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Dear CYP Students,

This is a special time of year for our CYP family!

To our graduating seniors, CONGRATULATIONS! We are all so proud of you. Graduation is a big step, and I know many of you reached it while also helping at home and caring for someone you love... taking care of yourself every day is also important.

To our 8th graders getting ready for high school, we are cheering you on, too. Moving to a new school can feel exciting and a little scary, but you are not doing it alone.

As summer begins, please remember that taking care of yourself is important, too. Rest when you can. Talk to someone you trust. Ask your Family Specialist or another CYP team member for help when things feel heavy.

Plus, take time for fun at our summer events! We can’t wait to see you!

Your CYP family is here for you.

With care,

Dr. Connie

Greetings, CYP Friends!

We recently celebrated our CYP high school seniors at this year’s Graduation Celebration. Students, families, staff, board members, volunteers, donors, and friends of AACY gathered to recognize the Class of 2026 and everything they have done to reach graduation.

For many Caregiving Youth, getting through high school means balancing schoolwork, family responsibilities, activities, and life at home. We are proud of our graduates and grateful to everyone who helped make the celebration a meaningful day for them and their families.

We also have more summer activities coming up!

On Wednesday, June 3rd members of the south team will participate in Dream It, Be It - a time of fun painting and learning, sponsored by Soroptimist International of Boca Raton/Deerfield Beach.

Then on Thursday, June 4, our north team will visit Rescue Life Sanctuary - in Palm Beach Gardens. It is a place of safety, care, and comfort for a wide variety of rescued animal friends. 

Summer Camp Treasure will be held at FAU on Wednesday, June 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We are looking forward to a full day of fun, friendship, and time together.

MCN Art Week is also coming up, with visits planned for Friday, June 26 at the Norton Museum, Monday, June 29 at the Pérez Museum, and Wednesday, July 1 at Fairchild Botanical Garden or Bakehouse. Activities will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

We will also have Family Picnic Day at John Prince Park on Wednesday, July 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Don’t forget to sign up for the activities you would like to attend. If you have any questions, please contact your Family Specialist.

We are looking forward to seeing you this summer!

Here are a few of our 2026 Caregiving Youth Project graduates, pictured at this year’s Graduation Celebration!

Our graduates received certificates and gift cards, spun a wheel to win prizes, took photos, and celebrated with their families, friends, the AACY team, and supporters.

Music, a photo video featuring the graduates, and a map with each graduate’s picture helped make the evening feel especially meaningful. Guests also heard from a CYP alumna, AACY’s Director of Youth Services, and Jose, one of this year’s graduates.

The decorations, food, desserts, and candy station added to the fun at Palm Beach State College.

Congratulations again to all of our CYP graduates. We are proud of you!

Photos include some of this year’s graduates. Not all graduates are pictured. Want to see more from the celebration? Visit AACY’s Facebook page for more photos from the evening.

Congratulations to an 8th-grade student at Congress Middle School and a member of AACY’s Caregiving Youth Project. She earned first place in AACY’s new Stress Buster Contest.

The contest gave 8th-grade CYP students a chance to share creative ways to handle stress as they get ready for high school. Entries included poems, writings, and drawings, and were reviewed by an independent panel.

Her winning poem, “The Test That Felt Like a Mountain,” describes feeling overwhelmed, taking a breath, and breaking a hard moment into smaller steps.

We are proud of her writing, effort, and well-earned first place.

We are also sharing one of the other creative entries from the contest, a drawing about new beginnings and a clean start.

Thank you to Congress Middle School, Principal Dr. Standish, Ms. Smith, the school team, and AACY Family Specialist Mary for supporting and recognizing our Caregiving Youth.

We're here to support you on your caregiving journey. We'll share fun and educational content, inspiring stories from caregivers who are students or people around the world who are trying to help, and reminders that you're not alone. Thank you for all that you do for your family.

This month, we are proud to feature C.W., a CYP student who helps care for others while also facing serious challenges of her own.

"This May, we are proud to highlight C.W., an incredibly resilient student who consistently shows up for others while overcoming immense personal obstacles. C.W. is a dedicated caregiver for her grandmother (who suffered a stroke and has mobility issues) and her mother, who is recovering from recent surgery and experiencing memory challenges. In addition to caring for her mother, grandmother, and younger siblings, C.W. recently experienced a period of homelessness and displacement.

Despite these heavy burdens, C.W. remains a bright presence in our groups and enjoys spending lunch time with her friends. While this housing instability led to some past absences and academic struggles, C.W.'s determination has never wavered. She has proactively reached out for academic support, worked closely with her teachers to make up missed assignments, and relies on her family for moral support.

We are so proud of C.W.'s perseverance and are honored that the CYP program can support her and her family through this journey." - Richane Etienne, MSW, CYP Family Specialist, North Assistant Director

To other young students who are also caregivers out there: your story matters. What you do every day may not always be seen, but it is important.

"I am thrilled to nominate Palm Beach Gardens Community High School, proud home of the Gators, for a well-deserved shout-out! The incredible dedication of their staff has made a profound difference in the lives of our Caregiving Youth this 25-26 school year.

🔸 Assistant Principal Ms. C. Brown: The Definition of Action & Support

Ms. Brown provides an exceptional level of consistent, reliable support. 

• Prompt Communication: Answers monthly emails without delay.

• Consistent Spaces: Secures a reliable room for student skills-building groups.

• Adaptable Leadership: Swiftly adjusts plans when last-minute situations arise so students never miss out.

• Advocate and Leader: Known by the student body as the ultimate "go-to" leader for teamwork and support.

🔸 Ms. J. Brown (Student Services): Efficiency with a Smile

Ms. J. Brown is a powerhouse of positivity in Student Services.

• Swift Execution: Tackles day-to-day tasks quickly and efficiently when calling students for groups.

• Positive Energy: Brings an uplifting attitude to every challenge, ensuring operations run smoothly and all students are met with. 

🔸 A Village of Support

A special thank you to the rest of the wonderful Gator staff who seamlessly assist along the way:



• The Front Desk Receptionist: For stepping in right away when last-minute help is needed.

• The Guidance Secretaries: For meticulously organizing and distributing student certificates and log forms to guidance staff to record. 

• Mr. Skip: For enthusiastically encouraging students to visit and engage with me at the lunch and learn table.

• The Custodial Team: For always ensuring chairs and tables are ready and set-up for our monthly lunch and learns.

Your collective dedication to supporting our Caregiving Youth is deeply felt and truly appreciated.

Thank you, Palm Beach Gardens Community High School, for your unwavering partnership and heart!" - Richane Etienne, MSW, CYP Family Specialist, North Assistant Director

Congratulations to Pranay Gadikota, a senior at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Florida. Pranay was named a 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholar Semifinalist.

Pranay is also a Caregiving Youth Advocate. During high school, he helped care for his great-grandmother during a serious illness. He has used that experience to speak up for other young people who care for family members.

Pranay has been connected to AACY’s work and spoke at the Caregiving Youth Institute Conference. He also wrote about why doctors should ask kids and teens if they help care for someone at home.

We are sharing this because Pranay’s story is a reminder that Caregiving Youth have important voices. Your experiences, your hard work, and your stories can help others understand what Caregiving Youth need.

AACY congratulates Pranay and thanks him for speaking up for Caregiving Youth.

Read the full article here:

https://www.alachuaschools.net/article/2905380

CYP students, this is good news for Caregiving Youth who may apply to college.

The Common App is an online application many students use to apply to colleges.

Beginning August 1, 2026, the Common App will use the word “caregiving” in one of its questions about challenges and life experiences.

This means students who help care for someone at home may have a clearer way to share that part of their life when applying to college.

AACY reached out last year to suggest this change, and Common App let us know the update was made.

Caregiving can build responsibility, empathy, confidence, and strength. It can also affect time, grades, attendance, activities, and work.

If you are applying to college this year and want help explaining your caregiving experience, please contact your Family Specialist. AACY can help you share your story in a clear and honest way.

A national Caregiving Youth Virtual Connection Call is planned for:

Thursday, November 12, 2026

6:00–7:30 PM Eastern

This call will bring Caregiving Youth together from across the U.S. to connect, share, and be part of a larger conversation.

CYP students may have opportunities to help lead this event. Please contact your Family Specialist if you would like to be considered.

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.

988 Crisis Hotline

We at AACY believe that prioritizing mental health is a year-round endeavor. When you're having a difficult time, it's important to seek help. Thankfully, there is a new phone resource available no matter where you are in the US!: Just dial the 9-8-8 hotline.

This hotline is available 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Don't suffer in silence - get help and keep hope alive.