elevate
News & Announcements

elevate is making a difference for foster and adoptive youth in Iowa and across the country!    August 2010 Elevate 5-Year Celebration  Elevate celebrates five years of "Growing Together" and helping foster and adoptive youth to have a brighter future! Click the logo at the left to learn more. March 2010 Legislative Update  This was a successfull year for elevate legislation!  Of the four bills proposed on our legislative agenda, two were passed unanimously by both the House and Senate, proving that Iowa legislators are listening to the voice of youth.  Special thanks goes out to Jerry Foxhoven and the Drake Legal Clinic for their expertise in creating the bills from elevate ideas and Senator Keith Kreiman for sponsoring the bills this legislative session. In the past five years, elevate has passed key legislation that provides for youth as they age out of foster care and meets their needs as they work within the system.  To see all legislation that is now law click here.  Personal Stories to Elevate the Conversation After working with elevate youth to help them write and deliver a persuasive speech, professional mediator Laura Melton Tucker was impressed by the group's mission of telling their personal stories to affect change. She featured the group on her blog as an example of what good can come from finding our own voices. February 2009 Youth Hope to Elevate Foster Care Discussion  The Ottumwa Courier interviewed local youth. Read the story by reporter Scott Niles. elevate Member Randie Among Best Savers  Ames chapter member, Randie, was recognized in this article by Opportunity Passport. Read the article from the Jim Casey Youth Opportunity Web Site. Behind Reasonable Efforts: Thoughts from Foster Youth  Youth were asked to give their opinions on reasonable efforts for a national publication, The National CASA Association Judges' Pages.

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.