Iowa Center for Children's Justice

08/14/2026

We’re so grateful to Scott & Carrie Wadding for their generous support as a Gold Sponsor of this year’s Champions for Children! 💙

Their commitment helps ICCJ ensure children have a voice, support, and the opportunity to be kids, even during some of life’s most difficult circumstances.

Join us for Champions for Children on Thursday, September 17, as we celebrate the people and organizations who help children thrive.

🎟️ Tickets are now on sale! Come celebrate with us and help make a difference for children in our community --> https://givebutter.com/2026-champions-for-children

Thank you, Scott & Carrie, for being Champions for Children! 💙

08/14/2026

🎉 Help ICCJ Win Up to $6,000! 🎉

The Iowa Center for Children’s Justice has an exciting opportunity to win up to $6,000 through the MidAmerican Energy Foundation’s CARES Daily Donation program during the Iowa State Fair!

Here’s how it works:

💙 Two $1,000 winners will be randomly selected each day of the Iowa State Fair, August 13–23.
💙 Those daily winners will then be entered into a drawing for the $5,000 grand prize!
💙 Nominations are open August 13–23, and you can nominate ICCJ once every day.

It takes just a minute, it’s completely free, and your nomination could make a BIG difference for the children and families we serve through youth divorce workshops and legal representation.

Use these details when submitting your nomination:

📌 Organization: Iowa Center for Children's Justice
📌 City: Des Moines
📌 Category: Safety and Wellness

👉 Submit your nomination TODAY—and once a day through August 23! --> https://woobox.com/kp58b7

Every nomination helps put ICCJ one step closer to this incredible opportunity to support children in our community. 💙

08/12/2026

What We Do Wednesday: Teaching Kids Skills to Cope with Divorce

Divorce results in dramatic lifestyle changes for everyone involved, but these changes are even more difficult for children who may feel overwhelmed or left out.

Children often have questions and emotions they don't know how to express during a family separation. Our Youth Divorce Workshops provide a safe, supportive space with trained facilitators where children can:
💙 Learn healthy coping skills
💙 Build resilience
💙 Meet other children experiencing similar situations
💙 Understand that the divorce is not their fault

These workshops help children gain confidence and develop the tools they need to navigate change in healthy ways.

08/07/2026

We're grateful to the Polk County Board of Supervisors for their continued investment in the children of our community through their generous support of the Iowa Center for Children's Justice.

This funding helps ensure that Central Iowa children caught in the middle of high-conflict custody cases have a voice and an advocate focused solely on their best interests. Every child deserves to feel heard, supported, and protected during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

Thank you, Polk County Board of Supervisors, for partnering with us to help children and families build brighter futures. 💙

08/05/2026

Who speaks for the child?

At the Iowa Center for Children's Justice (ICCJ), our attorneys represent children involved in high-conflict custody cases. Their role is to ensure each child's best interests remain at the forefront throughout the legal process.

When children have a dedicated advocate, they have someone focused entirely on their safety, stability, and well-being.

Every child deserves a voice.

07/31/2026

We're incredibly grateful to Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack & Hotel for their generous grant in support of ICCJ's Youth Divorce Workshops.

Every month, children across Central Iowa come together in a safe, supportive environment where they learn healthy coping skills, build resilience, and discover that they are not alone as their families navigate divorce or separation.

Thank you, Prairie Meadows, for believing in the importance of supporting children and families in our community. Together, we're helping children build brighter futures. 💙

07/29/2026

A big thank you to our friends at Whitfield & Eddy Lawfor inviting ICCJ Director of Fund Development, Andrea Wright, to speak with their summer clerks about how ICCJ is helping children and families across our community.

The group also spent time creating friendship bracelets and keychains that will be given to children attending future ICCJ Youth Divorce Workshops, a thoughtful gesture that will help make each child feel welcomed and supported.

Interested in hosting an ICCJ team member at your firm or company? We'd love to share more about our mission and even plan a hands-on service project for your team. Send us a message, we'd love to connect!

07/20/2026

We're pretty excited to call Steve Belay our Executive Director and it looks like our friends at the University of Iowa College of Law are excited too! 💙

Steve has spent his career standing up for children and families, and we're incredibly fortunate to have his experience, leadership, and heart guiding ICCJ.

Thank you to the University of Iowa College of Law for celebrating Steve and sharing the news!

Congratulations to Iowa Law alumnus Steve Belay (83JD) on being named executive director of the Iowa Center for Children's Justice! 💛🖤

Throughout his career, Belay has championed the well-being of children and families across Iowa. In his new role, he will lead statewide efforts to strengthen the systems that protect and advocate for children.

07/01/2026

🎉 Today, ICCJ Turns 6! 🎉

Six years ago, the Iowa Center for Children's Justice was founded with a simple but powerful mission: to assist children in custody disputes through child-focused education and legal services.

💙 Since opening our doors, we've served thousands of children and families across Central Iowa through legal representation, parenting coordination, and child-centered divorce workshops , and we're continuing to grow to meet the need. Every child we serve is a reminder of why this work matters.

To our donors, volunteers, community partners, attorneys, judges, board members, and families: thank you for believing in our mission and helping us advocate for Iowa's children.

Here's to six years of impact and many more years of ensuring every child has a voice.

🎂 Happy Birthday, ICCJ!

06/13/2026

Thanks for an amazing day sharing at the Des Moines Downtown Farmers’ Market! Our booth is set up and the coloring wall is filling up fast. Come find us, learn about the ICCJ mission, and let the kids add their masterpiece. Plenty of color left, so there’s still time to join in.