“It gave me back my dreams.” Opportunity Passport® empowers Maine foster care youth to achieve $2M in saved and matched funds
Young Mainers currently or formerly in foster care have achieved the incredible milestone of saving and gaining matched funding totaling more than $2 million through the Opportunity Passport® program. Money saved by enrolled youth is matched dollar for dollar, up to $1,000 per year, toward purchasing specific assets. Participants have saved and used their matching funds to pay for education, housing, vehicle, healthcare costs, and more. These funds have helped support their successful transition to adulthood.
During a celebration event on Thursday at the Maine State House, program participants shared their personal stories about how they are now successful, thriving young adults because of their resiliency, their participation in Opportunity Passport®, and the support and guidance provided to them by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, JMG, and many mission-driven organizations from the private sector.
“Opportunity Passport® provided me with financial opportunities that I could not have achieved on my own,” said program participant Mariah Knight, who is now a Maine DHHS Youth Transition Specialist. “I am now the specialist who not only connects other children to OP but who also reminds them that needing help does not make you a burden.”
Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew highlighted the critical role of Opportunity Passport® in supporting youth in care. “The Opportunity Passport® program provides young people with important support to successfully transition from foster care into adulthood,” Lambrew said. “The Department thanks JMG and other organizations for their partnership with the Department in this program and applauds the accomplishments of the youth who participate in the Opportunity Passport® program.”
Alexander Buzzell, one of more than 700 Maine foster care youth JMG has supported through the program, used his matching funds to cover car expenses and the security deposit for his apartment. “As a foster youth, I didn’t have the traditional support systems that you have in your traditional family. This often made tiny obstacles seem like roadblocks impossible to overcome,” Buzzell said. “Opportunity Passport® helped me to bridge that gap and get my life started.”
Tiffiani Melia said Opportunity Passport® provided the support she needed to obtain her college degree and her independence. “Opportunity Passport® not only taught me the financial skills I need to be successful, but it gave me back my dreams again,” Melia said. “My college degree is something that no one can take away from me, and this program helped me get there.”
JMG serves as the Opportunity Passport® program coordinator in Maine, enrolling youth and providing them with financial literacy education, as well as ongoing mentoring support. "We are proud to be the program coordinator and support these youth as they build their financial capability to set goals to save and manage their money so they can thrive as adults,” said JMG President and CEO Craig Larrabee.
Opportunity Passport® is supported by MYTC, the Maine Youth Transition Collaborative, which is committed to supporting young people who are or have been in foster care and have the resources and opportunities needed to transition into adulthood successfully. MYTC partners include the Office of Family and Child Services of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Youth and Community Engagement (YCE) at the Catherine Cutler Institute, JMG, and Goodwill Industries.
