Dear Caregiving Youth Stakeholders and Friends,

As we look toward summer, I am filled with renewed energy and gratitude for the incredible strides being made to bring visibility to Caregiving Youth across the country. This season marks a series of important milestones, from national media features to local breakthroughs, that reflect how far we’ve come in raising awareness and how much more is possible with continued support.

We are honored to share that Caregiving Youth are recognized in the first few lines of the PBS press release for Caregiving, a powerful new two-hour documentary executive produced by Bradley Cooper and airing nationwide on June 24. The film centers on the lived experiences of caregivers of all ages and acknowledges the estimated 5.4 million children and adolescents in the U.S. who are direct caregivers. This level of visibility is unprecedented, and we are honored to serve as a national outreach and engagement partner for this important project.

AACY is proud to be recognized alongside national leaders such as the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Grantmakers In Aging, Milken Institute | Future of Aging, and Caring Across Generations. It is through collaborations like these that we help shape the national conversation and build the momentum needed to create lasting change.

From new peer support groups in Tennessee to national recognition through research, news coverage, and public media, Caregiving Youth are finally being acknowledged for their essential role in their families and our caregiving economy in the United States. These are promising signs of progress, but awareness alone is not enough. Real change will come when recognition leads to action, and action results in meaningful support, including financial.

Thank you for standing with us as we continue this work.

With appreciation,

The American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) is proud to share newly published peer-reviewed research in Health & Place by Leiha Edmonds and Elizabeth Olson, PhD, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Titled “I care for my grandma because she's one of my best friends,” the article draws on three years of collaborative research with AACY, focusing on the everyday lives of Caregiving Youth in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Through creative mapping and in-depth interviews, the study explores the intergenerational care provided by grandchildren, often in the absence of consistent adult support. It offers a powerful and necessary shift in how we understand family caregiving, highlighting Caregiving Youth not just as helpers, but as central figures in the care of aging loved ones.

We thank Leiha and Dr. Olson for their continued partnership and for helping build a foundation of research that aspires to reshape how systems, policies, and communities support Caregiving Youth.

Here is the link to "‘I care for my grandma because she's one of my best friends': Intergenerational caregiving and the everyday geographies of aging in Palm Beach County, Florida": https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353829225000541

We’re proud to share that Dr. Feylyn Lewis, AACY National Advisory Council member and Caregiving Youth Research Collaborative leader, has launched Tennessee’s first peer support group for Caregiving Youth. In collaboration with Vanderbilt University and the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition, this groundbreaking initiative offers teens a safe space to connect with others who share similar responsibilities at home.

At the group’s first event, held at the Nashville School of the Arts, students caring for family members came together to share experiences, build community, and take part in activities designed to promote well-being and connection. This marks a significant step toward statewide support for Caregiving Youth, and we applaud Dr. Lewis and her team for their leadership.

Caregiving Youth Action Day 2025 brought together young caregivers from across the country, including participants from Kesem, Lorenzo’s House, AACY, and more. The event created space for connection, shared experiences, and access to vital resources - all centered on raising awareness and advancing support for Caregiving Youth nationwide.

AACY is proud to lead this effort and extend special thanks to keynote speaker Madeline Grace Asbell for helping elevate the voices and experiences of this often-overlooked population. Moments like these move us closer to lasting recognition and change.

Students from the Caregiving Youth Project recently spent a night and day immersed in nature at the Everglades Youth Conservation Center as part of Camp Treasure - an opportunity to step away from caregiving responsibilities and enjoy time with peers who understand their experiences.

Lourdmia Saint Riel is a devoted granddaughter whose days are shaped by caregiving. From helping her grandmother up the stairs to managing medications, Lourdes takes on adult responsibilities with quiet strength and love, far beyond what’s expected of someone her age.

While she gives so much to care for her grandmother, Lourdes often misses out on experiences that other kids take for granted. The weight of caregiving can be isolating, and it’s hard to find time or space to simply be a teenager.

That changed when Lourdes connected with the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY). Through AACY’s Caregiving Youth Project, she found more than just services - she found people who understood, mentors who listened, and a program built just for her.

AACY provided Lourdes with consistent support and a variety of activities designed to ease the burden and open up new possibilities. Through workshops, events, and one-on-one mentorship, she had a roadmap to grow not only as a caregiver but as a young person with her own path.

From canoeing and camping to heart-to-heart conversations with new friends, Lourdes began to rediscover joy and confidence. AACY helped her create memories beyond caregiving, experiences that remind her she’s not alone and that her well-being matters too.

Today, Lourdes continues to care for her grandmother with the same dedication, but now she’s supported, empowered, and thriving. With AACY by her side and through the generosity of stakeholders like you, she’s learning to balance her caregiving with personal growth and the freedom to imagine a brighter future.

Watch Lourdes's Caregiving Story Here!

This event is by invitation only for graduating High School Seniors in the Caregiving Youth Project and their families!

To sponsor or volunteer for this event, please contact:

Andreana Holliman, BA, Activities Manager

You Can Make a Difference!

| Here Are a Few Ways You Can Support Caregiving Youth!

• Commit to a Monthly Donation
• Attend a Fundraising Event (Locally)
• Become a Business/Corporate Sponsor
• Donate to honor a loved one and put their name on the American Association of Caregiving Youth Wall of Recognition - great present!
• Speaking Engagements – connect the AACY team to local or national events where we can educate audiences on Caregiving Youth.
• Volunteer to support our students and programs
• Follow us on social media – like, share, and comment on AACY's LinkedIn, Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram posts.
• Shop AACY Gear

Vision of AACY – 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.

Mission of AACY – 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.

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.