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When I was younger and money was tight, from time to time we had meat to eat that was not my favorite. It came in a can and was called SPAM. Today, SPAM has a different meaning - those too many emails that we didn't ask for or want.

Thankfully, deleting them is easy! Now, going a step further, apart from email, is there SPAM in your life?

Are there kids or adults with whom you have an unhealthy relationship?

We don't have a people delete button. Instead, we get to make a choice of who we spend our time with. Let's all work on making smart choices!

Greetings, CYP Friends!

This month’s featured activity was Camp Treasure. What an amazing overnight camping experience you guys had. You went fishing, swimming, canoeing and put your skills to the test with archery. You also made smore’s at the bonfire. Yummy 😊!

Sending a huge thank you to Jeff Heinz from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue for facilitating a wealth of knowledge to educate you guys on crucial safety measures both at home and beyond during the Emergency Preparedness Presentation. It was great to see everyone bonding, making new friends, and gaining new experiences on this wonderful trip. 

Keep looking out for upcoming activities! 

If you want to see some pictures of you and your events, visit (and follow!) our Instagram @caregivingyouthproject.

Thank you.

Andreana Holliman, BA

On March 07, 2024, we will be hosting a Seed Sculpture Art Workshop in partnership with Manipura Care Network from 6:30 pm-8 pm, via Zoom. All participants are encouraged to start collecting colorful flower petals, leaves, and organic materials in preparation, and give some thought towards what animals you might want to honor in your sculpture and each participant will receive seed-starting soil, clay, and native Florida wildflower seeds, to mix into a sculptable substrate. Please scan the QR Code for the registration link to sign up, or send me an email. Workshop description is on the registration form. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Andreana at Andreana@aacy.org or ask your family specialist!

School Shout Out - "It has been a pleasure working with Boynton Beach High School this year to assist the CYP students with monthly skills-building groups and recruitment during lunches. Mrs. Cooper-Dunbar has done an exceptional job locating space for our students to learn various educational topics. Mrs. Cooper-Dunbar (Assistant Principal) is supportive, understanding of our agency’s needs, and never hesitates to assist with any barriers faced at Boynton Beach High School. I admire her devotion to helping the CYP. 

In addition, the staff of Ms. Sincoul (Guidance Secretary) and Ms. Jones (Student Service Secretary) have contributed to the support of CYP by having student aides available and calling students prior to lunch for the skills-building group. She assures us that all students are accounted for, for a successful group. Ms. Sincoul continues to educate me on the additional resources available to our students at the school and introduced me to in-house agencies such as TRIO which assist students with FAFSA, college tours, SAT/ACT support. 

The staff at Boynton Beach High School continues to do an exceptional job providing support to CYP and students. The endless efforts show and CYP is very thankful for the staff. We thank you for what you have done and what you continue to do!"

- Richane Etienne, MSW, RCSWI, Assistant Director - North Team

This young caregiver's heartfelt rendition of America the Beautiful truly set the tone for the AACY Hearts and Soles Gala this past weekend. What a stunning performance! Her talent and courage to sing inspired us all.

Would you like to represent Caregiving Youth by telling your story, writing, creating videos, or singing? Contact your family specialist and let them know! We often have opportunities for our students.

As Black History Month comes to a close, a reminder that it was created to focus attention on the contributions of African Americans to the United States. The History Channel has created a really great web page dedicated to Black History Month with some fantastic stories, facts, and videos!

We're here to support you on your caregiving journey. We'll share fun and educational content, inspiring stories from other young caregivers, and reminders that you're not alone. Thank you for all that you do for your family.

This part of the newsletter aims to give you a platform to share your stories and experiences and to raise awareness of the challenges and triumphs of being a caregiver in middle and high school.

You'll hear from Caregiving Youth from all over our CYP programs in Palm Beach County, caring for loved ones with various medical diagnoses and conditions. They will share their insights through writing prompts, creating a space for their voices to be heard.

We hope that you will find these stories inspiring and informative. We also encourage all of you to participate! Keep writing and sharing!

My name is: Kaitlyn N. 

My grade is: 11th grade

I care for my: Myself and my mom

“Kaitlyn, who is 16, struggles with sickle cell anemia, a painful blood illness. She resides with her mother, niece, and siblings, who are (25) and (19) years old. Kaitlyn has been a member of the American Association of Caregiving Youth since 2018. During this time, the family suffered a great loss. The family’s maternal grandmother passed away unexpectedly. The family has stayed close and primarily relied on each other for continued support, which has strengthened the family.

 Kaitlyn has been hospital home-bound due to her illness since 2019 because of her health condition but returned to school her sophomore year. Kaitlyn has managed to excel academically despite her ongoing hospitalizations, surgeries, the inability to attend school in-person, and limited involvement in social activities. AACY has provided services to Kaitlyn including tutoring and counseling services. When she is at her best and her health has improved Kaitlyn attends AACY activities within the community and engages in skills-building groups during lunch. Kaitlyn has been in and out of the hospital because of her sickle cell anemia. Kaitlyn’s mother has had shoulder surgery and in 2018 diagnosed with breast cancer in which for the next 6 years treatment will begin until she is in remission. Currently, she is in treatment every 28 days.

Kaitlyn and her family have learned that remaining positive, giving back, and having “Faith” is all that is needed to continue to live their daily lives, despite all odds. Her mother expressed feelings of pride because of her children’s accomplishments despite the life situations they have endured. She continues to work daily despite her health challenges. “If something happens to me, I just want to make sure my girls will know what to do.” Kaitlyn’s mother expressed doing everything she can to continue to be here for her family."

Kaitlyn, your voice is powerful. It sheds light on young caregiver experiences, inspiring others and giving them strength. Keep shining! You're awesome.

Watch this inspirational WPBF news story from this past year to hear Ali Enlow describing how she helps care for her little sister with cerebral palsy.

“Eva needs extra help showering and I put her to bed. I love caregiving so much… and I love sharing my story,” the 13-year-old seventh-grader at Logger’ Run Middle School said...

Join us and spread the word! To participate in our program, Caregiving Youth Project (CYP) participants must reside in Palm Beach County and can be referred through personal outreach, recommendations from school staff, or other organizations. Our support is provided both at school and in the home.

If you are a Caregiving Youth or know someone who is but they don't live in Palm Beach County, please encourage them to email us at info@aacy.org. We are committed to helping them find resources, no matter where they reside in the United States.