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Spring is in the air, and this school year is in its final weeks!

If you are just on the edge of a good grade, take a deep breath, call on your growing inner strength, and reach your grade goals!

There is something special about each of you; you have unique qualities that your non-caregiving peers don't have; you may not even realize it today - but tomorrow you will!

Know we are here for you with caring support to get you to the finish line! 

We know you can!!!

Greetings, CYP Friends!

This month featured so many wonderful activities. We had some great times together online and in person! From all the arcade games at Fun Depot to creating beautiful seed sculptures and art workshops! We had so much fun taking a break from school and caregiving responsibilities. Special thanks to the Manipura Care Network team and artist!

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

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR CAREGIVING YOUTH ACTION DAY!

On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, we will have a virtual activity led by the Virtual Master Academy from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Virtual Magic Academy empowers children to master their own wizard skills through magic tricks they can easily perform with simple objects from home. Led by Max Darwin (aka The Amazing Max), this is a live experience with lots of fun, jokes, and audience interaction. Previous magic experience is not required.

Please register below to sign up. To participate in the show, you'll need a pencil, two quarters, two nickels, two pennies, a dollar bill, and a deck of cards. 

Register HERE: https://forms.gle/fxRZWZxoXmKcxXSq6

EXCITING FACTS ABOUT MAX! He first appeared on stage before he could walk! He loves theater, magic, and ninjas. His stage show, The Amazing Max, has been playing in NYC Off-Broadway and touring across the country since 2011. He can be seen as a featured artist on Seasons 3 and 4 of Brain Games (National Geographic Channel) and as a magic consultant for Gotham (Fox) and American’s Got Talent (NBC).

As an actor TV credits include “FBI”, “Sneaky Pete”, “Girls”, “Blindspot”, “Black Box”, and hosting the hit Nickelodeon show “Game Farm”. He has also appeared in various national TV commercials such as T-Mobile with DJ Khaled, Axe Body Spray, Verizon, Bank of America, and Coca-Cola.

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: Armando 

My grade is: 9th grade

I care for my: Mom

“My name is Armando, I’m a 9th grader. I help to take care of my mom, who has multiple health issues.

Four years ago, I came to the US to reunite with my mother and brother after several years of living in different countries. My mother came to this country to provide my brother and myself a better life and the possibility to pursue a career, for this reason, I would like to become an Attorney and a cook.

I will become the first person in my family to obtain a degree with honors. CYP has helped me in so many ways as tutoring to keep up with my grades, they found a great mentor for me and my brother. We are learning so many new things and sharing great memories with our mentor. He is always providing us with new adventures, and I really like our conversations.

I never miss Skills Building Groups! Once a month, I have a space to unwind, learn more about myself and others, and how to become a better version of myself. I love to participate in the different activities the CYP offers, and I want to become a volunteer of the program in the future.

I’m so grateful to have the support of all the staff at AACY and especially Mrs. Marisol who is always encouraging me to dream bigger, and she made it possible for me to receive a scholarship for college."

Thank you for sharing your story Armando. You are an inspiration to all of us! Keep doing great things!

Did you know that this month, the UK celebrated Young Carers Action Day? It was pretty awesome to see so many middle and high schoolers across the ocean standing up for themselves and other young caregivers!

Their theme this year was "Fair Futures for Young Carers," which totally resonates with us in the Caregiving Youth Project, right? We all deserve a chance to chase our dreams, not just get by.

While we're happy to see progress in the UK, young caregivers often get overlooked here in the States. That's where AACY, especially the Caregiving Youth Project YOU'RE a part of, comes in! We're the only organization solely focused on supporting young caregivers in schools.

But guess what? One program just isn't enough!

Young Carers Action Day in the UK showed us what can happen when everyone works together. Schools, politicians, and tons of organizations all came together in the United Kingdom to raise awareness and create laws that help young caregivers reach their full potential. It's pretty amazing, right? The good news is that we have our own Caregiving Youth Action Day, dedicated to kids like you who are caregiving in the United States.

What can you do to help people understand you and help other Caregiving Youth who might not have support from a program like CYP?

• Attend Caregiving Youth Action Day on THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024, via Zoom!
• Talk to your teachers or counselors about this issue. They might not even know how many young caregivers are in their school!
• Brainstorm ways to raise awareness with your class. You could make posters, write a school newspaper article, or even organize a small event!
• Write letters to local representatives. Tell them how important it is to support young caregivers and ask them to create programs that can help.



Remember, your voice matters! 

"AACY wanted to take a moment to express appreciation for the support and help received from Principal Mrs. Lee, Mr. Rudnick 6th grade guidance counselor, Ms. Karl 7th grade counselor, Ms. Herrera front desk secretary, Ms. Torres ESOL guidance counselor, and the entire staff at Boca Raton Middle School.

Their contribution and valuable time to the Caregiving Youth Project showed the school’s commitment to the well-being of every student and their families at Boca Raton Middle School.

The support they have made by helping with schedules, students’ referrals, providing a place to meet with students, and sharing the importance of caregivers’ responsibilities with teachers and staff have really made a difference in the students and program.

AACY sincerely appreciates the entire Boca Raton Middle staff’s role in our program's success and hopes they keep up the good work!

We are truly grateful for your support and Teamwork!" - Marisol Goffman, MSW, Assistant Director/South Team

AACY was thrilled to participate in the Spirit of Giving 'Community Spirit' Race this past month! The event was well-attended and a huge success!

We had a vendor table where we connected with the community and shared information about our programs. It was especially heartwarming to see one of our CYP participants, Fredy, stop by to say hello!

Fredy standing next to Amoy at the AACY vendor table.

Fredy and his younger brother, Alan, have been part of our program for over two years and have received various forms of support, including mentoring, tutoring, care management, and more.

Seeing them thrive is what motivates us to keep going!

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.