Frank Jenny, Slatcher Christine
The Children's Society National Include Project, Winchester.
J Fam Health Care. 2009;19(3):86-9.
Young carers are children and young people who look after family members with illness, disabilities, mental illness or substance misuse. Many of these young carers help with personal nursing care and administration of medication as well as household tasks and care of younger siblings. Inappropriate levels of caring can impact on a child's own emotional and physical health, educational achievement and life chances. There are many reasons why young carers may remain hidden and unsupported including reluctance among some families to acknowledge children's caring roles or involve agencies because they fear family breakup. It is essential to develop proactive practice that will enable families to feel able to ask for support. Health professionals have a responsibility and are in a key position to identify these vulnerable families and mobilise support services. The key to support is the development of a whole family approach to offering co-ordinated assessments and services to support the person with care needs and their family as well as the young carer. The Whole Family Pathway is an online resource directing practitioners to support for young carers and their families. Young carers say that they would like to be listened to, provided with information, supported at school and referred to young carers' projects. The Children's Society Include Project provides training and resources for professionals who work with young carers and their families.
青少年照顾者是指那些照顾患有疾病、残疾、精神疾病或药物滥用问题的家庭成员的儿童和年轻人。这些青少年照顾者中有许多人不仅要协助进行个人护理和药物管理，还要承担家务以及照顾年幼的兄弟姐妹。不适当的照顾程度会影响孩子自身的情绪和身体健康、学业成绩以及人生机遇。青少年照顾者可能仍然不为人知且得不到支持，原因有很多，包括一些家庭不愿承认孩子的照顾角色，或因担心家庭破裂而不愿让相关机构介入。开展积极主动的实践活动至关重要，这样能让家庭感到能够寻求支持。健康专业人员有责任且处于关键位置，能够识别这些脆弱家庭并调动支持服务。支持的关键在于制定一种全面的家庭方法，提供协调一致的评估和服务，以支持有护理需求的人及其家庭以及青少年照顾者。“全家庭途径”是一个在线资源，指导从业者为青少年照顾者及其家庭提供支持。青少年照顾者表示，他们希望有人倾听他们的心声，提供信息，在学校给予支持，并转介到青少年照顾者项目。儿童协会包容项目为与青少年照顾者及其家庭打交道的专业人员提供培训和资源。
