GROWN UP KIDS
A Film by Robyn Symon

While most kids are busy with after school activities; soccer practice, dance lessons and going to the mall, these children rush home right after school to prepare meals, clean the house, supervise their younger siblings’ homework and  check on an older  relative that that they are providing care to.

Studies show there are more than 1.4 million children and teens that are child caregivers. Nearly 400,000 are under the age of 12 and can barely care for themselves.   They are an invisible population, boys and girls of different ethnic backgrounds, often from single parent households, mostly at or below the poverty level with no voice and dreams that have been abandoned and overshadowed by their responsibilities at home.

GROWN UP KIDS is a one-hour feature documentary offering a rare glimpse into the lives of child caregivers who have been forced to give up their childhood. It’s the story of their struggle and their courage and what can be done to give them hope for a better future.

The film is a journey following the transformation of a group of kids throughout one year at Boca Raton Community Middle School in South Florida who participate in a project to identify students  who are child caregivers. The project not only offers them support in a variety of ways but also strives to promote awareness of their plight to other students, teachers, those in public policy, healthcare and the community at large.

We are currently raising production funds. To bring the plight of children caregivers to the public, please contact Dalit Moskona at dalitmoskona@hotmail.com or 786-395-1212 to make a tax deductible contribution through our fiscal partner, the Palm Beach County Education Commission.