Reps. Davis and Bacon Help Foster Youth Gain Independence with Driver’s Licenses
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Ways and Means Worker & Family Support Subcommittee Ranking Member Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07) and Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Co-chair Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-02) introduced legislation to increase the economic and social independence of foster youth by helping them obtain their driver’s licenses. The Foster Youth and Driving Act would create grants to help foster youth obtain the practice and insurance needed to get their licenses. Transportation presents one of the biggest barriers for foster youth to access education, housing, and employment opportunities, especially in rural areas where public transportation is limited.
The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative found that foster youth with driver’s licenses were 1.6 times as likely as their peers to attend school and almost twice as likely to work. A national outreach campaign led by Think of Us helped states connect with more than 23,000 current and former foster youth during the pandemic; nearly two-thirds of youth surveyed requested at least one type of driving-related assistance. Unfortunately, the process of getting a driver’s license includes high costs and barriers for foster youth. Congress directed states to promote opportunities for typical developmental activities for foster youth, and this bill helps states meet that goal.
“Getting a driver’s license is a key milestone of growing up and developing into an independent adult,” said Rep.Davis. “I am proud to work across the aisle with Rep. Bacon to help foster youth in each state and within tribes and territories to obtain their licenses by removing financial and regulatory barriers. Elements of this bill were temporarily enacted during the pandemic to address the needs of foster youth, and I look forward to creating a permanent grant to help these youth gain their independence. Foster youth deserve to experience the joy of passing their driving tests as well as the personal and professional opportunities that driving affords.”
“We must ensure that the circumstances and financial status of foster youth are not an obstacle for them to get a driver’s license,” Rep. Bacon said, “A driver’s license gives teenagers access to professional opportunities and allows them to be independent. As a foster parent myself, I wanted to give our kids every opportunity to succeed, and the Foster Youth and Driving Act will be a step towards making drivers licenses accessible to all foster youth.”
The Foster Youth and Driving Act is supported by many state and national organizations, including: Alliance for Children’s Rights; Alumni of Care Together Improving Outcomes Now Ohio (ACTION Ohio); California Youth Connection; Center for the Study of Social Policy; Child Welfare League of America; Children’s Advocacy Institute; Children’s Law Center of California; Children’s Rights; Children’s Home and Aid of Illinois; Congressional Research Institute for Social Work Policy (CRISP); Embrace Families; First Focus Campaign for Children; FosterClub; John Burton Advocates for Youth; National Association of Counsel for Children; National Foster Youth Institute; Nebraska Appleseed; the Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board (OHIO YAB); Partners for Our Children, University of Washington School of Social Work; Think of Us; Treehouse; Youth Law Center; and Youth Villages.
Example Stakeholder Statements of Support for the Foster Youth and Driving Act
Children’s Home and Aid of Illinois
“Driving is arguably the quintessential milestone of the normal teenage experience, but it is denied to too many foster youth who can benefit from this critical life skill,” said Mike Shaver, CEO at Children’s Home & Aid. “The Foster Youth and Driving Act will reduce barriers to accessing driver’s licenses, making it easier for youth in care to expand their independence while in care, and transition to a more stable adulthood once they exit. We are grateful to Representatives Davis and Bacon for their leadership and their advocacy on behalf of youth in foster care.”
Congressional Research Institute for Social Work Policy (CRISP)
“Access to transportation is a critical resource to ensure the long-term well-being of foster youth. Reliable transportation is associated with education access and graduation rates at the higher education level as well as success in accessing and maintaining meaningful and stable employment. This bill is a critical measure to ensure foster youth and alumni can transition successfully to adulthood.” – Angelique Day, PhD, MSW, Legislative Director, Congressional Research Institute for Social Work Policy
Embrace Families
“Embrace Families is honored to work with national leaders like Congressman Davis and Congressman Bacon to introduce the “Foster Youth and Driving”. Each year, with the support of their families, millions of teens learn to drive and earn a driver's license. But for teens in foster care, for whom securing a driver's license can be critically important to their success, achieving this "normalcy" milestone can be complicated.” – Glen Casel, CEO of Embrace Families
First Focus Campaign for Children
“For many young people in foster care, the ability to drive is essential to their ability to succeed on the job, in the classroom, or on their personal health journeys. The Foster Youth and Driving Act will require and equip agencies to support youth who have experienced foster care overcome the various barriers to securing this important life skill.” – Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus Campaign for Children
"Young people consistently tell us they face barriers in obtaining a driver's license and how it impacts their ability to pursue education, employment and transition to adulthood. We are grateful that Ranking Member Davis and Representative Bacon have listened to both the problems and the accompanied solutions offered by young people. FosterClub is proud to support this bipartisan bill." – Celeste Bodner, Executive Director of FosterClub, the national network for youth in foster care
“Think of Us is proud to support this commonsense legislation that is not just practical, it gives foster youth a sense of normalcy that they are too often denied. Obtaining driver's training, insurance, and vehicles means that they can take advantage of the educational, social, and employment opportunities available to their peers. We are grateful to Representatives Davis and Bacon for their commitment to listening to young people and advocating for their needs.” – Sixto M. Cancel, Chief Executive Officer of Think of Us
“The Foster Youth and Driving Act will ensure that youth who experience foster care have equitable opportunities to get their driver’s license and car insurance, a critical transition to adulthood milestone that supports their ability to get to school and work, especially in our rural communities.” – Dawn Rains, CEO of Treehouse, which provides its driving program to more than 600 Washington foster youth each year.
"Driving is a rite of passage for most young people, and in many parts of the country, it is a necessity that allows youth mobility to access a range of housing options, to participate in postsecondary education and employment and to support their children. At a time where youth desperately need these supports, this bill will address the many challenges youth from foster care face in each step of becoming a driver- from obtaining a permit, participating in driver's education and behind the wheel time, purchasing a car and vehicle insurance, and obtaining their license." – Jennifer Rodriguez, Executive Director of Youth Law Center
Example Statements of Foster Youth about Importance of Driving Support Grants
“Keys to independence should become a federal legislation because it literally helps with youth getting their freedom back. Keys to independence helps many kids who aged out of foster care or who are currently in foster care with no driving knowledge, no permit or don't even know how to get one. K2I helped me with getting my permit and I had no type of Idea how to do it they gave me simple step by step instructions on how obtain my permit. They are also going to help me when I plan to shop for a car which at this time is so hard to find anything. By covering half a year of car insurance helps me as it is a bill I do not have to worry about. This legislation will help a lot of kids and prevent them from being 27 with no license and just give up.” – Lavarian, Florida
“I remember having the conversation with my case manager the first time I heard about Keys to Independence but they weren't sure it will stay. A few months later Keys to Independence came back and I was thrilled because I can get my driver’s license because I can be a normal teenager. They also paid for my insurance for a few months which was a relief and helped me saved money for the insurance in the future. This is an vital piece of legislation in Florida that should be federal.” – Selena, Florida
“I have to live paycheck to paycheck while I am going to school and working full time. When I was in high school, it was easy…I had the school bus, but when I started working and going to college, taking the bus was nearly impossible. (Because of the help with my car insurance, I can now…go grocery shopping without worrying that I will not have enough money. In July, I won’t be able to have this service anymore because I won’t be in foster care anymore. I will always keep this amazing program in my mind.” – Youth, Washington State
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