Expressing support for the designation of the week of November 10 through November 16, 2025, as "National Caregiving Youth Week" to raise awareness and encourage national recognition of children and adolescents under 18 years of age who serve as a primary or secondary caregiver for family or household members.

Summary

Defines "caregiving youth" as children and adolescents under 18 who provide primary or secondary care to family or household members with chronic illness, disability, frailty, or other health conditions, and notes an estimated more than 6,000,000 such youth in the U.S. It finds that the last comprehensive count was in 2005, that national data are limited, and that urgent national research and greater recognition and support are needed to address educational, mental-health, and socioeconomic harms—especially for low-income families and families of color.

• Defines "caregiving youth" as children under 18 who provide care to ill, disabled, frail, or otherwise affected family members, including military families and veterans.
• Estimates there are more than 6,000,000 caregiving youth in the U.S. and notes the last full count was in 2005.
• Finds that national data on caregiving youth are limited and calls for urgent national research to better understand the issue.
• Describes typical caregiving tasks (medical care, medication management, mobility and personal care, appointment coordination, emotional support).
• Identifies educational, mental-health, and socioeconomic harms experienced by caregiving youth.
• Highlights disproportionate impacts on families of color and low-income households.
• Lists social trends driving increases in youth caregiving (aging population, opioid epidemic, limited home care, complex at-home technology, household composition changes).
• Asserts that recognition and support can reduce harms and improve outcomes for caregiving youth.