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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Iowa Center for Children's Justice

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Iowa Center for Children's Justice

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Iowa Center for Children's Justice is a nonprofit organization assisting children in custody disputes through child-focused education and legal services.

11/04/2026

What happens at home doesn’t always stay at home. Family conflict can affect a child’s stress, attention and ability to focus on the things that are important to them.

ICCJ’s children’s legal representation keeps the child’s needs at the center of family law matters. By giving children their own advocate, we help make sure their experiences and needs aren’t lost in the conflict between adults.

Kids have enough to focus on. Being caught in the middle shouldn’t be one of them.

11/02/2026

A little kindness can make a big difference!

A special thank you to the team at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield for taking the time to create friendship bracelets for the children attending our Children’s Divorce Workshops!

We are so grateful for their thoughtfulness and commitment to giving back to the community. Small gestures like these help make our workshops a welcoming and supportive space for the children we serve.

Want to get your company involved? We would love to have more local businesses and organizations help spread kindness through friendship bracelets!

Reach out to [email protected] or [email protected] to learn how your team can participate!

10/30/2026

Staff Spotlight: Steve Belay!

Meet Steve Belay, ICCJ’s Executive Director and Attorney!

For the past three years, Steve has dedicated his work to advocating for children and helping families navigate challenging situations with child-centered solutions.

Steve believes that how children are treated during times of conflict can have a lasting impact on their development. His goal is to ensure that every child's voice is heard and that families receive the support they need.

“I consider it a privilege daily to be asked to assist with resolving family conflicts and to ensure that the children's voices are heard.”

We are grateful for Steve’s leadership, dedication, and continued commitment to the children and families we serve!

10/28/2026

Children shouldn’t have to carry messages between their parents or feel responsible for managing adult conflict.

ICCJ’s parenting coordination helps parents navigate ongoing communication and disagreements while keeping their child’s needs at the center. By giving parents tools and support to work through conflict directly, kids can focus on what matters most—just being kids.

Learn more about parenting coordination at iowachildrensjustice.org.

10/23/2026

Spotlighting Anjie, ICCJ Board Member!

Anjela (Anjie) Shutts, an attorney at Whitfield & Eddy, PLC, has been involved with ICCJ since its earliest stages, serving on the exploratory committee in 2017 that helped raise the funds to establish Kids First Law Center – Des Moines.

Having practiced family law since 1996, Anjie recognized the importance of providing children with the same opportunities for education and support that parents receive during divorce. Her experience as both an attorney and a parent has reinforced her belief that children deserve to be heard and advocated for.

For Anjie, ICCJ's mission is about providing children with support and a voice during difficult family transitions, whether through our workshops or legal representation.

She also emphasizes something important about ICCJ: Our services are available to children regardless of their family's financial circumstances.

We are grateful for Anjie's dedication to ICCJ and her continued commitment to the children and families we serve!

10/23/2026

We’re proud to see Diane Dornburg, managing attorney at the Iowa Center for Children’s Justice, and Christine Crilley of Crilley Law Office sharing their expertise on Parent Coordination at the The Iowa State Bar Association's 2026 Family Law Seminar this week!

At ICCJ, we believe every child deserves to have their voice valued and heard. We’re grateful for opportunities like this to collaborate with fellow family law professionals and strengthen the resources available to children and families navigating challenging transitions.

Thank you, Diane and Christine, for sharing your knowledge and supporting better outcomes for Iowa’s children and families!

10/21/2026

When parents disagree about custody or parenting decisions, going back to court isn’t always the only option.

Child-Focused Mediation gives parents an opportunity to work together toward solutions while keeping their children’s needs at the center of the conversation.

At ICCJ, our attorneys help parents navigate disagreements, communicate through difficult issues, and identify solutions that can work for their family.

The goal isn’t about one parent “winning.” It’s about creating a path forward that considers what children need as their family changes.

Learn more about Child-Focused Mediation and how ICCJ may be able to help at iowachildrensjustice.org.

10/16/2026

Spotlighting Diane, ICCJ’s Managing Attorney!

Diane has been with ICCJ since its very beginning on July 1, 2020, and continues to be a dedicated advocate for the children we serve.

For Diane, the most rewarding part of her work is hearing children's perspectives, watching them grow, and helping them have a voice in decisions that impact their lives.

She believes children have valuable thoughts, feelings, and ideas about the changes happening in their families, and they deserve to have those perspectives acknowledged.

We are incredibly grateful for Diane's continued dedication to ICCJ and the children and families we serve!

10/15/2026

Our Children's Divorce Workshop is tonight from 6:00–7:30 PM!

Please remember that workshops are NOT held at the ICCJ office. The correct location and address can be found in your booking confirmation email.

We look forward to seeing everyone tonight!
For questions, email: [email protected]

10/14/2026

Parenting coordination can be a helpful option for families experiencing ongoing co-parenting conflict, but families don’t all come to the process for the same reason.

Parents may come to parenting coordination with one particular disagreement they need help working through, or they may need support navigating multiple or ongoing disagreements related to co-parenting.

At ICCJ, parenting coordination uses a mediation-style approach to help parents communicate, work through conflict, and identify practical solutions with their children’s needs at the center.

The goal is not to eliminate every disagreement—it’s to develop healthier ways to work through them.

Reach out to ICCJ to schedule a Parenting Coordination Session today!

Address

501 SW 7th Street, Suite G
Des Moines, IA
50309

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

(515) 414-9562

Website

https://www.iowachildrensjustice.org/

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