Moderator:

Oliver Fitzpatrick, AMI-Quebec

Family caregivers are often referred to as an invisible population. In Canada, young carers aged 6-25 are even less recognized, despite there being an estimated 3 young carers in every classroom. Our workshop will focus on how to identify young carers, steps that educators can take today to support them, and international best practices for creating young carer policies and programs.

We will explain how to identify students who are affected by or provide care to a loved one with a disability, chronic illness, mental illness, or problems related to aging, substance use, or socioeconomic status. We will discuss how performing 14-27 hours of caregiving a week can present physical and mental health risks and impact educational attainment and personal development. Participants will then share their perspectives on how aspects of diversity might impact the young carer experience, including being in the English-language minority in Quebec.

After being presented with how this is addressed by schools in the United Kingdom and a novel pilot in Montreal schools, small groups will discuss how they might organize a similar intervention in Quebec. A group discussion of the challenges and opportunities reported by each group will close the session.