Miscellaneous Articles

America's Promise Alliance

Partner spotlight: caregiving youth -- the silent part of the 'Silent Epidemic'

In the United States, there are over 1.3 million youth ages 8 - 18 who are family caregivers to disabled, ill or aging relatives. Youth caregivers administer medications, assist with mobility and manage household chores. Some provide personal care such as bathing or helping a loved one to the bathroom. Often overlooked, these children and teens are exhausted, stressed and falling through the cracks. Youth caregivers have high absentee rates and find it difficult to concentrate when they are in school. The American Association of Caregiving Youth recognizes and supports children who are responsible for the care of their ill, injured, elderly or disabled family members. Read more.

Balancing Hip Hop and Caregiving- A Young Carer Raps His Story

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We are very pleased to announce the launch of The CareGiverProject YouTube channel featuring an amazing performance by critically acclaimed rap artist, Tricky P. 'Lucky' The Young Carer Rap video highlights the important research conducted by the Vanier Institute of the Family on Young Carers.

When we think of people providing care to adults and seniors, we tend to picture an older family member. Yet researchers have found that approximately 12% of young Canadians aged 12-17 are 'young carers'. These children are caring for a family member who has an illness, a disability, or is affected by mental ill-health or substance misuse. Carers don't choose to become carers: it just happens and they have to get on with it; if they did not do it, who would and what would happen to the person they care for?

Young carers often take on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities that would normally be expected of an adult. Children as young as six years of age are assisting parents, siblings and grandparents in ways that exceed what is typically expected.

The research and video is intended to bring awareness of young carers to other youth, organizations, companies and individuals alike who can acknowledge, appreciate and support their unrecognized contribution and challenges. By heightening public awareness, it is hoped that in addition to recognition, additional funding, support and resources will be made available to young carers from coast to coast.

This engaging and heartfelt rap video is produced by Audrey Miller
Sid Lieberman and J. Frank. Lyrics and performance by Tricky P. and original music composed and produced by J. Frank.
Watch, share and tweet your support!

The CareGiverProject is a web-based public education initiative committed to increasing awareness of aging, family and caregiver issues that impact the lives of Canadians from coast to coast. The Project focus is on the development of social media tools and videos for YouTube that provide support and education to individuals, families, carers and their care recipients and to organizations doing work in this field. To learn more about the Project or to partner in the production of a video, contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Doyle Award for Non-Profit Excellence Spotlights AACY

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The Doyle Award for Nonprofit Excellence, established byThe Dennis M. and Lois A. Doyle Family Foundation in partnership with Sun Sentinel Charities, spotlights local nonprofits and the people behind them that make South Florida a great place to live. The award, which includes a $1,000 donation, will be given to one nonprofit in Broward County and one in Palm Beach County each month through December, 2012. The January 2012 Palm Beach County award went to AACY

You may download and read the press article here

Shining a Light on Young Caregivers

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The American Society on Aging published the following article3 about the American Association of Caregiving Youth:

America's Only Youth Caregiving Group
Illumines a Silent Epidemic

By ASA Staff

It wasn’t until a therapist asked Connie Siskowski about her experience as a young caregiver to her beloved grandfather—if she thought it was normal thing for a kid to do—that Siskowski realized it wasn’t.

Early one morning, when she went to give her grandfather his medication, she found his lifeless body. Siskowski was only 13 years old.

She recalls that night like it was yesterday. Back then there was no recognition of a child’s grief, or of the caregiving role, so it has become Siskowski’s calling as president and founder of the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) to help young caregivers. Her group, founded in 1998, evolved into the first and only program that identifies and supports caregiving youth in the United States.

Read the rest of the article here.

Miscellaneous Articles

America's Promise Alliance

Balancing Hip Hop and Caregiving- A Young Carer Raps His Story

Doyle Award for Non-Profit Excellence Spotlights AACY

Shining a Light on Young Caregivers

By ASA Staff

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