- Identify
Connect with us to help create ways for the parents identify their child as a caregiving youth, and allow the kids the ability to self identify/designate themselves as caregiving youth in school on a confidential basis. - Support
Persuade the adults, and peers to support youth caregivers in schools. Work with us to create school programs, teacher/counselor education, and build support resources between the healthcare industry, schools and the community. Build pathways and programs to connect with caregiving kids with resources that could help them in school and at home. - Reward
We want kids to get Service Learning Hours and Recognition for caregiving in their homes by their schools. The goal is for all children who have or are currently caretaking for an Alzheimer’s patient, or anyone with a serious illness in their home to receive credit for Service-Learning Requirements and consideration for Service. Recognition Awards from any institution where service is part of a curriculum. We believe that kids who provide care supply an invaluable Civil Service and should be recognized and rewarded the same as any student who participates in scouting, band, sports, or other recognized school activity. We would like to see special designations or points on college applications - create a standardized way that caregiving kids can be immediately recognized by colleges for their significant life experience serving others. We will assist other organizations who are working on solutions, recognition, and support for child caregivers.
- Recovery & Opportunity
We will post research, articles, and studies about the lingering effects that can happen from being a part of a family caretaking team to an Alzheimer's or Dementia patient, someone with a serious disability, or debilitating disease, especially in the end stages, especially in the home. Both adult and kid caretakers can experience a big transition period including PTSD type of symptoms. Caregivers sometimes struggle with intrusive thoughts and memories months and even years after their family members have died. No matter what, caretaking for a person who has Alzheimer's or Dementia in your home is something that will fundamentally be a part of who kids are and who they grow up to be no matter what, both good and bad. It will never leave you and how children view their experience is one of the most important parts of the process. Caretaking children should feel proud of what they've accomplished and their silent contribution should be acknowledged and rewarded by their teachers, schools, churches and community. We will promote ways to turn their caregiving days into a recognized skill that they can use to launch themselves into a successful future by partnering with others to make it happen. If you have an idea, if you want to help, contact us.