American Association of Caregiving Youth

09/07/2026

Sometimes support looks like a night at the ballpark. ⚾

Caregiving Youth Project students and mentors took in a Miami Marlins game together this summer.

You may recognize Leo from The Wall Street Journal’s story about AACY and Caregiving Youth. Here, though, he was just one of the kids enjoying baseball, friends, mentors, and a break from responsibilities at home.

As a new school year begins, mentoring and activities like this are one part of how CYP supports Caregiving Youth beyond the school day.

The School District of Palm Beach County |

09/05/2026

"I learned about the American Association of Caregiving Youth when I was speaking in Chicago in 2012 and saw Connie Siskowski receive the CNN Hero award. I immediately reached out to thank her for bringing awareness and support to caregiving children. Fast forward, this picture took place in CA two weeks ago when two members of the AACY Advisory team met for the first time- myself and Dale Bell.

Dale is a producer, writer, and advocate. We’ve been working together for more than a decade at AACY, and when he invited me to brainstorm with him about a new documentary and watch his movie uncut, I thought, “Why Not?” His saying is, “You never know!” and that is precisely why I started writing as soon as I got home!

I’m grateful for AACY, Dale, opportunities that come along, and the truth that we truly never know! " - Jodi O'Donnell-Ames

Jodi O’Donnell-Ames, founder of Hope Loves Company, Inc., and filmmaker Dale Bell are both longtime members of AACY’s National Advisory Council. Dale began his career with Woodstock and went on to produce And Thou Shalt Honor, a landmark caregiving documentary that was among the first to recognize children in caregiving roles.

09/04/2026

AACY CAREGIVING YOUTH CHAMPIONS’ BRUNCH
Celebrating 20 Years of the Caregiving Youth Project
and the People Who Made It Possible

🎟️ Tickets are now available!
For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit:
https://aacy.ejoinme.org/20thAnniversary

📅 Sunday, November 1, 2026
📍 Broken Sound Club

11:30 AM Reception
12:00 PM Program

Join us as we kick off National Family Caregivers Month with a very special celebration. 💙

For 20 years, the vision of our founding supporters and the generosity of our community have made it possible for AACY’s Caregiving Youth Project to provide direct support to thousands of Caregiving Youth and their families.

Now we celebrate the champions who made that impact possible and help sustain the Caregiving Youth Project for the next generation.

09/01/2026

The August 2026 issue of AACY’s Treasure Talk is here.

A new school year is underway, and the Caregiving Youth Project is back in schools across Palm Beach County. This month’s issue looks at the start of the school year, some final summer fun, and a month that brought significant national attention to Caregiving Youth.

Inside this issue:

• Back-to-school support and tips for CYP students, plus a school spotlight on Tradewinds Middle School

• Final summer activities, including Urban Air and a Miami Marlins outing for CYP mentors and mentees

• Caregiving Youth featured nationally in The New York Times Magazine and the Los Angeles Times

• Details about the national Caregiving Youth Virtual Connection Call on November 12

This year marks 20 years of the Caregiving Youth Project serving students and families in Palm Beach County. As another school year begins, we are grateful to the donors, volunteers, mentors, partners, schools, staff, and friends who make this work possible.

Please read, share, get involved, or make a gift to support Caregiving Youth and their families.

Read the August issue: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Caregiving-Youth-Newsletter---Treasure-Talk---August-2026.html?soid=1102063729804&aid=PnfPIkDfWq8

09/01/2026

Years ago I visited this beautiful island where Caregiving Youth are now being recognized for their work and need of support!

  WILLEMSTAD – Young people who combine school and their personal development with caring for relatives suffering fr...

08/31/2026

AACY Program Support Specialist James Sturges shared this after Friday’s Mentor Training at Topgolf: "Last Friday, I had the pleasure of hosting an American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) Mentor Training at Topgolf, and something amazing happened: the mentors essentially ran the session themselves.

What started as a training quickly became a conversation filled with shared experiences, advice, encouragement, and practical wisdom. New mentors learned from seasoned mentors. Veteran mentors exchanged ideas and strategies. Everyone walked away with something valuable.

It was a reminder that successful mentoring isn't just about matching one mentor with one young person. It's about creating a community where mentors support one another, learn from one another, and grow together.

When mentors meet mentors, an ecosystem of success begins to develop. Knowledge is shared. Confidence is built. Relationships deepen. And ultimately, our youth benefit from an even stronger network of caring adults.

Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, and helped make the evening such a success. I left feeling inspired and grateful to be part of this incredible community.

If you've ever thought about mentoring, there's never been a better time to start. https://aacy.org/volunteer/mentor-application/ "

08/30/2026

“We work with a population that is basically hidden.” - Mary Craumer, MSW, Family Specialist with AACY’s Caregiving Youth Project

This back-to-school season, many students are dealing with grades, friendships, and growing up while also caring for a parent, grandparent, sibling, or other family member at home.

Some arrive at school after being up during the night with someone who’s sick. Others miss school, fall behind academically, or miss activities and time with friends because of caregiving responsibilities.

It's the same caregiving work adults do. Just without any of the support.

And most of the people around them have no idea.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of AACY’s Caregiving Youth Project, the only direct-service program of its kind in the United States, supporting middle and high school students caring for family members in the School District of Palm Beach County since 2006.

Twenty years in, and too many schools across the country still don’t see these kids.

That's what we're working to change.

Support AACY’s work: https://aacy.org/donate/

The School District of Palm Beach County

08/26/2026

Save the date and join us as we kick off National Family Caregivers Month with a very special celebration. 💙

AACY CAREGIVING YOUTH CHAMPIONS’ BRUNCH

Honoring 20 Years of Those Who Transform Lives and Strengthen Our Community

For 20 years, the vision of our founding supporters and the generosity of our community have made it possible for AACY’s Caregiving Youth Project to provide direct support to thousands of Caregiving Youth and their families.

Now we celebrate the champions who made that impact possible and help sustain this life-changing work for the next generation.

📅 Sunday, November 1, 2026
📍 Broken Sound Club

11:30 AM Reception
12:00 PM Program

🎟️ Tickets are now available. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit: https://aacy.ejoinme.org/20thAnniversary

We Advocate/Support Over 5.4m Youth Who Care For Chronically Ill, Elderly, Or Disabled Family Members