These days, we are often spoiled by technology and the instant gratification it brings. And then there is the growing popularity of AI, providing us with another dimension of rapid response with a reduction in the use of our brains. What happens though, when there is an injury to our body or mind? There is no instant healing! Let us, therefore, give ourselves and those in our care the gift of time to heal.

I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving, enjoyed the holiday break, and that it was filled with love, joy, and thankfulness.

We would like to send a huge THANK YOU to our donors and volunteers who donated, volunteered, and touched the lives of our families this Thanksgiving holiday.

We can't thank them enough.

Greetings CYP Friends!

This month, we kicked off our activities at AMF Boynton Beach Lanes, where you enjoyed unlimited bowling for 2 hours, arcade games, and food. 

We partnered with Smita Sen from Manipura Care Network in mid-November for a virtual art workshop. For this workshop, you created your own gratitude drawing using a variety of media as you attempted to map all the things that this year of growth and transformation has brought you. In developing these drawings, you were encouraged to consider the ways that patterning and cyclicality are key motifs in envisioning the power of gratitude for cultures around the world. Your art pieces looked amazing! 

We wrapped up the month with Medical Jeopardy Game Night. You guys know your stuff ?! We are grateful to our Medical Interns from Florida Atlantic University for leading such a fun game and sharing with you who they are, what they do, and the various medical professions you can choose from. 

Keep looking out for upcoming activities! We're looking forward to seeing you and your families at our holiday party on December 17th. Don't forget to sign up. 

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

Thank you.

Andreana Holliman, BA

School Shout Out - South Tech Academy: "I would like to highlight South Tech Academy school contact Mrs. Penn and front desk staff Mrs. Leslie. It's always a pleasure working with these lovely ladies, as they provide constant communication and organization as AACY isn’t the only organization they work with. I really appreciate Mrs. Penn making sure that I always have a room to meet with the students on the designated days that I attend which allows my workflow to go smoothly." - Destiny Marshall, BA, AACY Behavioral Healthcare Mgr. & Family Specialist

Pictured: Dr. Connie, in Washington D.C., and Charlie & A.J. two former caregiving kids who help educate and bring awareness to Caregiving Youth on Capitol Hill - the seat of the U.S. government, home to the domed United States Capitol, Senate, Houses of Representatives and the Supreme Court.

This month marks National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize the countless individuals who provide care for their loved ones, including YOU - Caregiving Youth!

Representatives Lois Frankel, Maria Elvira Salazar, and Barbara Lee have introduced a resolution designating November 13-19, 2023, as National Caregiving Youth Week!!

The resolution designating National Caregiving Youth Week aims to:



• Support the recognition of caregiving youth in the United States as an underserved and underrecognized population.
• Encourage educators, policymakers, health care professionals, and others to become more familiar with the work, needs, and contributions of caregiving youth.
• Support Federal initiatives to provide up-to-date nationwide research on caregiving youth.
• By recognizing and supporting caregiving youth, we can help them thrive despite the challenges they face and honor their unwavering commitment to their families.

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: Alyssa J

My Grade is: 7th Grade

I care for my: grandmother and brothers



Who needs to be taken care of because: she has diabetes and has trouble walking. I also take care of my brothers, one of them has autism and the other one has anger issues.

When my mom passed, I felt sad and overwhelmed and felt like I didn’t know where to turn. My grandmother encouraged me to join AACY. I didn’t want to join at first because I didn’t like anyone, I met with but now that I see Ms. Destiny the Caregiving Coach, I don’t mind it at all because she understands me so I am happy my grandmother signed me up or I would have never met Ms. Destiny.

The Caregiving Youth Project has helped me by telling me how to help take care of my brother and grandmother and by controlling my feelings by being in caregiving coaching.

Thank you, Alyssa, for sharing your caregiving experience. Your story is a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of young caregivers. Your willingness to speak out will undoubtedly inspire others and raise awareness for this important issue. Keep shining bright!

Check out the interview with Kaylin Jean-Louis on the Caregiving Insights channel called "A Caregiving Youth's Story."

Kaylin's story is a reminder that many young people are taking care of their loved ones. Young caregivers have a lot of responsibilities and face many challenges, but they still find ways to help their families. Kaylin's story is one of strength and hope, and she continues to inspire other young caregivers.

In this episode of Caregiving Insights, My Care Friends founder Todd Keitz interviews 18-year-old Kaylin Jean-Louis. Kaylin is a caregiver, radio host, motivational speaker, and the founder of Kaylin's Caring Konnection, Inc.

Kaylin graduated from high school early and has been caring for her grandmother and great-grandmother since 2016, along with her mom. So, how does she find time to do all that she does at such a young age? Watch this inspiring episode to find out!

Caregiving Youth: Not all heroes wear capes, but they do wear big hearts.

This quote is based on the popular saying "Not all heroes wear capes" and highlights the heroic work that you do. As caregivers, you sacrifice your own time and social lives to care for someone, and you do so with compassion and love. Every task, no matter how small, makes a difference in the life of the person you are caring for.

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.