YCare is GNYC’s flagship program—a day-long, interactive workshop co-designed with caregiving youth and families. The first and only multidisciplinary skill, support, and education-based program for children & youth caregivers.
What is YCare?
YCare is a hands-on workshop that equips young caregivers with the skills, support, and community they need to thrive.
Young caregivers are at greater risk of anxiety, depression, and missing school—but it’s not because they’re doing something wrong. It’s because no one has supported them—until now.
YCare is the only hands-on, research-informed program designed to teach young caregivers the skills, knowledge, and confidence they want and need; across conditions, across the globe.
- Built from the ground up with data and family input—not adapted from adult programs
- Addresses both broad caregiving skills and condition-specific needs, from mobility and communication to emotional support
- Fun, active, and age-appropriate, with interactive sessions led by professionals who understand youth
- Proven to boost confidence and connection, equipping young caregivers with tools that make a real difference
Already delivered by over 100 healthcare professionals worldwide, YCare is setting the standard for caregiver education, equipping young carers with practical tools and emotional support that make a real difference.
Emotional & Mental Health Tools
Children & youth learn ways to manage stress, advocate for themselves, and take care of their own well-being—because their health matters too.
Community & Belonging
Participants meet other youth who “get it.” Our small-group setting creates space to share experiences, ask questions, and feel less alone.
Hands-on Care Skills
Children & youth are taught safe ways to help with feeding, mobility, and daily tasks. Healthcare providers teach practical techniques that reduce stress and increase safety in the home.
Participants leave YCare feeling seen, capable, and connected.
YCare is already making a difference for diverse families around the world. Our program has been successfully adapted for a wide range of conditions and caregiving situations—and we’re just getting started.
Inclusive by Design
Every caregiving story is different. That’s why YCare is built to adapt. Our modular design allows us to tailor each workshop to the specific needs of the youth and families we serve—whether they’re supporting a parent with ALS, a sibling with autism, or a grandparent living with Alzheimer's.
We adapt every element of the program to reflect:
- Condition-specific care – from feeding techniques to communication strategies, content is customized for the health conditions families are managing.
- Cultural relevance – we honor caregiving practices across diverse traditions and communities, adjusting our examples, language, and teaching methods to resonate locally.
- Language access – we make our programs accessible in the languages, youth and families need to feel most empowered.
From the foods we demonstrate with to the way we form peer groups, every detail is thoughtfully considered. A session in a rural North Carolina school might look different from one with refugee families in New York City—and that’s by design.
This is what inclusion looks like in action. When young caregivers see their lived experiences reflected in the content so they can engage, learn, and feel valued.
Program outcomes
Improved self-efficacy in care tasks -increase young caregivers' self-efficacy and practical competency in performing complex care tasks, thereby enhancing the safety and quality of care provided.
Ability to identify self-care goals and coping behaviors - empower young caregivers to develop and implement effective self-management strategies for their personal well-being, fostering resilience and mitigating caregiving-related stress.
Changed perceptions of care - shift young caregivers' perceptions of care tasks from daunting or unclear to manageable and understandable, reducing anxiety and increasing their sense of capability.
Peer connection and support - provide a supportive community for young caregivers, facilitating meaningful peer connections and alleviating feelings of social isolation.
Sources:
Kavanaugh, M.S., Cho, Y., Fee, D., & Barkhaus, P.E. (2020). Skill, confidence and support: Conceptual elements of a child/youth caregiver training program in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis–the YCare protocol. Neurodegenerative Disease Management
Kavanaugh, M.S., Cho, C.C., & Howard, M. (2019). “I Just Learned by Observation and Trial and Error”: Exploration of Young Caregiver Training and Knowledge in Families Living with Rare Neurological Disorders. Child & Youth Care Forum
Health Conditions We’ve Addressed:
- ALS/MND
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Cancer
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Traumatic Brain Injury
Communities We’ve Reached:
- Spanish-speaking families
- Military & veteran connected youth in the US
- Youth in rural & under-resourced areas
- Caregivers in South Africa, including translating materials into Sesotho & Zulu
Frequently Asked Questions
Wherever is convenient for the children and their families. We have conducted YCare in churches, community centers, clinics, and hotels.
Not at all. We have adapted the entire program for the South African context, and translated all materials into 4 South African Languages!
A multidisciplinary team of health care professionals, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, respiratory therapy, speech therapy and neurology.
Yes they do. Providers receive a professional training and a professional guide in the program.
Aside from new friends and skills?? Yes they do. They also get a handbook that follows the full YCare program.
Absolutely. We have several papers supporting the need for YCare, as well as tests of the YCare programs.
Send us an email at
lukayouthfoundation@gmail.com
and we will be happy to connect about bringing YCare to your community!