Meet Liz Crane

Waterloo, the seat of Black Hawk County, is Iowa’s eighth most populated city. Manufacturing once dominated the workforce, but with recent layoffs and plant closures finding employment or in some cases reemployment in these positions has been difficult for some, leading to family instability and hardships. A shortage of sustainable employment is among the primary concerns facing the county of roughly 68,000 residents. 

Liz Crane is hopeful the new Thrive Iowa initiative can bring some much-needed relief to families looking to regain their stability. Crane is the newly-hired coordinator for Thrive Iowa in Black Hawk County.  

Because it is rich in community resources all ready and willing to help their neighbors, Crane feels Black Hawk County is equipped to provide services across many different areas. 

"Bringing those organizations together is going to be key for families,” Crane said.  

“I think some of the areas we're going to want to dive into right away is going to be around transportation, housing, and employment. We're going to set them up with organizations that can help them meet those needs and whatever they need to achieve their goals.” 

For many who have landed on hard times, a stigma exists when it comes to asking for help. As a psychology major at Iowa State University, where she received her Bachelor's of Science degree, this is a mindset Crane understands. The old ways of seeking assistance oftentimes led to frustration and humility for vulnerable families. 

Crane is hopeful that the Thrive Iowa initiative and its ‘for the people by the people’ approach will topple some of those concerns. 

“When you break down silos you allow people to come together in a way that's going to help them be successful,” Crane said.  

“When a community gathers around you and supports you, it feels better to go and ask for help and want those supports.” 

Seeking help through Thrive Iowa is a bit less of a navigational challenge through the implementation of the software and online access. 

Hope Hub, a database accessible to local service providers, allows providers to create a detailed support plan for families in their specific areas of crisis. Personal information is strictly confidential and HIPAA compliant. 

Black Hawk County is one of eleven Iowa counties that are currently being served by Thrive Iowa, which is using the Restore Hope model.  

Paul Chapman, executive director of Restore Hope, an Arkansas-based nonprofit company designed to help bring families from crises to stability, has been speaking to community leaders in the 11 Iowa counties participating in the Thrive Iowa initiative on the benefits of collective impact to help families in need.  

“Collective impact is a structured way for government and community groups to work toward the same outcomes using shared data and measuring outcomes,” Chapman said. 

Chapman started Restore Hope in 2015 as Arkansas was faced with an alarming crisis among young families and high incarceration rates. Through local partnerships, a for the community by the community approach, Arkansas communities were able to provide targeted support and guidance to families in need of assistance in the areas that affected them most. 

Crane is optimistic that this grassroots approach of helping families in Black Hawk County will make a difference for families in her county who need help. 

“I think that the lasting impact is going to be significant, and I think our communities are going to end up in a much better place because of Thrive Iowa,” Crane said.