A new brief from the National Academy for State Health Policy highlights how Colorado and Rhode Island are advancing state-level efforts to recognize and support caregiving youth.
The article, “How Colorado and Rhode Island Are Supporting Caregiving Youth,” examines how states are using data, partnerships, education systems, and policy action to better identify young people who provide care for family members at home.
The brief recognizes Colorado’s work, including the partnership between state officials and the Colorado Alliance for Caregiving Youth. It also highlights CACY’s role in helping bring youth caregiving into the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, creating an important foundation for statewide awareness and action.
For CACY, this recognition reinforces a core truth: when caregiving youth are counted, they can no longer be ignored.
Caregiving youth often balance school, family responsibilities, emotional stress, and daily care for loved ones who are chronically ill, disabled, elderly, or have other support needs. Data helps make their experiences visible and gives schools, communities, policymakers, and service providers a stronger foundation for support.
The article also highlights Colorado’s Caregiving Youth Day designation and Rhode Island’s school-based support model as examples of how states can begin building systems that recognize and assist caregiving youth.
CACY remains committed to working with schools, healthcare providers, community partners, and policymakers to ensure caregiving youth across Colorado are visible, valued, and supported.
Read the full NASHP article:
https://bit.ly/4ycP5Xs
