Two Years Later
www.keystoindependencefl.org
What is Keys to Independence?
• 3-year statewide pilot project authorized by 2014
legislature – F.S. 409.1454
• $800,000/year for 3 years
• CBCCF selected through a competitive bid process to
develop and implement. Enrollment began October 15,
2014.
• Reimburses for costs associated with driver’s education,
fees and other costs related to getting a learner’s permit
and driver’s license, including insurance.
Why a Pilot Project?
Protect and inspire
every child, every
day.
CBCCFL.org
866-90-CHILD (24453)
• Driving is major part of normalcy for teens
• Teen drivers who do not have access to learner’s
permits and practice driving are at higher risk of
accidents
• Not having a drivers license is barrier to work,
school and extracurricular activities
• Biggest barrier to access to license has been the
requirement that all youth under 18 have proof of
insurance before getting a license
• Legislative efforts to eliminate barriers in the past
have not increased access to driving for youth
 In 2013, fewer than 20 foster youth statewide
had a driver’s license
CLICK HERE FOR A STEP BY STEP GUIDE ON HOW TO GET YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE
Eligibility
• Youth in licensed out-of-home care (statutory)
• Completing driver’s education (statutory)
• 15 – 21 years old
Protect and inspire
every child, every
day.
CBCCFL.org
866-90-CHILD (24453)
• Meeting DMV Requirements
• Caregiver approval, using prudent parenting
standard (Youth/Caregiver Responsibility
Agreements)
Additional Considerations
 Case or transition plan with support
Application
• Online at keystoindependencefl.org
• 10-15 minutes to complete
• Submitted by youth, caregiver, case manager, GAL, etc.
• Program staff will follow-up with youth and caregiver
• Average 2.8 day turnaround
Reimbursements
• Request and documentation uploaded at
keystoindependencefl.org
Protect and inspire
every child, every
day.
CBCCFL.org
866-90-CHILD (24453)
 4-hr Traffic Law & Substance Abuse Course
 Learner’s & Driver’s License Fees
 Repeat Testing Fees
 Driver’s Education Course
 Insurance
 Other costs incidental to licensure –
TBD on an individual basis
 Deductible(when youth was driving during
accident)
• Many items can be paid directly – contact program
staff
Insurance
 Option 1: Foster parent/caregiver may choose to add
youth living in their home to their own insurance policy.
*Reimbursed amount limited to increase in premium.
 Option 2: Youth who is 17+ may sign for their own
insurance under the disability of non-age section of the
act.
 Option 3: Youth may apply for coverage under the
Florida Automobile Joint Underwriting Association
(FAJUA). This option will provide young adults in foster
care with a “non owner” auto insurance policy.
Related Florida Statutes
627.746 Coverage for minors who have a learner’s
license; additional premium prohibited.
Protect and inspire
every child, every
day.
CBCCFL.org
866-90-CHILD (24453)
An insurer that issues an insurance policy on a
private passenger motor vehicle to a name insured
who is a foster parent of a minor child may not charge
an additional premium for coverage of the minor child
while the child is operating the insured vehicle, for the
period of time that the minor has a learner’s driver’s
license, until such time as the minor obtains a driver’s
license.
Related Florida Statutes
322.09(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1) and (2), if
a foster parent of a minor who is under the age of 18 years and is in
foster care as defined in s. 39.01, an authorized representative of a
residential group home at which a minor resides, or the caseworker at
the agency at which the state has placed the minor signs the minor’s
application for a learner’s driver license, that foster parent, group
home representative, or caseworker does not assume any obligation
or become liable for any damages caused by the negligence or willful
misconduct of the minor by reason of having signed the application.
Prior to signing the application, the caseworker shall notify the foster
parent or other responsible party of his or her intent to sign and verify
the application.
Two Years Later –
How Have We Done?
Protect and inspire
every child, every
day.
•
790 youth currently enrolled (906 all-time)
•
Through June 2016:
 263 completed 4-hr course
 123 received learner’s license
 114 completed driver’s education
 96 received driver’s license
CBCCFL.org
866-90-CHILD (24453)
 42 reimbursed for insurance
Two Years Later –
How Have We Done?
• Average turnaround time for application is 2.8 days
• Denials and closures primarily due to youth not being in
licensed placement
• 2/3 of enrolled youth are between ages 15-17
• 72.3% enroll without a learner’s license
Two Years Later –
How Have We Done?
•
 Youth, CBC staff, foster parents, case
managers, GAL’s, residential providers,
DCF staff
Protect and inspire
every child, every
day.
CBCCFL.org
866-90-CHILD (24453)
54 trainings held around the state reaching
2300 attendees, including:
•
Webinar on USF Center for Child Welfare
•
Dedicated website, English & Spanish
•
Social media presence, quarterly newsletters,
statewide conferences/meetings
Statewide Program Penetration: June 30, 2016
Youth Ages 15-17 in Licensed Out-of-Home Care
# of Enrolled
Total Eligible
Apps
Lead Agency
Big Bend CBC
Brevard Family Partnership
CBC of Central Florida - Orange/Osceola
CBC of Central Florida - Seminole
ChildNet - Broward
ChildNet - Palm Beach
Children's Network of Southwest Florida
Community Partnership of Children
Devereux Families
Eckerd - Hillsborough
Eckerd - Pasco/Pinellas
Families First Network
Family Support Services of North Florida
Heartland for Chidren
Kids Central
Kids First of Florida
Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe
Partnership for Strong Families
Sarasota Family YMCA
St. Johns County Board of Commissioners
Statewide
25
13
47
22
37
17
19
45
14
35
74
19
42
40
40
5
7
23
9
11
544
61
52
77
28
174
105
73
52
35
124
115
84
45
55
71
9
167
36
44
45
1452
% Enrolled
40.98%
25.00%
61.04%
78.57%
21.26%
16.19%
26.03%
86.54%
40.00%
28.23%
64.35%
22.62%
93.33%
72.73%
56.34%
55.56%
4.19%
63.89%
20.45%
24.44%
37.47%
Successes
Protect and inspire
every child, every
day.
CBCCFL.org
866-90-CHILD (24453)
•
Partners and Community Support
 Donated cars
 Car loan program
 Driver’s Education
•
Database
•
Spanish language resources
•
Incentive pilot
•
Interest from other states – Pennsylvania,
Wisconsin, Washington, Rhode Island
What Are They Saying?
“Without the program [my client] would have
had to change schools in the middle of her
senior year. Being able to continue to attend
the school she had been in all her high
school career means that she will be
enjoying prom, graduation, and her other
senior activities with familiar classmates.”
- Harriet, Guardian ad Litem
What Are They Saying?
Protect and inspire
every child, every
day.
“I have been able to improve and learn new
driving skills that have helped me drive
more safely on the road…with my daughter
in the car. With the money I have been
reimbursed, I have been able to save for
my transition into my own apartment.
Thanks to the K2I Program, I was able to
afford my security deposit for my apartment
and save money away for emergencies
and maintenance on my car.”
CBCCFL.org
866-90-CHILD (24453)
- Alison, Participant
What Are They Saying?
“I have found that the Keys to Independence program has been a
very simple process to navigate. From completing the application to
submitting a reimbursement form, the system is user-friendly, and
the documents are straight forward. There is always someone
available to assist you through phone calls or emails in the event
you have any questions…With the support of the Keys to
Independence program, what was once an unattainable dream for
some youths, has now become a reality.”
- Erica, Residential Group Home Provider
What Are They Saying?
Protect and inspire
every child, every
day.
“One of the biggest positive outcomes that I have
seen is that case workers are more aware of the
importance that our state is placing on youth in
foster care obtaining permits and licenses. They
have been more cooperative about signing
parental consent forms and sending original
documents…I want to personally thank the
individual or group of people who are responsible
for initiating this program. I believe that these
youth need to experience as many ‘normal’
teenage rites of passage as possible.”
CBCCFL.org
866-90-CHILD (24453)
- Pam, Residential Group Home Provider
Continued Focus
•
Foster parent concerns – liability and insurance
•
Reimbursement vs. direct payment
•
Case manager turnover
•
Program information in new GAL and foster parent
training classes
Continued Focus
• Driver’s education providers throughout state
• Required practice driving hours
• Lead agency support
Protect and inspire
every child, every
day.
• Placement in non-licensed care
• Personnel to effectively administer the program
• Motivation of youth
CBCCFL.org
866-90-CHILD (24453)
Looking Ahead
•
•
Proposed legislation to ensure Keys to Independence
becomes a permanent resource
Improvements being considered for legislation:
 Inclusion of dependent youth in non-licensed care (relative and
non relative)
 Inclusion of previously enrolled youth for six months after
reaching permanency or turning 18
 Allow GAL’s, with caregiver approval, to be authorized to sign for
learner’s and driver’s license and have the same liability
protection that caseworkers and authorized agents of group
homes already have.
Contact Us!
Online:
www.keystoindependencefl.org
Email:
[email protected]
Call:
321.441.2060
www.facebook.com/keystoindependencefl
www.instagram.com/keystoindependence
Protect and inspire
every child, every
day.
Initiative Support Managers
Wayne Brown, David Finucane, Maria Solon
Trainings/Presentations
Jane Soltis, [email protected]
CBCCFL.org
866-90-CHILD (24453)
DMV Info.
www.flhsmv.gov/teens
www.keystoindependencefl.org
Jane V. Soltis
Marketing, Outreach & Technical Assistance
Keys to Independence
[email protected]