Caring Under Pressure

This presentation explores how prolonged stress in caregivers of children with special health care needs affects their mental health, social participation, and daily functioning. It focuses on the challenges caregivers face in navigating care and education systems, offering insights to support caregiver-school collaboration and family involvement in special education.Participants will be able to: 1. Identify the occupational implications of prolonged stress on caregivers of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) and understand how this stress affects their ability to engage in daily activities, advocate for their children, and navigate complex healthcare and educational systems. 2. Implement strategies to support caregiver well-being by fostering stronger caregiver-school and caregiver-healthcare collaborations, promoting family-centered approaches, and integrating caregiver support into existing systems of care and education. 3. Apply practical, evidence-based strategies to create inclusive, responsive environments for caregivers, ensuring that both the child’s and caregiver’s needs are addressed within educational and healthcare settings to improve outcomes for CYSHCN.