Foster Youth Advocate for Change at 2025 AMP Day on the Hill

Foster care youth gathered at the Iowa State Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 30, 2025, for the annual AMP Day on the Hill. The event opened with remarks from YSS President and CEO Andrew Allen, followed by speakers including Janee Harvey, Family Well-Being and Protection Director for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, as well as YSS staff and youth advocates.

AMP (Achieving Maximum Potential) is a statewide youth council for foster care, adoptive, and kinship youth. Led by YSS and funded by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, AMP empowers young people with leadership opportunities, service-learning projects, educational support, and life skills training—helping them build independence and self-sufficiency.

Guided by the motto “Nothing about us, without us,” AMP ensures youth have a voice in shaping the foster care system.

“AMP gives young people a voice and a community,” said Samanthya Marlatt, YSS Director of Youth Empowerment & Advocacy. “It’s a place where foster youth can connect, grow, and advocate for real changes that impact their lives and the future of Iowa’s Child Welfare System.”

Each year, AMP participants develop a legislative agenda to present to Iowa lawmakers and the public. Over the past 14 years, AMP Day on the Hill has contributed to real policy changes, including:

• Implementing the Guardian Assistance Program to increase permanency for foster youth
• Strengthening Iowa law to keep siblings together in out-of-home placements
• Extending foster care eligibility to age 21

Through advocacy and action, AMP continues to drive positive change for Iowa’s youth.

For 2025, youth are advocating for:

• Access to culturally appropriate hygiene products
• Better relationships with caseworkers
• Increased participation in court proceedings, including opportunities for youth to attend court in person
• Maintaining family connections
• Reduced wait times for placements

In collaboration with the Coalition for Family & Children’s Services in Iowa, AMP also supports:

Increased rates for QRTPs and emergency shelters: This proposal advocates for funding to support evidence-based practices, additional staffing, and salary increases to better address the needs of youth with high levels of trauma.