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Sati, one of our Caregiving Youth Project 2024 high school graduates, shared this quote by Zig Zigler in her speech at our graduation celebration.

Jeff Firestone of ChariTees was so moved by it that he made tee shirts to give to Sati and others participating in our Caregiving Youth Action Day!

Thank you, Jeff, for helping us all to take a few minutes to consider the application of this quote to our lives... after all, taking the stairs, no matter how many steps or how winding they are, keeps us stronger physically and mentally, too!

It is our choice to enjoy the climb!

Greetings, CYP Friends!

Mary Craumer, MSW, Family Specialist, sums up our activities report for July: "Summer means summer fun and new experiences! This month, five of our CYP students had the opportunity to attend the Everglades Youth Conservation Camp for a 5-night sleep-away camp experience. These kids took a break from caregiving and enjoyed a week of fishing, swimming, kayaking, archery, swatting mosquitos, and being part of a cabin of kids.

We also held our annual Camp Treasure Summer Day Camp. Over 50 students spent the day at Florida Atlantic University, where they tried the ropes challenge course, had lunch on the campus, learned how to handle sports head injuries from a guest speaker, swam, and played basketball in the university gym. 

These summer activities give you a much-needed break from your caregiving responsibilities. They also give you the opportunity to experience new activities and catch up with friends made through AACY Caregiving Youth Project."

Keep looking out for upcoming activities! If you want to see some pictures of you and your events, visit (and follow!) our Instagram @caregivingyouthproject.

Thank you.

Andreana Holliman, BA

Camp Treasure was SO MUCH FUN this month! We laughed, played games, had big adventures, and made tons of new friends. Remember that super cool climbing course? Or how about swimming?

It's important to take a break from being a caregiver sometimes. Camp helped everyone relax and have a blast! Did you know that having fun can actually help you do better in school and feel happier? It's true!

We're lucky to have a place like Camp Treasure where all of you can just be kids. Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen!

Fun at Everglades Youth Conservation Camp for a 5-night sleep-away camp experience thanks to AACY and its supporters.  

We had an incredible time connecting with Caregiving Youth from across the country at our virtual Caregiving Youth Action Day! Caregiving Youth and former ones from Virginia, California, Arizona, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, New York, and Washington came together to share experiences, learn, and support each other. Thank you to everyone who participated! 

We're here to support you on your caregiving journey. We'll share fun and educational content, inspiring stories from other young caregivers 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 graphic is your one-stop shop for becoming a Google guru! Learn how to search for exactly what you need, find the most interesting websites, and avoid getting lost in the maze of the Internet. With these easy tips, you can be a super-sleuth for info you need to help you and the people you care for, or just have fun with it! Let's get searching! Remember these rules to stay safe on the Internet!

• Don't give out personal information. It's important not to share your password, name, address/neighborhood, school, or information about your family with anybody online.

• Don't agree to meet anyone in person that you met online. Unfortunately, some people sometimes pretend to be someone they're not. It's safest not to agree to meet people in person, even if you've talked to them at length. If you are truly interested in meeting up with someone you met online, talk to a grownup so they can help determine the safest way (if any) to do so.

• Choose safe screen names. When you're creating screen names, avoid using personally identifiable information like your name, birthday, city, etc.

• Protect your passwords. Don't share your passwords with anyone except for your parents. When you log into an account using a public computer, be sure to log out before leaving.

• Ask for help if you are scared or uncomfortable. Some scammers may try to frighten you into clicking a link or sharing personal information. If you ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable, remember you do not have an obligation to respond to anyone online, and you do not have to click anything you don't want to click.

• Don't post photos or videos without your parent or guardian's permission. Even if a photo seems safe to post, it can contain location codes that show where and when the photo was taken, which can reveal personal information about you, like your address or school. Before posting or sharing photos online, talk to a parent or guardian.

• Don't participate in cyberbullying. Don't send mean or threatening messages online, and don't engage with these types of messages or comments if you receive them. Cyberbullying is never okay. If you receive a mean or threatening message, talk to a grown-up about how you might have it removed, have the person blocked, or otherwise resolve the situation.

• Be wary of contests or "freebies." Contests and freebies are a very common way for scammers to get your personal information. Do not click links, download attachments, or provide personal information such as your name, phone number, address, passwords, etc., without permission from a parent or guardian, even if there is a "countdown clock" or other perceived sense of urgency.

• Don't download attachments or click links. Attachments, links, software, or other downloads can have viruses or other malicious software attached to them that can harm your computer or phone or steal your personal information. Never click a link or download anything from anyone you don't know.

• If something seems fishy or unsafe, stop and ask for help. Scammers can be sneaky and can even pretend to be someone you know. If something doesn't seem right or makes you feel unsafe, stop and ask for help from a parent or guardian.

• Understand that nothing is private. Even content you share via private messaging, text, Snapchat, or "disappearing" message tools can be discovered online. Don't share anything online or on your mobile device that you wouldn't be comfortable having made public.



• Ask questions! The Internet can be a confusing place–even for grown-ups. Keep the lines of communication open. If you're unsure about something, talk to a parent or guardian.

Source: https://www.learning.com/blog/12-rules-for-protecting-students-online/

Guess what? AACY and Caregiving Youth were recently featured on the TODAY Show with Maria Shriver! We're so excited because millions of people got to see just how amazing young caregivers like YOU are!

The show highlighted the stories of two incredible teens:

Jacob (Florida): an eighth-grader who exemplifies the dedication of Caregiving Youth nationwide. Through AACY's Caregiving Youth Project, Jacob receives multiple support services as he cares for his mother with multiple sclerosis and his grandmother with dementia.

Rocco (California): a 17-year-old pillar of strength for his family since his mother's cancer diagnosis. Despite his own challenges, Rocco has provided invaluable support to his family while attending Kesem's free summer program, Camp Kesem.



The good news is that millions of people have seen the TODAY Show, and now they understand what it's like to be a Caregiving Youth. By seeing the strength and resilience of Jacob and Rocco, people are empowered to take action and support other kids who are caregiving!

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.