By SCOTT NILES

Courier staff writer

OTTUMWA — A group of local foster kids is trying to make the system better for future generations by telling their stories.

Joanie Elder, one of the adult leaders of the “Elevate” group, said the goal of the program is to inspire.

The group travels around the area sharing their stories to numerous different political, social and civic groups. The group does not focus completely on change, but they want to tell their stories and better the foster system in any way possible.

Last session the Des Moines “Elevate” group met with some politicians and convinced them to adopt a bill that would allow children aging out of the foster program to stay under care until the age of 21 instead of 18.

This year, they are also working on a bill that would allow siblings going into foster care to stay together rather than be separated.

Elder said the group wants to express the message that the foster system can be good.

“I am a former foster child,” she said. “A lot of times, people are scared, especially for the teens, thinking it is their behavior that put them there. Most of the time it is not the child’s fault.”

Some foster kids come from broken homes, others from neglected families. Each of them has a different and interesting story.

Brianna Saldana, 17, was only 11 when she was taken from her home for the first time. She has since been in eight different homes.

“I found out about the group when I went to Des Moines with my foster mom and she heard about it and we went to a meeting to check it out. Then they started a chapter here in Ottumwa, so I thought I would come see about it,” she said.

RJ Fridley, 16, is another group member

His foster mom told him about the group and he decided it was something he would be interested in.

“I joined to be able to help people and inspire other kids to tell their stories and what they went through,” he said.