Legislative Resources
IFAPA Legislative Breakfast
Every year, IFAPA hosts a Legislative Breakfast at the Iowa State Capitol. This event allows foster, adoptive and kinship families to meet their legislators and discuss the importance of supporting issues affecting families and children. The 2010 Legislative Breakfast was held on February 16th. The 2011 IFAPA Legislative Breakfast date and time will be scheduled in the fall of 2010.
Didn't attend IFAPA's Legislative Breakfast?
If you were not able to attend the IFAPA Legislative Breakfast, but want a chance to speak with one of your legislators, consider attending a local legislative forum or town hall meeting in your area. You can find a list of upcoming dates and locations at the following link. If you are not able to attend a meeting, consider sending them an e-mail or a letter.
2010 Legislative Forums and Town Hall Meetings
Tips for Attending a Legislative Forum
Legislative Tips from IFAPA (How to communicate with legislators)
Sample Letter to a Legislator
Find Your Federal and State Legislators
Legislative News
To read the latest legislative news affecting foster, adoptive and kinship families, visit our Legislative News webpage.
Public Policy Agenda
By telling their stories to legislators and developing personal relationships with public officials, Iowa's foster and adoptive parents are improving the child welfare and child protective system. The agenda defines the issues foster and adoptive parent members of IFAPA have identified and prioritized as important to children. Our Legislative Agenda can be found in the Jan 2010 News & Views.
Find Your Legislators
To find out who your legislators are and their mailing address, phone number and e-mail address, visit the The Iowa Legislature website. It is very simple. just type in your home address and it will list your federal and state legislators. www.legis.state.ia.us/FindLeg/
Interacting with Your Legislators
Citizens play a very important role in the lawmaking process – and they are the reality checks that elected officials look to when deciding how they will approach an issue. Iowa’s lawmakers are very accessible – and ready to hear from their constituents. That is why advocacy can be so effective – you don’t need a professional lobbyist to represent your views – you just need some basic understanding of the lawmaking process. Click on the publications below to help you learn more about the Legislative Breakfast and interacting with your legislators. View Legislative Tips from IFAPA
Other Publications
There are a few other advocacy publications that are available that affect foster and adoptive families. They are:
Child Views - a bi-weekly newsletter from the the Joan and Lyle Middleton Center for Children's Rights. The focus is on child welfare issues, with an emphasis on the legal issues involved.
Every Child Matters - a national nonprofit organization devoted to improving the lives of children and families by advocating for better public policy during federal and state campaigns.
Child Welfare League of America - learn about Washington's hot issues surrounding children and families and child welfare services.
