Kids First Law Center

Programs: Legal representation - kids first is the only organization in iowa with a mission to provide free and reduced-cost representation to children in divorce and custody cases. Children whose parents are engaged in high-conflict custody battles are at risk to suffer from severe behavioral and emotional problems, fail in school, abuse drugs and alcohol, and have failed relationships as adults. Kids first attorneys meet regularly with the child client, consult with the child's teachers, link families to community resources, collaborate with other professionals such as counselors, facilitate dispute resolution by parents, work to keep the child out of the conflict, and advocate the child's position in court. In 2016, kids first provided legal representation to 174 children in high-conflict custody cases.

educational workshops - kids first offers educational workshops to school-age children of divorcing parents in both linn and johnson county. Kids first designed its workshops to help kids understand and cope with their parents' divorce. The workshops group together kids by grade level and provide a safe and confidential place to talk about their feelings. The workshops are interactive and utilize artwork, games, videos, discussions, and role playing. The goals are to let children know they are not alone and the divorce is not their fault, teach practical skills to handle common divorce scenarios and adjust to family changes, and clarify misconceptions and set age-appropriate expectations for the legal process. In 2016, kids first provided 49 educational workshops to 431 children of divorcing parents.

access and visitation services - pursuant to a grant contract with the iowa department of human services, kids first provides services to facilitate non-custodial parents' access to and visitation with their children. Services are offered at no cost to custodial parents, non-custodial parents, and their children. In 2016, kids first provided neutral exchanges to 14 parents, mediation sessions to 178 parents, and visitation counseling sessions to 278 parents.