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.