Growing Up Caregiving: The Invisible Journey of Youth Caregivers

In this powerful episode of Working Caregivers: The Invisible Employees, we sit down with the remarkable Dr. Feylyn Lewis, whose caregiving journey began at just 11 years old after her mother experienced life-altering complications from a botched spinal surgery. Dr. Lewis brings a deeply personal, heartfelt perspective to the realities faced by youth caregivers—experiences most adults never even imagine children navigating.Throughout our conversation, Dr. Lewis opens our eyes to the emotional, physical, and invisible labor that young caregivers shoulder and how those early responsibilities shaped the advocate, scholar, and leader she is today. Her story is moving, courageous, and a call to action for all of us—employers, caregivers, and community members—to create a world where no caregiver feels alone. This is an episode you do not want to miss.Dr. Feylyn Lewis is a Nashville native, Vanderbilt alumna, and former youth caregiver whose lived experience shaped her global career in research and advocacy. With a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a PhD in Social Work, she studies mental health and resiliency among youth and young adult caregivers across the U.S., Europe, the UK, and Australia. Dr. Lewis currently serves as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, where she leads student wellness, support services, and community engagement. Beyond academia, she is deeply involved in state, national, and international caregiving and equity initiatives, including board service with the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition and advisory roles across multiple organizations. A New America Story Fellow, she continues to write about and advocate for youth caregivers—all while caring for her mother in Nashville. Episode Highlights:[0:00] – Dr. Lewis begins sharing her caregiving story starting at age 11 [3:27] – Dr. Lewis describes becoming a youth caregiver after her mother’s surgery [3:51] – Reading her powerful letter to her younger self [9:39] – Exploring what it meant to “shrink yourself” as a young caregiver [11:31] – The emotional and traumatic weight carried by youth caregivers [16:55] – How caregiving support has (and hasn’t) changed for her in adulthood [23:33] – Discussing the realities of youth caregiving and age-inappropriate tasks [25:56] – The strengths, empathy, and resilience learned through caregiving [26:19] – Why children often stay silent—and why naming caregiving matters [28:14] – Encouraging communities to proactively support caregivers [29:14] – The fear youth caregivers have of social service involvement [29:47] – How schools can play a role in recognizing and supporting caregivers [30:39] – Dr. Lewis’ “PS to her younger self”—a message of faith and endurance [31:35] – Closing reflections and gratitude for Dr. Lewis’ powerful voice Links & Resources:·         Tennessee Caregiver Coalition: https://tncaregiver.org/ ·         Dr. Feylyn Lewis’ TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EPCFyeUElk ·         Black Scholars Speak Interview YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pid2wBO8dlc ·         National Alliance For Caregiving's Caregiver Summit Dr. Lewis talk (time stamp 1:02:21): youtube.com/watch?v=reWOmR31GJ8&am