Just In Time has supported thousands of young foster care adults since it launched 20 years ago.
“So many foster youth are exiting the foster care system without any of the skills or knowledge or support of how to manage money. So when you don’t have the foundational areas of support, participants are stuck in what we call the 'survival mindset' where they're living day to day, week to week, paycheck to paycheck.”The night he was taken into foster care, “I remember being up and watching a movie with my family when there was a knock at the door,” he said.
Despite all the challenges he faced, Martinez went to graduate school and now teaches young foster care adults how to manage their money and become financially literate. “So many foster youth are exiting the foster care system without any of the skills or knowledge or support of how to manage money,” he said. “So when you don’t have the foundational areas of support, participants are stuck in what we call the 'survival mindset' where they're living day to day, week to week, paycheck to paycheck.”
Many of the staff at Just In Time aged out of the foster care system themselves, like Samantha Harner. After years of suffering with low self esteem due to her experiences in care, Harner now helps Just In Time participants access mental health support. She said how important it is for former foster youth to have someone to relate to.
“To be able to come in and just be like 'I’m having a horrible day' and for somebody to look at you and say I get it," she said. “You just have this person who completely understands what you’re going through and they’re there to comfort you.”
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