Supporting Kids. Strengthening Families.
child-focused custody resolutions | co-parenting solutions | divorce workshops for kids
What We Do
Iowa Center for Children's Justice elevates children's views in custody matters and promotes child-focused solutions through legal representation, education and alternative dispute resolution.
Legal Representation for Children
Attorneys work one-on-one with children to listen, support and advocate for child-focused resolutions in high-conflict custody cases.
How it works
Iowa Center for Children's Justice is appointed by the court to represent children in high-conflict divorce or custody matters.
Divorce Workshops for Children
Trained facilitators provide caring and respectful age-appropriate education about divorce. Workshop completion is required for children whose parents file for divorce in Polk County.
What to expect
Child-Focused Mediation
Attorneys work with parents involved in custody disputes to find solutions that benefit the entire family. Mediation can be used as an alternative to the courts or to fulfill a legal requirement of the divorce process.
How we're different
In addition to caucus style mediation typically practiced in Polk and Dallas counties, Iowa Center for Children's Justice offers these hard-to-find options:
Parenting Coordination
Attorneys work with parents post-divorce to help them resolve day-to-day parenting conflicts and issues with adhering to their parenting plan. Parenting coordination can be court ordered or voluntarily sought
by parents.
What to expect
Benefits
Neutral Evaluation
An opportunity for parents and attorneys involved in a divorce or custody case to receive impartial evaluation of the potential outcome. Early neutral evaluation is voluntary, confidential, and can occur any time after a case has been filed in court.
What to expect
Who We Are
Iowa Center for Children's Justice
Iowa Center for Children’s Justice is a nonprofit organization providing legal representation and support for Polk and Dallas County children ages 6 to 16 with parents involved in high-conflict divorce or custody disputes. As one of only a few programs of its kind in the nation, we believe that providing children with a safe space to share and learn about divorce, and access to knowledgeable legal advocates, helps the entire family move forward with realistic dispute resolutions.
We also provide child-focused mediation for parents, parenting coordination, and educational children’s workshops on coping with divorce, offering much-needed encouragement and alternative paths toward healthy solutions.
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we rely on grant funding and the support of our sponsors and donors to provide our programs and services that support children of divorce and custody disputes.
Our Approach
We are a caring and knowledgeable child-focused resource for the family law community and children whose parents are in conflict*.
While we represent kids, we seek custody resolutions and promote co-parenting solutions that are in the best interest of the entire family. All our programs and legal services focus on providing support and child representation that foster a healthy future for our clients and their families.
*We are not an emergency contact for disputing parents or abusive situations. If you are experiencing an emergency, contact the police or the Iowa Department of Human Services.
Our Innovation
Iowa Center for Children's Justice is one of only a few programs providing legal representation for children of divorce/custody disputes in the nation. Started as Kids First Law Center in eastern Iowa, which expanded into central Iowa in 2017, Iowa Center for Children’s Justice is now its own organization continuing the services and traditions of Kids First while offering appropriate legal support to children specifically within Polk and Dallas Counties.
Our court-appointed attorneys provide legal representation for children throughout custody cases, listening to and ensuring the child’s concerns are addressed for appropriate resolution. The high-conflict cases we’re involved in have a settlement rate well above the national average.
Our Staff
Managing Attorney
Diane came to ICCJ from Carney & Appleby, where she was an associate representing parents and children in divorce, custody, and other family law cases. She is a speaker at many continuing legal education programs and is specially trained as mediator and parenting coordinator.
In addition to managing attorney at ICCJ, Diane is the legislative chair for the Family & Juvenile Law Section of the Iowa State Bar Association and a member of the Polk County Bar Association Family Law Committee, Central Iowa Academy of Collaborative Professionals, and Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
She earned her Juris Doctor from The University of Michigan Law School and a bachelor's degree from Gustavus Adolphus College. Contact Diane.
Attorney
Rachel earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2019. She is specially trained as a mediator.
During law school, Rachel represented abused and neglected children under a student practice license at the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian in Chicago and served as an extern in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.
Rachel has extensive experience leading and designing curricula for ICCJ's divorce workshops. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Ethics and Public Policy with a minor in Spanish. Contact Rachel.
Sherry Speikers
Program Director
Sherry brings more than a decade of experience helping nonprofits advance their missions through the development and execution of strategic communication plans, grant proposals and stewardship publications.
Prior to the nonprofit field, Sherry worked for Fortune 500 companies and small, high-tech startups. She has a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of Colorado, a master’s in higher education from Drake University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa. Contact Sherry.
Volunteer
Your time is valuable. Feel good about how you spend it!
When you volunteer at Iowa Center for Children’s Justice, you help improve the lives of children experiencing family conflict. Whether you’re skilled at administrative tasks, stuffing envelopes or teaching children, we have a need for your time and talent. Here's how to volunteer:
Divorce Workshops for Children
This is a great opportunity if you are interested in working directly with children.
Volunteers co-facilitate our 2-hour divorce workshops for children with a trained staff member. These classes are required for children ages 6-16 whose parents are divorcing in Polk County. Workshops and curricula are grouped by grade level and are typically held on weekends and weekday evenings at Iowa Center for Children’s Justice. Learn more about workshops.
Volunteers are required to pass a background check and complete training prior to volunteering. For more information about volunteering for workshops, sherry@iaccj.org
Administrative Tasks and Mailing Projects
There are many ways to make an impact on children other than teaching workshops. A few times a year, we need help stuffing and stamping envelopes for large mailings. And year round, we could always use a little help in the office entering data, making copies or preparing workshop materials. To find a volunteer task that’s right for you, email sherry@iaccj.org
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Iowa Center for Children’s Justice. We hope to see you soon!
Questions about our services? We're here to help.
Register for Workshops
To prevent the spread of COVID-19,
we have suspended divorce workshops for children.
Registration is closed. Please do not register your child(ren) at this time. If you would like to be contacted when workshops resume, please email us.
Family law judges are aware of the situation. They will extend the timeline for the workshop requirement if needed. If you are ready to finalize your divorce and only the workshop requirement is left, you may ask a judge to waive workshop attendance. The judges have indicated they will waive the workshop requirement for anyone ready to finalize a divorce while the workshops are suspended.
Family Law Internship
Iowa Center for Children's Justice, Spring 2021
Iowa Center for Children’s Justice is a nonprofit organization providing legal representation and support for Polk and Dallas County children ages 6 to 16 with parents involved in high-conflict divorce or custody disputes. As one of only a few programs of its kind in the nation, we believe that providing children with knowledgeable legal advocates helps the entire family move forward with realistic dispute resolutions.
We are currently accepting applications for a family law intern for Spring 2021.
Gain Hands-On Experience in Family Law
As a law student intern at Iowa Center for Children's Jusice, you’ll assist attorneys who represent children in family law cases. Throughout your internship, you will:
Conduct legal research and draft memos
Draft motions and stipulations
Gather records and interview witnesses
Attend mediations, joint parent sessions, settlement conferences, and court hearings (when court resumes post Covid-19 restrictions)
Possibly Earn School Credit
This position is unpaid but may be eligible for school credit. Interns may select to work a part-time or full-time schedule. The office is open from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Your Qualifications
The ideal candidate is a self-motivated team player with strong communication skills, advanced legal writing and research abilities, and has a public interest background.
How to Apply
Send a cover letter and resume to Rachel Leigh at rachel@iaccj.org by Nov. 30th.
Iowa Center for Children's Justice
501 SW 7th St., Suite G
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 414-9562
© 2020