Life is challenging enough on its own. When the deck is stacked against you and no one is in your corner to support you or cheer you on, that makes any issue a young person is facing more difficult. That is the situation that youth in the adoption or foster care system face daily. They’re old enough to know that what is going on isn’t fair or right, but too young to understand what to do to help change their life situations. That was until now. 

The nonprofit organization AMP, Achieving Maximum Potential, has returned to the Siouxland area to do everything possible to support and assist youth in adoption and foster care programs in Western Iowa—their motto: “Nothing About Us Without Us.”

“AMP was founded in 2005. It is a youth-driven, statewide group that seeks to unleash the full potential for personal growth among the youth in the adoption and foster care system in the state of Iowa,” explained AMP Facilitator Moncia Gooddawn.

The organization caters to children aged 13-22 years old in the Iowa adoption and foster care system. The youth-driven council empowers foster care and adoptive youth to share their voices and develop leadership skills to influence the system that effects their lives.

Monica, a grown child of the Iowa foster care system, stated, “We make ourselves part of the support system for the youth who are getting ready to transition out of the foster care or adoptive system. We do this in two ways. First, hearing directly from the children reveals their needs, which is what we need to address. And secondly, empowering these youth. They are learning the skills to speak up, find their voice, to know their worth and value, and to really demonstrate that in the legislation.”

Monica’s life in the foster care and adoptive care system started when she was only 48 hours old. 

“My life really started in these systems. Then my grandparents adopted me, which I am forever grateful for; however, once I was adopted, I didn’t really have the support system I needed. And I wasn’t aware of all the resources available to me, which, looking back now, is sad. There are many things I would have done to improve my life if I had known how to track and utilize them,” said Monica.

A top item on that list would have been resources for college payment, as she now faces repaying her student loans. However, there are other reasons for her working with AMP.

“I just feel very passionate about youth empowerment, creating space where young people can be seen and heard and have that extra support! At these monthly meetings, the youth truly are running the meetings. I’m there to facilitate, help bring ideas to life, but it’s their council and their meeting,” said Monica.

The group currently meets once a month, on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Monica is a new facilitator at the Sioux City group and faces several challenges.

“First, it’s getting the youth to attend and then getting them to come back. It’s a process of building a healthy relationship with them, one that is based on trust. That can be extremely difficult when you’re a young person going through these situations. It can be hard to trust grown-ups. You have social workers, and then depending on your placement, you might have this large group of adults who say they’re there to help you, but you have these big emotions inside of you at such a young age that it can feel like you’re not getting the help that you need and deserve,” explained Monica.

To help with that, Monica poses a question to the group. What does a safe place smell like to you? 

“So now we have candles that all smell like lemons because that’s what they all agreed on. A safe place smells like lemons, clean and bright,” replied Monica.

There are no prequalifications to join AMP, except for being in the Iowa foster care or adoptive care program. There isn’t a sign-up sheet anywhere. If a youth in either the foster care system or adoption system is interested in being involved with AMP, they should inform their social workers.

“All of the social workers in Iowa know about the AMP program and that we’re trying to build it up more in western Iowa, too. They’re happy to help us accomplish that. Social workers can contact me at 712-522-0025 or email me at mgooddawn@siouxlandship.org. Then all the youth have to do is show up at the meetings,” explained Monica.

Having dealt with these feelings and situations herself growing up as an adopted child, Monica knows how important it is for youth to feel that they are being listened to and heard.

“I want to learn about the youth, first and foremost. Hear their stories, their lived experiences, and help them learn to identify and recognize their strengths. I want to know what I can do for them, and what our community can do for them. I want to make the Sioux City Youth AMP system stronger and better for many years to come. Even if it’s not something I facilitate, but someone else takes over, I want it to last,” shared Monica.

An opportunity for the Siouxland community to get involved and help AMP succeed is to donate items to the Siouxland Foster Closet, located at 1918 Geneva Street in Sioux City. Their phone number is 712-253-3943. When a child is moved into a foster care placement or an adoption, they usually have just a garbage bag with a few items they’ve been able to pack from where they had been calling home. They don’t have time to go in and really take in what is important to them; they grab what they can, and something that may hold a special meaning or memory for them.

The Siouxland Foster Closet helps provide free clothing and necessities to young people in foster care and adoptive care in Sioux City. 

“This isn’t the Goodwill where you go and buy a T-shirt for $3.27. All the items are free for the youth,” explained Monica. Donations are accepted on the first Saturday of each month.

New placements in foster care or adoptive care usually need seven to ten days of clothing. A welcome bag typically consists of a new package of socks, a new package of underwear, new pajamas, new shoes, a hygiene kit (including a new toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, brush, soap, and shampoo), a new blanket, and a book.

“That’s what makes Siouxland strong — we have to work together!” cheered Monica.