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Happy Children

FEYLYN MERCEDIES LEWIS, PHD

Young Caregiver Researcher. Speaker. Writer. Advocate.

ABOUT DR. FEYLYN LEWIS

I conduct international research with children and young adults who provide care for sick or disabled family members and friends. A native of Nashville, Tennessee, I have cared for my disabled mother since I was 11 years old. This experience led me to research lives of young caregivers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe. While continuing to build impact through research, I remain committed to raising the profile of young caregivers through blog writing, podcasts, and speaking engagements around the world.

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MY RESEARCH

A Snapshot of My Work

ME-WE: PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT FOR PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AMONG ADOLESCENT YOUNG CARERS IN EUROPE

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I led the United Kingdom team for a 39 month research project designed to strengthen the resilience of adolescent young carers, improve their mental health and well-being, and mitigate the negative influences of psychosocial and environmental factors. The project developed an innovative framework of primary prevention interventions tested and adapted in six European countries: Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

YOUNG CARERS AIMING HIGH: YOUNG ADULT CARERS ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

 

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I served as the education research leader of a mixed methods research project jointly conducted with the Carers Centre of Brighton and Hove on the barriers to higher education for young carers.

“WHO AM I?”: AN EXPLORATION OF THE IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG ADULT CARERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND UNITED STATES

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My doctoral research at the University of Birmingham focused on the identity development of young adult caregivers living in the United Kingdom and United States; it is the only UK-USA comparative research project involving young caregivers to date.

WATCH ME IN ACTION

Children, Society's Safety Net: A Youth Caregiving Story | Feylyn Lewis | TEDxVanderbiltUniversity
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TEDx Talks

Children, Society's Safety Net: A Youth Caregiving Story | Feylyn Lewis | TEDxVanderbiltUniversity

Feylyn grew up as a youth caregiver for her disabled mother. In 2013, she moved to the United Kingdom to obtain her PhD in Social Work, studying young adult caregivers in the US and UK. In her talk, When Children are Society’s Safety Net, she shares with us the journey that sparked her passion, research, and support of youth caregivers. Dr. Feylyn Lewis grew up as a youth caregiver for her disabled mother. In 2013, she moved to the United Kingdom to obtain her Ph.D. in Social Work, studying young adult caregivers in the US and UK. Currently, Dr. Lewis is the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, while also continuing to practice as an independent researcher and consultant. She is a Caregiving.com Champion, representing caregivers in the Nashville area. Dr. Lewis served as the Hunt Research Director at the National Alliance for Caregiving during spring 2021. Dr. Lewis completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Sussex, where she co-led the United Kingdom research activities of a European Commission-funded research project to investigate the mental health well-being of adolescent young caregivers in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Slovenia, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Prior to her research career, she was a nationally certified mental health counselor. She presently sits on the Healthcare Delivery and Disparities Research Advisory Panel of PCORI, the board of trustees for the Carers Centre for Brighton and Hove (UK), the National Advisory Council for the American Association of Caregiving Youth (US), and numerous other committees. She resides in Nashville where she continues to provide care for her mother. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

CONTACT ME

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