Slowly but Surely Foster Kids are Getting Their ID

Florida Statutes, section 39.701, provides that all foster children 17 years and older shall be provided with a current Medicaid card, a certified copy of his/her birth certificate, and either a valid driver’s license or Florida ID card. By implication, a Social Security card must also be provided since it is required to get a driver’s license or Florida ID card. For years, foster kids have aged-out of care without these important documents. After many months of advocating this cause, Gulfcoast Community Care, the agency that oversees case management services for children 5 to 18 years old in Pinellas County, has recently implemented a procedure to ensure foster kids receive their original birth certificate, Social Security card, and Medicaid card. The procedure still must be tweaked to require the case manager to also assist the child with obtaining his/her driver’s license or Florida ID, but Gulfcoast is at least taking a big step in the right direction.