Liason Program - Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parent Association

What is a Peer Liaison?
IFAPA Liaisons are your peers. They are experienced foster parents and may be adoptive parents as well. They have years of experience on how to work within the system and training on how to resolve issues of concern. Peer Liaisons provide peer-to-peer support and mentoring.

Do you know who your

Peer Liaison is?

Click here to find your liaison

"My job is to encourage and empower parents to work with the system for the children they represent."

Linda Dodson
Des Moines Service Area Peer Liaison

What topics do Peer Liaisons address?

Each Peer Liaison works with an average of 300 foster and adoptive families. Many of these families contact their Peer Liaison with the same questions or concerns. Here is a list of some of the common topics Peer Liaisons encounter while talking with families:

DHS policies and procedures
Working with birth parents
Behavior problems with a child
Foster payment questions
Adoption subsidy questions
Medicaid/Title XIX questions
Foster parent rights
Attending a local support group
IFAPA training questions
Clarity on confidentiality issues
How to receive more foster placements
Communication problems with a social worker
How to provide respite care or find a respite provider
Mandatory Reporter Training availability
New changes within the foster care system
Understanding the DHS chain of command

Will a Peer Liaison automatically call me?
Peer Liaisons initiate contact with newly licensed foster and adoptive families to welcome them to foster care, explain IFAPA's programs and to answer questions for the families. They also contact foster parents as they leave the human services system to determine the cause for termination of their license. This call helps IFAPA guide DHS in its foster family recruitment and retention efforts. In addition, liaisons try to check in with current foster families as time allows.

"We are a team and for that team to do the best for children, each team member must respect the value of the other members. We all have our roles and each of us needs to do his/her best within this role."

Judy Silverman
Davenport Service Area Peer Liaison

Where might I see my Peer Liaison?

IFAPA Conference
IFAPA General Membership meetings
Foster care and adoption events
Social worker/private agency meetings
Support group meetings
Committee meetings
IFAPA and regional meetings
Legislative Breakfast
IFAPA's annual Adventureland Day

Do you have a suggestion or idea?
Liaisons offer a way to make your suggestions and ideas heard. Do you have:

An idea on how to improve the foster/adoptive care system
Time to volunteer to help other foster/adoptive parents
Special skills or abilities to enhance your local support group

IFAPA's Peer Liaisons are working as private contractors and their positions are part-time. Therefore, it may be necessary to leave them a message, but they will return your call as soon as possible. Foster/Adoptive Parent Liaisons are anxious to hear from you.