Program Looks to Support High-Schoolers Responsible for Caregiving at Home

Yahoo! News - Mar 24th, 2025

The Young, Gifted and Caregiving program in Atlanta helps high school students like Aaliyah Taylor and Mariyah Carson, who juggle significant caregiving roles at home, learn to manage their responsibilities while prioritizing their own well-being. This initiative, held at Charles Drew High School, involves weekly sessions led by Michelle Bolden, a registered nurse, and various guest speakers who offer guidance on balancing caregiving with self-care. The program aims to address the high risks of anxiety, depression, and other challenges faced by teenage caregivers.

This initiative is significant as it addresses a largely overlooked demographic of young caregivers in the U.S., where millions of adolescents are responsible for caring for family members. The program not only provides practical skills like chronic disease management and CPR but also creates a supportive community for these teens to share their experiences. The success of this pilot program has sparked plans for expansion to other schools in Georgia, highlighting the potential for school-based interventions to effectively reach and support teenage caregivers.

Self Care Atlanta Young, Gifted And Caregiving Aaliyah Taylor Mariyah Carson Michelle Bolden Charles Drew High School Teenage Caregivers Caregiving

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RATING

7.2

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a compelling narrative about the Young, Gifted and Caregiving program and the experiences of student caregivers. It scores well in timeliness, public interest, and clarity, effectively highlighting an important yet often overlooked issue. The personal stories of students add depth and engagement, while expert insights lend credibility to the narrative. However, the article could benefit from a more diverse range of sources and perspectives, particularly regarding the broader context of adolescent caregiving. Additionally, more detailed information on the program's methodology and impact would enhance transparency and accuracy. Overall, the article is a valuable contribution to discussions about educational support for young caregivers, but it could be strengthened by incorporating more comprehensive data and analysis.

Accuracy

The article provides a detailed account of the Young, Gifted and Caregiving program and the experiences of student caregivers like Aaliyah Taylor and Mariyah Carson. The factual claims about the program's structure, such as the number of sessions and the types of activities involved, align with general information about similar initiatives. However, specific details such as the exact number of students identified and the socioeconomic statistics of Riverdale require further verification. The article's mention of expert opinions, like those of Erin Kent, adds credibility, but the absence of direct data or studies on teenage caregiving limits the precision of some claims. Overall, the story is largely accurate but would benefit from more direct source citations and data to support specific claims.

Balance

The article presents a balanced view by highlighting the challenges faced by young caregivers and the support provided by the program. It includes perspectives from both the students and the program facilitators, such as Michelle Bolden. However, the article could benefit from more diverse viewpoints, such as those of parents or other family members impacted by the caregiving responsibilities of these teenagers. Additionally, while it discusses the program's benefits, it does not critically examine potential shortcomings or areas for improvement, which could provide a more rounded perspective.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and written in clear, accessible language. It effectively communicates the experiences of the students and the objectives of the program, making it easy for readers to understand the narrative. The use of direct quotes from participants adds a personal touch and aids comprehension. However, the article could improve clarity by providing more background information on the broader issue of adolescent caregiving, which would help readers unfamiliar with the topic grasp its significance more fully.

Source quality

The article primarily relies on firsthand accounts from students and insights from program leaders like Michelle Bolden, which are credible sources for the narrative. However, it lacks a wider array of sources, such as academic studies or independent experts on teenage caregiving, which could enhance the depth and reliability of the information presented. The inclusion of Erin Kent's expert opinion adds some authority, but more diverse and independent sources would strengthen the article's credibility.

Transparency

The article is transparent in its intentions, clearly stating its focus on the Young, Gifted and Caregiving program and the students involved. It provides context about the program's goals and activities, but it lacks detailed information on how the students were selected or the criteria used to assess their need for support. Additionally, while the article mentions the socioeconomic context of Riverdale, it does not delve into how these factors are specifically measured or sourced, which would enhance transparency.