School may be the only place that young caregivers have time away from the responsibilities and stresses of home and you may be the only adult they have outside their family that they can trust and open up to.

Here are some ways you can provide support:

• Be their safe person – let them know they can talk to you about anything
• Focus on their experiences and how they’re feeling rather than on their family members
• Make sure you understand what role they want you to play – do they need someone to listen without judgement? Or are they looking for a mentor?
• Make time in your schedule to consistently check in with the young caregiver
• Be flexible and accommodate their needs when you can
• Set aside time outside of class to help them with homework
• Provide extensions when possible
• Be understanding when they miss school to help their family
• Find ways to help them stay connected with their family during school hours