2025 Recent Highlights and Impact | | |
Dear Friends,
Since our last stakeholder newsletter, I’ve been reminded once again of how extraordinary this community is. Palm Beach County continues to be the place where the story of supporting Caregiving Youth begins and where the nation looks for what’s possible. The American Association of Caregiving Youth has become the leading organization that others across the country turn to for guidance, including journalists, podcasters, researchers, and advocates who have featured our work and visited our school-based model to learn from it.
Because of your support, Caregiving Youth here are not only seen and supported locally, but their voices are shaping awareness and advocacy far beyond Florida. Our reach continues to grow through features on PBS, national discussions at Johns Hopkins, inclusion in major nursing textbooks, and participation in Caregiving documentary screenings in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and at the United Nations in New York City. These moments show that what started here is influencing how the nation understands the more than six million children and teens who care for family members.
Through the Caregiving Youth Institute, we are expanding that vision with our C.A.R.E. framework: Connection, Advocacy, Research, and Education. The lessons learned from our Caregiving Youth Project are now informing national efforts to help more students who are caregivers be recognized and supported, rather than remain invisible and alone.
This year, the need has grown faster than our resources, and we are at a pivotal moment. Every program we run, every home visit, every workshop, respite care, and activities for students and their families depend on the generosity of people like you. Like many nonprofits, we are facing real financial challenges, and your support right now will help us sustain this vital work and the team that makes it possible. With more resources, we could reach more families, strengthen programs, and do even more good both in Palm Beach County and across the country.
If you care, if you have supported us or stood by our side for months or decades, now is the time to give. Your contribution, no matter the size, makes a direct difference for a child who is caring for a loved one at home while trying to succeed in school and life.
Thank you for believing in this mission, for standing beside us, and for helping create a future where Caregiving Youth are not forgotten but valued, supported, and given every chance to thrive.
With deep appreciation,
Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD
Founder and President
American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY)
P.S. Please join us at the Caregiving Youth Institute Conference on November 13, 2025, at the Safe Schools Institute in Boca Raton. More information is available below - we hope to see you there!
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| | Medicaid Cuts Could Push More Kids into Unpaid Family Caregiving Roles | |
CBS News and KFF Health News | AACY contributed to coverage by Leah Fabel on how proposed Medicaid cuts could increase the burden on more than 6 million young caregivers in the United States.
The story explained how reductions in home care support could shift even more responsibility to children and teens, affecting their education and health.
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| | Caregiving Youth Advocate Neo Recognized for His Leadership and Storytelling | |
Rimbatara Neomardhika (Neo) first gained national attention for his seven-part video journal, created in response to AACY and Well Beings’ call for Caregiving Youth stories. His honest and creative storytelling captured the realities of caring for his father following a stroke and gave voice to the experiences of more than 6 million Caregiving Youth across the United States.
Neo later represented AACY at the United Nations screening of the WETA/PBS documentary Caregiving, where he received an official UN pin for his leadership. He has since been nominated by Maria Miranda, LMSW, member of AACY’s National Advisory Council, for the 2025 Leon David Simmons Caregivers Award.
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| | Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Highlighted Caregiving Youth and Dr. Connie Siskowski | |
The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing featured Dr. Connie Siskowski in Shining a Light on Caregiving Youth, a national discussion about caregiving, youth, and health equity.
Panelists from the Centers for Equity in Aging and Child & Youth Health joined Dr. Siskowski in exploring research and policy gaps. AACY youth ambassador Charlie Poole attended and was invited extemporaneously from the audience to participate in the panel and share his lived experience, representing the more than six million Caregiving Youth across the country.
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| | AACY Participated in National PBS Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion in Washington, D.C. | |
The American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) participated in a special screening and panel discussion of Caregiving, a PBS documentary exploring caregiving in America. The event at The George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium was moderated by Judy Woodruff.
AACY Founder Dr. Connie Siskowski and Jacob, a student in AACY’s Caregiving Youth Project featured in the film, represented the experiences of children and teens who care for family members. Other panelists included Chris Durrance, Josh Carter, and Dr. Christina Prather.
AACY served as a national outreach and engagement partner. Research from the Caregiving Youth Research Collaborative was cited in the film’s press materials. Caregiving premiered on PBS on June 24 and is available for streaming on PBS platforms.
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| | AACY and Advocates Charlie and A.J. Poole Featured in National Outreach for PBS Documentary Caregiving | |
AACY and youth advocates Charlie and A.J. Poole were featured by Well Beings, a PBS/WETA initiative, in the national outreach campaign for the documentary Caregiving, executive-produced by Bradley Cooper.
The Poole brothers’ story of caring for their grandmother with Alzheimer’s continues to inspire national conversations about youth caregiving. Their advocacy and volunteer work with AACY help expand representation for students who are also caregivers nationwide. Jacob, a student in the Caregiving Youth Project (CYP), was also featured in the film itself.
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| | Australian Churchill Fellow Spotlighted U.S. Caregiving Youth Gaps and Grassroots Innovation | |
As part of her Churchill Fellowship, Madeleine Buchner OAM, Founder of Little Dreamers in Australia, published Caring Without a Roadmap, reflecting on her U.S. study tour. Her visit to AACY in Palm Beach County showcased how Florida leads the nation in supporting Caregiving Youth without a national policy framework.
Buchner highlighted AACY’s school-based model and community impact as examples of how grassroots innovation can fill national policy gaps. Her reflection calls for combining top-down policy with local action, noting: “The burden of care should never cost a child their future.”
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| | AACY Featured in National Article on Sibling Caregivers | |
AACY was featured in the American Academy of Neurology's Brain & Life magazine’s article “Sibling Caregivers Are Supporting Brothers and Sisters Through Chronic Conditions,” alongside Boston Children’s Hospital and the Sibling Leadership Network.
The piece included insights from AACY Founder Dr. Connie Siskowski and Family Specialist, CYP Director, Amoy Gordon, LCSW, highlighting the challenges and strengths of sibling caregiving.
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| | AACY Represented at Los Angeles Screening of PBS Documentary | |
Emmy-winning producer and AACY National Advisory Council member Dale Bell represented AACY at the Los Angeles screening and panel of Caregiving at Wallis Annenberg GenSpace.
Bell, who produced And Thou Shalt Honor in 2002, helped spotlight Jacob’s story and the millions of youth caregivers whose experiences often go untold.
| | | | Florida Poison Control Expert Teaches Caregiving Youth Lifesaving Medication Skills | | |
Accidental overdose. Medication mix-up. Allergic reaction. For many Caregiving Youth, these are not abstract risks; they are real possibilities that can happen at home, often when an adult needs help the most.
As AACY Founder Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD, shared when she was named a Top Ten CNN Hero: “We are not saying that kids should be doing this, but they are. I hope this recognition will help people understand that the kids are a part of the health care delivery system and that they should be recognized.”
Recently, Dr. Wendy Stephan from Florida’s Poison Control Centers led an interactive session with students during an AACY respite activity focused on medication management and emergency response. She shared practical safety tips and strategies for what to do if a medication is taken incorrectly or causes an unexpected reaction.
For youth who often help parents or grandparents with medications, knowing how to track dosages, handle multiple prescriptions, and recognize signs of distress can make all the difference.
Dr. Stephan, PhD, MPH, is a public health educator and epidemiologist with Florida’s Poison Control Centers and serves on the Board of Directors of America’s Poison Centers.
| | Caregiving Youth Path to College Workshop: Preparing for the Future with Purpose | | |
Caregiving Youth Project students recently participated in a college preparation workshop hosted by Path to College. The session was designed to help students who provide care at home take an important step toward continuing their education.
For many Caregiving Youth, preparing for college comes with additional challenges. They often manage family responsibilities, assist with medical care, or provide daily support to parents, grandparents, or siblings while balancing schoolwork. Path to College helped students learn about financial aid, scholarship opportunities, time management, and how to communicate their caregiving role in applications and interviews.
The workshop offered practical information and emotional encouragement, helping students understand that their caregiving experience builds strengths such as empathy, resilience, and problem-solving that colleges value.
AACY is deeply grateful to Path to College for partnering with us to ensure that Caregiving Youth have access to the tools, guidance, and confidence they need to pursue higher education and achieve their goals.
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This event brings together educators, healthcare professionals, social workers, policymakers, researchers, advocates, and community leaders from Florida and across the U.S.
Participants will explore new research, discuss policy solutions, and share practical strategies to strengthen support for Caregiving Youth.
WHERE:
Safe Schools Institute
1790 Spanish River Blvd
Boca Raton, FL 33431
WHEN:
Thursday, November 13, 2025
8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE:
General Admission:
$50 (includes breakfast and lunch)
School District Employees and University/College Students Admission:
$35 with a valid school or district ID (shown at registration)
| | Celebrate National Family Caregivers Month with us this November! Within your circles, please take a moment to acknowledge all family caregivers, especially Caregiving Youth! National Family Caregivers Month Toolkit - COMING SOON! | | |
Mission: We champion youth who provide care for chronically ill, injured, elderly, and/or disabled family members. We support their role as caregiver and guide their success in school and life.
Vision: We envision a nation in which there is understanding, appreciation, and celebration of the lives of Caregiving Youth on their individual path to life’s dreams and opportunities.
| | | Here Are a Few Ways You Can Support AACY! | |
- Commit to a Monthly Donation
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Attend a Local Fundraising Event
- Become a Business/Corporate Sponsor
- Become an Affiliate
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Donate in honor of a loved one and add their name to the American Association of Caregiving Youth Wall of Recognition—makes a great gift!
- Connect AACY to local or national events for Speaking Engagements to educate about Caregiving Youth
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Volunteer to support our students and programs
- Follow, like, share, and comment on AACY's LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram
- Shop AACY Gear
- Write your Representative to advocate for legislation recognizing Caregiving Youth
| | Many Thanks to Our Partners: | | |
The American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) is a Florida 501 (c) (3) corporation.
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION (#CH12431) AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR AT WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
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