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 In coordination
with services provided by the Tennessee Department of Children’s
Services, Fostering Success offers opportunities for foster youth
between the ages of 14 and 23 to establish themselves as adults.
A key component
of Fostering Success is The Opportunity Passport™, which is
administered by
Monroe Harding, a nonprofit agency in Nashville
which administers
Youth Connections, a one-stop-shop for transitioning foster
youth. The
Opportunity Passport™ consists of three components:
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A personal
bank account to pay for short-term expenses
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A savings
account called an Individual Development Account (IDA) where
each dollar saved by the youth is matched dollar for dollar by
Fostering Success, with a maximum of $1,000 per year, for
purchase of an approved asset such as a car, school or housing
deposit. Youth must complete financial literacy classes to
qualify for matching funds.
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Door openers,
which connect current and former foster youth to jobs, mentors,
college scholarships, housing and other opportunities.
Currently, more
than 225 Middle Tennessee youth are enrolled in The Opportunity
Passport™, Youth have met more than 160 savings goals and purchased
assets worth a total of $165,000, with an average match of $525. In
a survey, half of participating youth reported using a door opener,
most frequently to gain access to education, transportation or
housing.
Community and
Business Leaders, Get Involved Today!
Foster Youth, find out more about Opportunity Passport.
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