Connie Siskowski Of The American Association for Caregiving Youth: 5 Things You Need To Create A Successful & Effective Nonprofit That Leaves A Lasting Legacy
…One of the most surprising discoveries is how little awareness there is about Caregiving Youth, even among educators and policymakers. It reinforced how critical our work is to shine a light on these invisible children and advocate for systemic changes and inclusion in the curricula of educators, healthcare professionals, and community leaders…
I had the pleasure of interviewing Connie Siskowski. Connie Siskowski, RN, Ph.D., Founder, and President of AACY, is an alumna of Johns Hopkins University, New York University, and Lynn University (Ph.D. in 2004). She was inspired to establish the American Association for Caregiving Youth after caregiving for her grandfather at 11 years old and then went on through her academic research to discover that family health situations often have detrimental academic effects on children. She is determined to lessen caregiver isolation by honoring their struggles and advocating for U.S. youth who may be considering dropping out of school or life due to having a family member they must care for.
Thank you for making time to visit with us about a ‘top of mind’ topic. Our readers would like to get to know you a bit better. Can you please tell us about one or two life experiences that most shaped who you are today?
Caring for my grandfather as a child left a profound impact on me — both positive and challenging as I learned firsthand about compassion. That experience and the associated trauma that was unrecognized opened my eyes in my adult life to the emotional and practical challenges of caregiving and the lack of support available. It planted the seeds for the work that our team and I do today as the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) founder. Another pivotal moment was discovering through my doctoral research the widespread but unrecognized role Caregiving Youth play in their families and its impact on their education.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? We would love to hear a few stories or examples.
Compassion, resilience, and persistence have been vital. Compassion drives me to advocate for Caregiving Youth. Resilience has kept me focused through the challenges of building AACY from the ground up. Persistence ensured programs like the Caregiving Youth Project became a reality despite initial skepticism. For example, securing funding for our first initiative and beyond has required countless rejections before the right partners understood our mission.
What’s the most interesting discovery you’ve made since you started leading your organization?
One of the most surprising discoveries is how little awareness there is about Caregiving Youth, even among educators and policymakers. It reinforced how critical our work is to shine a light on these invisible children and advocate for systemic changes and inclusion in the curricula of educators, healthcare professionals, and community leaders.
Can you please tell our readers more about how you or your organization intends to make a significant social impact?
AACY aims to create a world where Caregiving Youth are recognized, valued, and supported. Youth who are caregivers are a national and global issue, and we are behind other developed countries! The successful model Caregiving Youth Project can be replicated elsewhere, and we offer the opportunity to become an affiliate. In Palm Beach County, we provide direct services in and out of school and at home. When a child graduates from high school (and we are proud of our ten-year average high school graduation rate of 98.3%), their taxable earnings are higher, and many want to enter healthcare in which we need a labor force for the future as our population ages. Thus, the investment in them is for today and tomorrow!
What makes you feel passionate about this cause more than any other?
I’ve witnessed the sacrifices Caregiving Youth make and the emotional toll it takes on them. Their courage and resilience inspire me daily to fight for the recognition and support they deserve. During this time of DEI, our nation is not walking the talk by excluding them from the services and benefits offered to adult family caregivers until they are 18 years old.
Without naming names, could you share a story about an individual who benefitted from your initiatives?
One young man cared for his mother while excelling in school but struggled with isolation. Through the Caregiving Youth Project, he received mentorship, tutoring, and counseling. He went on to graduate with honors and is now pursuing a medical career inspired by his caregiving experience.
We all want to help and to live a life of purpose. What are three actions anyone could take to help address the root cause of the problem you’re trying to solve?
- Advocate for policy changes in education and healthcare to recognize and support Caregiving Youth.
- Volunteer or mentor Caregiving Youth in your community — work within existing systems to identify and support them.
- Promote social justice and spread awareness by sharing stories and facts about Caregiving Youth with your networks.
Based on your experience, what are the “5 Things You Need To Create A Successful & Effective Nonprofit That Leaves A Lasting Legacy?” Please share a story or example for each.
- Clarity of Mission: Knowing your “why” is crucial. For us, it’s ensuring Caregiving Youth are valued and supported.
- Dedicated Team: Building AACY required passionate staff and volunteers who believe in the mission and go above and beyond to find solutions for families going through tough times, especially in today’s economy.
- Collaboration: Partnering with schools and community organizations to fill in the gaps, because no single organization can do it all, from providing beds so people don’t have to sleep on the floor to medical equipment and supplies, allows us to provide a holistic approach.
- Sustainability: Securing long-term funding ensures our programs endure — we still need to develop an endowment.
- Advocacy: Creating lasting change requires educating legislators and inclusive policy changes, as we’ve done with national conversations on Caregiving Youth.
How has the pandemic changed your definition of success?
Success now means ensuring Caregiving Youth and their families have access to resources even in times of crisis. The pandemic highlighted the fragility of support systems and the importance of adaptability. The importance of calendar year support and relationship building is critical for success.
How do you get inspired after an inevitable setback?
I reflect not on what we have accomplished from zero until today but on what still needs to be done for this precious population. This work is a calling and one of faith, with the roots of our organization being Boca Raton Interfaith in Action. Despite immense challenges, their determination to care for their loved ones reminds me why this work matters so they and their families feel cared about.
We are very blessed that very prominent leaders read this column. Is there a person in the world who you would like to talk to, to share the idea behind your non-profit? He, she, or they might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I would love to talk to a celebrity or sports person who has been a Caregiving Youth, who is willing to be a spokesperson, has the ear of others, and has access to funding so that all Caregiving Youth in our country are recognized and supported.
You’re doing important work. How can our readers follow your progress online?
You can subscribe to our newsletters, become a monthly donor, visit us at aacy.org, and follow us on social media by searching #CaregivingYouth. We regularly share updates, stories, and ways to get involved on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
Thank you so much for sharing all of these great insights. We wish you continued success.
Connie Siskowski Of The American Association for Caregiving Youth: 5 Things You Need To Create A… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.