Parents care for their children so that their children’s lives can be better than their own. When the child becomes the parent’s caretaker, parents feel guilty about being a burden. Their very young children are stepping into adult roles such as cleaning, cooking, caring for siblings, and even helping parents at work when they are physically unable. Champions for Health (CFH) staff identified this additional burden that lack of access to specialty medical care places not only on adults seeking services, but also on their children and grandchildren.
Funded by the Conrad Prebys Foundation in July 2024, CFH began implementing “Supporting the Emotional Well-Being of Youth Caregivers and their Families,” an in-home emotional well-being curriculum serving youth ages 6 – 26. The program’s goals are to improve communication among family members, to improve understanding of the impacts of chronic health needs, and to increase the youth’s ability to identify their cultural and related strengths for improved emotional well-being.
Using sensory and cultural activities, family members relearn how to connect with each other. Dr. Itahi Arteaga, a bilingual/bicultural Occupational Therapist, delivers the program. “I let the families know, I am a guest,” says Itahi. “I give you tools that you might already have and that you can use in times when you may not have recognized they were yours.”
First, youth and parents discuss their needs, strengths, and concerns as a family. Each session consists of a sensory activity, psychoeducation, and time for connection and discussion. For example, family members smell scented candles and guess the scents. Each note their own and others’ reaction – one person loves the scent, another thinks it is too strong, and another person sneezes! The family talks about how the environment may impact each of them differently. Youth identify what sensory activities may soothe them and how to access that information for grounding and self-care during stressful situations.
Early information from participants shows that they are thankful for the in-home services and the ability to be together and learn as a family. When asked about any coping skills learned, one youth reports, “I found a new breathing strategy, in which I put my hand up and I use my other hand to trace my finger. As I’m going up with my finger I breathe in, and as I go down, I breathe out.” When asked about connection to family, one respondent stated, “Yes, I feel more connected because every session we have a good laugh.” Another responded, “Being together and doing exercises to calm ourselves together, and playing loteria connected us like before.
The program helps the family understand that we can be together and happy, doing things that improve our relationship.” Project Access staff provide local resources to respond to concerns raised by the youth or family, including ongoing counseling services, food pantries, connecting to a primary care provider, jobs or training, or linking them to Medi-Cal resources. Thanks to funding from the Conrad Prebys Foundation, youth and their families are reconnecting and joyful again.
www.championsforhealth.org
