who were featured on CNN. Its bereavement services continue to be of great value in helping students transition to traditional child bereavement programs.
Students reported, "Now I know I am not alone.” From these dual role student-caregivers, the improvements most frequently reported were improved grades, confidence, less stress, better time management, staying connected with new CYP friends and taking more time for themselves. Unanimously, students wanted other caregivers in more schools to be helped as they have been helped. In the 2011-2012 school year, two students shared their stories at the Wellness Promotion Task Force end of the year Celebration. Additionally CYP students and their families were featured in the CNN Heroes videos, which was a video produced for the international website of the United Methodist Church and for ABC TV from New York. This recognition, along with other facets of the CYP as it brings together healthcare, education and the community, was the model for replication with Caregiving Youth Projects. These projects will soon start in Arkansas, Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Ohio to help achieve AACY’s ultimate goal that no child in the US should have to drop out of school to care for a family member.