Ensure Youth Caregivers Are Seen
Building the infrastructure for youth caregiver recognition in New York.
Human Center
Youth caregivers show up every day — in classrooms, clinics, and communities — carrying responsibilities most adults would find overwhelming.
They deserve recognition.
They deserve support.
They deserve structure.
COYE exists to ensure youth caregivers are identified, supported, and sustained across New York State.
COYE does not simply deliver services. It builds the structure that makes recognition possible.
“It helped just knowing someone understood.”
— COYE participant
Building Structural Recognition
Across New York, youth caregiving remains largely unrecognized within education, healthcare, and public policy systems.
COYE is advancing coordinated models that move youth caregiving from invisibility to institutional recognition.
This includes:
- Designing identification frameworks across schools and community systems
- Aligning research and evaluation practices
- Supporting professionals through education and technical guidance
- Convening cross-sector partners to strengthen policy alignment statewide
COYE does not simply deliver services.
It builds the structure that makes recognition possible.
New York has the opportunity to lead in ensuring youth caregivers are no longer invisible.
COYE’s coordinated model is intentionally designed to be adaptable for other regions seeking to strengthen youth caregiver recognition in the future.
Partnership Pathways
Ensuring youth caregivers are seen requires aligned leadership.
Youth caregivers are already carrying responsibility beyond their years.
With aligned partners, New York can ensure they no longer carry it unseen.