How Educators Can Assist Caregiving Youth

• Raise awareness of issues facing caregiving youth
• Be a resource for concerned parents & grandparents struggling with the effects of family health situations on their children’s education
• Refer concerns about caregiving youth to your school nurse, social worker, or guidance counselor
• Support school nursing and counseling staff in identifying student caregivers
• When possible, connect caregiving youth with each other among peers
• Foster relationships with community support services for student caregivers
• Participate in the development of support materials for AACY and disease specific organizations that assist them with their needs
• Provide feedback to AACY about your experiences and what you are finding helpful in support of student-caregivers at your school
• Support National Family Caregivers Month activities in November
• Encourage students to request help via email or telephone
• Advocate for young caregivers in educational and professional groups
• Take a proactive role - contact us about developing a Caregiving Youth Project within your school district to further the objectives of:
• Education & Awareness
• Research
• Direct Services
• Refer students to Internet resources
• www.aacy.org (American Association of Caregiving Youth)
• www.youngcarers.net (in the U.K.)
• www.carersuk.org/Policyandpractice/Research/yceduc.pdf (Young Carers & Education – U.K.)
• www.carersaustralia.com.au/documents/young_carersfinal_report.pdf (Young Carers in Australia)
• http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Keep%20S%27myelin.asp (for children with a family member with M.S.)