2.2: Where to Find Young Caregivers
Now that you understand why young caregivers often go unrecognized, the next step is knowing where to focus your outreach.
Young caregivers are often connected to schools, healthcare systems, and community organizations through their families. Looking beyond the primary individual receiving services and applying a whole-family lens allows you to spot young caregivers who would otherwise go unnoticed. The community partners below are some of the best places to begin.
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Schools — Schools work closely with children, youth, and families every day, making them well positioned to build awareness, identify young caregivers, and connect families with support.
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Healthcare & Community Care — Hospitals, primary care, rehabilitation, community care, and home care providers work with families every day. Taking a whole-family approach can help identify young caregivers who may otherwise go unrecognized.
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Health & Disability Organizations — Organizations such as the MS Society of Canada, Alzheimer Society, Canadian Cancer Society, Autism organizations, and local disability organizations support individuals and families living with health conditions or disabilities, making them valuable referral partners.
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Mental Health & Substance Use Organizations — Organizations such as CMHA, youth mental health agencies, family mental health programs, and substance use services often support families where children and youth may be taking on caregiving responsibilities at home.
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Family & Community Services — Organizations such as the YMCA, BGC Canada, child welfare organizations (e.g., Children’s Aid Societies), family resource centres, recreation departments, and children’s service agencies regularly engage children, youth, and families, making them well positioned to recognize young caregivers.
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Settlement & Newcomer Services — Settlement agencies, newcomer services, and multicultural organizations work with families adjusting to life in Canada. Young people may be translating, navigating services, or supporting family members—responsibilities that may go unrecognized as caregiving.
⭐️ YCA in Action
Young Caregivers Association® was founded through a strategic partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region. Staff recognized that children and youth were actively helping care for relatives with dementia at home. By looking beyond the primary patient to support the entire family, more than 75 young caregivers were identified and connected to programming in the initiative’s first phase.
✅ Key Takeaway: Young caregivers are already active in your community; they simply go unrecognized. Looking beyond the individual receiving care and partnering with agencies that serve whole families is the most effective way to identify them.