elevate
Desire to inspire.

Children & Families of Iowa’s elevate is a youth-driven program that inspires change, compassion and connection for foster and adoptive youth in Iowa. elevate members are youth ages 13 and up who have been involved in foster care, adoption or other out-of-home placements. We are young people who want to make a difference in the child welfare system. We come from every background and we all have stories to tell. elevate's mission is to inspire others to new levels of understanding and compassion to the life connection needs of foster care and adoptive teens by sharing their personal stories of hope. What We Do We train and empower youth to become advocates for themselves and for others. We provide youth with valuable leadership opportunities. We encourage youth to develop their voices by telling their own stories in their own ways. We educate legislators, foster parents, the public, child welfare professionals and juvenile court representatives about foster care and adoption from our perspective. We develop partnerships that create opportunities for teens and strengthen our voices. We encourage others to open their homes to teens in foster care.

elevate is the result of a unique collaboration between CFI, the Iowa Department of Human Services, and the Iowa Legislature. Originally formed in 2005 with Iowa Department of Human Services adoption incentive monies, elevate was developed as a vehicle for youth advocacy and to enhance recruitment of more foster homes for teens. As the group grew and more teens became involved, it was apparent that there was a need for an active voice for foster/adoptive children. elevate became this voice, and it has since become a force of change and education in Iowa’s Child Welfare system.