Elizabeth Gaines is the policy director at the Forum for Youth Investment where she oversees the Forum’s work related to state and local policy and manages various national partnerships and networks of legislators, advocates and youth councils. She has co-authored the "Youth Count" report, the "Adding It Up Guide to Mapping Public Resources for Children, Youth and Families" and the series on "State Children’s Cabinets and Councils: Getting Results for Children and Youth." Before coming to the Forum, Gaines served as the volunteer coordinator for America Coming Together in Missouri. Prior to that work, Elizabeth was the youth policy analyst for Citizens for Missouri’s Children, a child and youth advocacy organization.