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Justine Mantz

Hello,

My name is Justine Mantz, I am 23 years old, and I am a new member of IFCA’s Foster Care Alumni team. | Last June I completed my bachelors degree in Environmental Science at the University of Washington.| Now I am working on growing my online vintage clothing business while also looking for work in Restoration Ecology. | Since I was a little girl I have always been fascinated with Japan and have always wanted to visit. I am so thankful for the opportunity to see your country, and thank you for giving me the time to express some of my thoughts and opinions about my time in the American Foster Care system. |Today I would like to share a story about an experience I had in Foster Care that I felt was “abnormal”,learning to drive.|

When I turned 16 I was living in a home with six other foster kids with a foster parent who had given care to over 500 youths during her time as a caregiver. | 16 is the age at which many teenagers in America obtain a driver’s license or begin studying to get their driver’s learning permit. Wealthier families often help their child purchase their first car at this time. |This is an important American ritual that teaches responsibility to teenagers and fosters independence. | Often times it can also enable them to take their first part-time jobs while still in highschool. | When I asked my foster parent if I could start learning to drive, the answer I received was a flat “No”.| First she told me this was not allowed by the state. When I was not satisfied with this answer she told me the story of a previous foster youth she had given care to who had gotten into a car accident.| She said if I learned to drive it would be a liability. |

Because we lived on a farm far from town with no public transportation, i felt I would be isolated from opportunity without the ability to drive.| I wanted to find out if what she said was true about learning to drive not being allowed by the state. | However, my foster siblings and I also were not permitted computer access due to previous problems with past kids abusing the privilege.| I could not do my own research. My social worker was overworked with too many cases and was therefore very difficult to get a hold of when I wanted to call and ask her about this issue.|

In the end, I never got my driver’s license. I believe this prevented me from visiting friends, and getting a job while in school.| A job would have allowed me to build a savings account for when I aged out of care, which I felt would have been very helpful to have as a safety net. | Once I did age out of care and moved to Seattle for school I did not know anyone who could teach me to drive and I could not afford lessons.| Because of this, I actually still never obtained a driver’s license.| I am fortunate that currently my boyfriend is teaching me to drive and I should be ready to take the test soon.|

According to Dawn Rains, Chief Policy and Strategy Officer at Treehouse, a nonprofit that works with foster children, “Only 3% of foster kids get their driver’s license by age 18, compared to 54% of their peers”.| I think this is especially problematic because due to the precarious situation that comes with aging out, foster kids need to be much more independant earlier in life.| Issues related to Normalcy are incredibly important not only for emotional well being, but often also for preparing for a successful independent life. |Debunking myths among caregivers about what is and is not allowed, and up to date trainings when policies change may help.| Making sure information about policy is available to those youth who seek it out and making sure foster youth’s rights are disseminated thoroughly and clearly I believe is also critical to solving some issues related to Normalcy, including learning to drive.|

Thank you. Arigato Gozaimasu.