Young Carers in Italy. A study to design new practices and policies for social, health and school services

Young Carers refers to children or young people who, within their own homes or elsewhere, are burdened with the task of caring for a relative affected by physical or mental health problems, disabilities, drug or alcohol addiction. It is greatly challenging to identify young carers, due to which they are considered a “hidden group”. They perform several tasks that are placed on a continuum with the collaboration that almost all children and young people offer within their family. The two poles of this continuum are (1) low degree of care tasks required, often considered suitable for children and young people, and (2) high degree of care tasks required, with care responsibilities that increase in intensity, frequency, and complexity, and that are inappropriate for the carer’s age. The majority of children and young people are placed at the first pole of this continuum.