Youth Caregivers: Strength, Resilience, and the Road Ahead

Recognizing the Young People Who Shoulder Adult-Sized Responsibilities

Author

ieadvocates
December 10, 2025

Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees Newsletter

Brought to you by ieAdvocates (invisible employee advocates)

Thank you for being here!

Every day in this country, millions of children and teens take on caregiving roles – helping aging grandparents, managing tasks for an ill parent, or supporting siblings with disabilities. These youth caregivers balance school, friendships, and growing up, all while carrying responsibilities far beyond their years.

In this issue, we highlight the unique challenges they face, their resilience, and the critical role they play in their families and communities. We explore what educators, employers, and care advocates can do to recognize and support these remarkable young individuals. This requires collaboration across education systems, healthcare, workplaces, and community-based organizations to help build pathways for a brighter future for all of us in the care space, and especially for our caregiving youth.

Table of Contents

In the news:

Latest research, events, and articles that are making an impact for working caregivers and their employers.

Shining a Light on Caregiving Youth

The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Center for Equity in Aging and Center for Equity in Child and Youth Health and Well-Being, hosted a panel discussion entitled “Caregiving Youth: A Call to Action for Research, Education and Policy.”with alumna Dr. Connie Siskowski, founder and president of the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY). It was emphasized that there are over 5 million children under 18 who are caregiving and that they face unique challenges, such as balancing schoolwork with demanding home responsibilities and navigating healthcare systems. It was also shared that young people are not only vulnerable but also resilient, empathetic, and purposeful, often gaining life skills and a sense of meaning from their duties.

CAREGIVING: HHS Should Clarify When Youth May Qualify for Support Services

This report addresses (1) information on caregiving youth in the U.S.; (2) how federal caregiver support programs address caregiving youth needs; and (3) how England, a recognized leader in supporting caregiving youth, supports those youth through policy and programs.

Did you know? (Read our blog):

Our blog brings you knowledge, personal and researched, to raise your awareness and empathy about working caregivers and caregiving.

Caregiving Youth: The Overlooked Caregivers

Did you know that in the U.S. there are about 5.4 million children and adolescents (ages 10 - 17) who provide some form of unpaid family caregiving to loved ones? They care for their parents, grandparents and other family members suffering from conditions related to aging, disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental health decline and various other ailments. If you didn’t know this, you are not alone. The valuable services this population of caregivers provide often go unrecognized. 

But, these young people play a vital role in helping to bridge the gaps in systemic healthcare in this country and they deserve more visibility, recognition and meaningful support.

People and Companies In the spotlight:

Our podcast puts a spotlight on guests who are making a significant difference in the working caregiver space.

Episode 31: Growing Up Caregiving: The Invisible Journey of Youth Caregivers with Dr. Feylyn Lewis

In this powerful episode, we sit down with the remarkable Dr. Feylyn Lewis, whose caregiving journey began at just 11 years old after her mother experienced life-altering complications from a botched spinal surgery. Dr. Lewis brings a deeply personal, heartfelt perspective to the realities faced by youth caregivers—experiences most adults never even imagine children navigating.

Throughout our conversation, Dr. Lewis opens our eyes to the emotional, physical, and invisible labor that young caregivers shoulder and how those early responsibilities shaped the advocate, scholar, and leader she is today. Her story is moving, courageous, and a call to action for all of us—employers, caregivers, and community members—to create a world where no caregiver feels alone. This is an episode you do not want to miss.

Dr. Feylyn Lewis is a Nashville native, Vanderbilt alumna, and former youth caregiver whose lived experience shaped her global career in research and advocacy. With a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a PhD in Social Work, she studies mental health and resiliency among youth and young adult caregivers across the U.S., Europe, the UK, and Australia. Dr. Lewis currently serves as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, where she leads student wellness, support services, and community engagement. Beyond academia, she is deeply involved in state, national, and international caregiving and equity initiatives, including board service with the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition and advisory roles across multiple organizations. A New America Story Fellow, she continues to write about and advocate for youth caregivers—all while caring for her mother in Nashville.

Meet Omarion Calloway, a real youth caregiver:

Omarion Calloway

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“My mama always used to tell me that everything that I thought was drowning me actually taught me how to swim. Taking care of my uncle, taking care of my nana, and even my little brother taught me how to care for people. It taught me how to lead. It taught me how to defend myself, because back then, I used to be bullied. I used to go through a lot of things because people thought I was the teacher's pet.  I was the smart one in class. People didn't like that. The teacher was giving me benefits the others didn’t receive because I think my teacher, deep down inside, I didn't tell her what was going on, but I feel like she knew. Because after my story hit the news, she was the first one to contact me. She came to my graduation. I'm still in contact with her today… ”

Omarion Calloway is a youth caregiver advocate, creator of the More Than Survival Guide, and a voice for young people balancing school, life, and caregiving responsibilities. Drawing from his own experience caring for family from a young age, he has focused his work on making sure youth caregivers feel seen, supported, and understood.

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“…when I was caregiving, I always put my uncle, my nana, my brother, my mom, before me. And no child should have to do that, especially as a 10-year-old…I used to wake up early in the morning, cooking for my nana, cooking for my uncle, and sometimes my little brother and even myself. And at times, I fed my uncle first, then I went towards my nana, then I went towards my brother. …I'm always putting myself last, and I shouldn't have to do that, you know? A child should never have to put themselves last, especially at a young age like that. So over time… I started feeding myself first. I started going on walks. I started doing a lot of things for myself to put myself first because I felt like if I put myself first in my mindset, that I would be okay, that things would get better, that I would learn how to still be myself, how to still be that foundation of care for my uncle, my nana, and my little brother.  So, I just feel like doing the first, it really does help a lot because right now in college… I do a lot of firsts in college as well. I went to a playground (which I haven’t been to for a very long time). I got on a swing for the first time. I went to my very first museum for the first time. I went to an amusement park for my first time. So it was just doing a lot of the firsts. It really does help a lot.”

Recommended media content:

We explore and share with you diverse media illuminating the dynamics and narratives within the care economy - from insightful podcasts to thought-provoking books and engaging videos.

PODCASTS

Dr. Connie Siskowski joins Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial to talk about the experience of young caregivers on this edition of Caregiver SOS podcast. Educated at Johns Hopkins, New York University and Lynn University, her doctoral research uncovered the high prevalence of caregiving by students in Palm Beach County, FL. In 1998 she established what is now the American Association of Caregiving Youth with its successful Caregiving Youth Project and Caregiving Youth Institute. Connie has contributed to multiple publications. Awards include an Ashoka Fellowship, Purpose Prize, Distinguished Alumna Award (Johns Hopkins University), Top Ten CNN Hero, a star on Boca Raton’s Walk of Recognition, and a faculty appointment to the RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council. 

 BOOKS

Step confidently into the holiday season with Grace, Gratitude and Good Cheer, by Gwendolyn F. Turner, the essential guide for anyone who wants to elevate their celebrations and relationships. Whether you dread the complexities of hosting, worry about awkward gift exchanges, or simply want to enjoy gatherings with more warmth and less stress, this book offers a modern roadmap to mastering the art of holiday etiquette. More than just a rulebook, Grace, Gratitude and Good Cheer is a celebration of generosity, hospitality, and the small acts of thoughtfulness that make every season brighter. Whether you’re hosting a formal dinner, attending a company event, or sending your first holiday cards, you’ll find actionable guidance that empowers you to lead with empathy and shine in every social setting.

VIDEOS:

Forgotten Children! – The Shocking Reality of Young Caregivers & How to Protect Their Future – ‘Hormones, Metabolism, and You!’ Podcast | Modern Endocrine Podcast. In this episode of “Hormones, Metabolism, and You,” Dr. Cassie Smith and guest Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD explore the challenges faced by children caring for chronically ill family members. 

With gratitude, we share a book review:

We want to thank John Hughes. who took the time to read our book and provide a thoughtful ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐review!

“This book covers a lot of important information that many employers need to be aware of and help their employees as much as they can. A must read for anyone struggling to care for a loved one while still working a job. Anyone who has dealt with this scenario knows that it’s not just difficult to juggle the tasks, but it can be overwhelming and exhausting too. This book shares a wealth of information, stories to help you succeed with your caregiving journey.”

Order your copy of Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees book here. If you want to order a quantity of books for your leadership team and employees, contact us directly about discount pricing.

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