My name is Tamisha Macklin.  I spent twelve years in the Colorado Foster Care system.  I saw and experienced the good and the bad- what works and what doesn’t.  And, now I’m taking what I learned and working to make the foster care system and the transition from foster care to independence easier for those boys and girls now facing the same challenges I once did. 

One big issue right now is driver’s education for foster youth.  Did you know that each year, Colorado youth in foster care are routinely denied the opportunity to receive the classroom portion of driver’s education? Many of these young men and women do not have a biological parent, legal guardian or court appointed custodian to sign an affidavit of liability that will allow foster youth to take the course. 

Personally, I was denied the option to take driver’s education.  I eventually got my license when I turned 20, but not having a driver’s license made it more difficult for me to get to work once I was living on my own. 

Depending on how Colorado lawmakers respond to House Bill 1059, that could all change. Passage of the bill will waive the requirement for foster youth to complete an affidavit of liability. 

On Thursday, January 28, 2010, I and several other Colorado foster youth testified before the House Transportation and Energy Committee. We told lawmakers how the current barrier to driving and having a driver’s license is hampering our ability to become independent, self-sufficient members of the community. 

The issue was proposed in a focus group of youth who are or have been in foster care. The focus group was conducted by Mile High United Way’s Bridging the Gap program. The youth in the focus group determined that this was one of the most important issues impeding their success.  

Colorado has 13,000 children in foster care. More than one third of those are between the ages of 14 and 21.  Each year an average of 360 of them “age-out” of the foster care system and are, for all intents and purposes, on their own. Without a clear path to acquire something as basic as a driver’s license, many foster youth face a tough road toward an independent future. 

Mile High United Way’s Bridging the Gap program provides support for foster youth and advocates on their behalf.  It’s a great program. It helped me and continues to help countless foster youth build a strong foundation for a brighter future.  

Making the foster care system better is what I am committed to doing.  And, having the opportunity to share my thoughts and my experiences with Colorado lawmakers has been amazing. 

Note: 

The bill was approved by the house in early February and is now being considered by a state senate committee. 

Visit www.cpr.org to hear Tamisha tell her story and talk about foster youth and driver’s education on the February 8^th edition of “Colorado Matters” on Colorado Public Radio.