AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CAREGIVING YOUTH INC

THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CAREGIVING YOUTH (AACY) PROVIDES DIRECT SERVICES TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CAREGIVING YOUTH LOCALLY AND RESPONDS TO QUERIES FOR INFORMATION AND SUPPORT FROM OTHER REGIONS IN THE USA. ITS NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL IS CO-CHAIRED BY SARA POOLE OF MCLEAN, VA WHO ALONG WITH HER TWO YOUNG SONS, PROVIDED CARE FOR TWO YEARS FOR HER MOM WHO HAD ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (SEE WWW.KIDSARECAREGIVERSTOO.COM). THE CO-CHAIR IS BRIAN DUKE, FORMER PA SECRETARY OF AGING. IN 2014 AACY RECEIVED SEED MONEY TO ESTABLISH THE CAREGIVING YOUTH INSTITUTE TO EXPAND ITS REACH THROUGH C.A.R.E. - CONNECT YOUTH WITH EACH OTHER; ADVOCATE TO EDUCATE LEGISLATORS ON BEHALF OF CAREGIVING YOUTH; RESEARCH TO EXPAND THE SCANT BODY OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS HIDDEN POPULATION; AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONALS. THE CAREGIVING YOUTH RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE HAS FORMED UNDER THE INSTITUTE WHICH HAS HELD FOUR IN PERSON CONFERENCES AND ONE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE, BOTH WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PRESENTERS. THE NEXT CONFERENCE WILL BE IN NOVEMBER 2025 COMPLETE WITH OUT OF STATE PRESENTERS, CAREGIVING YOUTH, AND SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF HIDDEN HELPERS (CAREGIVING YOUTH WITH MILITARY FAMILIES). THERE ARE PROFOUND RESULTS FROM THE STATEWIDE YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEY ADMINISTERED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC). THE FIRST EVER CAREGIVING QUESTION REVEALED THAT AMONG FLORIDA PUBLIC MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, MORE THAN 290,000 ARE DOING SOME KIND OF CAREGIVING FOR A FAMILY MEMBER WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS, DISABILITY, OR OTHER HEALTH CONDITION. THIS NUMBER EXCLUDES STUDENTS IN PRIVATE OR VIRTUAL SCHOOLS OR WHO ARE HOMESCHOOLED. AS THE US LEADER IN THIS FIELD, AACY IS PARTICIPATING IN A RESEARCH PROJECT WITH UNC CHAPEL HILL THAT IS FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. IT HAS A GROWING AFFILIATE NETWORK AND IS FURTHER DEVELOPING ITS NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS. A TOLL-FREE NUMBER THAT IS PERSON-ANSWERED, AND DONATED BY CALL4HEALTH,HELPS TO FACILITATE THIS REACH. NATIONAL PRESENTATIONS,JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA HAVE ALSO HELPED TO RAISE AWARENESS. AACY CONTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLISHED BOOK, "I'M A TEEN CAREGIVER, NOW WHAT?" THE AACY PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER DR. CONNIE SISKOWSKI IS A FORMER TOP TEN CNN HERO AND IS A FACULTY MEMBER OF THE RAISE FAMILY CAREGIVER COUNCIL, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FEDERAL HHS AND ACL WHERE SHE HAS BROUGHT THE VOICES OF THESE CHILDREN TO NATIONAL ATTENTION AND RECOGNITION. IN JUNE OF 2025, ONE OF THE AACY FAMILIES WAS FEATURED IN THE PBS NATIONALLY DISTRIBUTED BRADLEY COOPER INITIALED "CAREGIVING" FILM. THERE WAS ALSO AACY PARTICIPATION WITH MARIA SHRIVER ON THE "TODAY" SHOW. IN SPITE OF INCREASED MEDIA ATTENTION, RAISING AWARENESS AND SUPPORT CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR CHALLANGE.