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.
Who we representOur attorneys are appointed to represent a child in family law cases where:- A child is age 6 to 16;
- A child resides in Polk County or Dallas County;
- A divorce, custody or modification, child guardianship, contempt or collaborative law case is pending; and
- A case is high conflict or another factor warrants a child having representation.
FeesOur attorneys offer legal representation on a sliding fee scale based on parents' income. Download fee information.Next steps
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
- Children participate with other kids their age
- Creative and positive activities teach coping skills for lifestyle changes due to divorce
- Children learn they are not alone
FeesWorkshop fees are $30/one child or $50/family. To request a reduced fee based on low-income status, contact us.Next steps
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:
- Child-inclusive mediation
- Two mediator team approach
- Single- or extended multi-session mediation
FeesFees vary by type of mediation. Download fee information.Next StepsTo learn more about our mediation services, contact us.
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
- Attorneys take a child-focused, collaborative approach to resolving parenting issues
- Parents learn communication and conflict resolution skills
- Parenting coordination is typically done in a series of 10 sessions lasting one hour each.
Benefits
- Saves parents time and money by keeping them out of court
- Promotes problem-solving among parents so they can resolve future issues without professional coordination
FeesParenting coordination is provided by Diane Dornburg, managing attorney at a rate of $200/hour.Next Steps
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
- Evaluation by an attorney, who may partner with a mental health professional or other team member with extensive experience in family law
- Identification of the strengths and challenges of both sides of the the case
- A written evaluation offering a potential outcome of the case
Benefits- Enhanced communication between the parties
- Clarification about the central issues in dispute
- Can shorten costly pre-trial discovery process
- Neutral evaluation may lead to settlement
FeesEvaluation is provided by Diane Dornburg, managing attorney for a flat fee of $500 for a 3-hour session. Additional fees may apply for additional specialists, such as mental health professionals.Next stepsWho 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.
