Read on for our roundup of five organizations leading the way for youth in caregiving.
It’s fall, y’all!
For me, fall always feels like the start of a new year. Whether or not you are a student or have kids, back-to-school time and cooler days signals a chance at a fresh start and new opportunities. I do have kids, and they are so excited to start school and tackle the year ahead.
If you are a professional caregiver or are caring for a loved one yourself, you are probably not surprised to hear that, according to the AARP and American Association of Caregiving Youth, an estimated 5.4 million children under the age of 18 are caregivers in some capacity for loved ones who are sick or disabled.
But the number of youth in caregiving — most common in Asian, Latino and Black American families — is actually growing, as more people struggle to afford professional in-home care, experts say. The Today Show recently featured this fact of modern American life in an episode about youth in caregiving that you can watch here.
This month, in honor and support of these selfless youth in caregiving as they begin another promising school year, we at SimpliHere are highlighting several excellent organizations that engage youth in caregiving and research and support them in their roles as caregivers. We hope you’ll check out their work and get involved if a child caregiver in your life could benefit.
Kids’ Quest to Cure ALS: Kids’ Quest is a group of kids and teenagers from the U.S. and Canada who are working to show the world that ALS must be cured. Kids’ Quest holds fundraising events across North America and throughout the calendar year to raise critical funds to support research funded through ALS TDI, a 501c3 nonprofit organization focused on advancing and accelerating ALS research. Kids; Quest members can set up a fundraising event or game in their own home town and receive advice and support to maximize impact, giving kids an opportunity to feel empowered when facing a loved ones’ ALS diagnosis.
Hope Loves Company: Hope Loves Company is one of SimpliHere’s favorite peer organizations – in fact, we posted about this organization three years ago! Hope Loves Company is the only national nonprofit organization serving children impacted by ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Their programs provide no-cost support, resources, and care for children ages 6-25, including family camp retreats, virtual hangouts led by mental health experts, and age-specific education to support children through their grief, loss, caregiving, and mental health journeys. Hope Loves Company offers a range of programs and services and has years of experience equipping kids with healthy coping techniques, lasting connections, and a community that is hopeful.
Supporting Child Caregivers: Supporting Child Caregivers is a non-profit organization based in the United States but dedicated to providing support to child caregivers — parents and others — in various settings around the world. The organization’s mission is based in the growing evidence that the well-being of families and communities begins in community members’ infancy, that infants may be protected from stress in the environment by good caregiving, and that this is the foundation of a healthy society.
With partnerships in communities in developing and first-world countries globally, Supporting Child Caregivers is not only contributing significantly to research and to establishing improved standards for clinician training, they are making an impact locally by offering free training and educational services via periodic visits and video conferencing.
Lorenzo’s House: This nonprofit organization is dedicated to empowering young people and their families who are living with younger-onset dementia (dementia developed before the age of 65) through an array of holistic supports. Lorenzo’s House aims to shift the narrative from isolation to connection, stigma to strength and darkness to light, and transform the quality of care available to families living with younger-onset dementia. They offer an innovative day academy, carepartner match platform, healing & respite series, and youth summit.
American Association for Caregiving Youth (AACY): AACY is the only organization in the United States dedicated solely to addressing Caregiving Youth issues. The organization champions, supports, and celebrates the hidden population of 5.4 million young people who care for chronically ill, injured, elderly, or disabled family members.
Their Caregiving Youth Program has served thousands of children who are caregivers to tailor an individualized resource and support plan that meets their needs and supports them so they can be successful, and that adapts throughout the years of their participation. Those who wish to engage with AACY may donate to provide financial support for their programs, apply to participate in their programs, or serve as volunteers for youth caregivers, offering rides, help with errands, serving as mentors and tutors.
We hope you are able to feel energized and reinvigorated this fall to tackle the year ahead, and that all caregivers, of all ages and stages, know that they are not alone. Caregivers, at SimpliHere, we see you, we hear you, and our mission is to support you! We send our best wishes for a wonderful fall and a successful and enjoyable year ahead.
