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Mission
The ITFYW exists to advise, make recommendations and take action to address juvenile justice issues as they pertain to gender. The ITFYW is made up of passionate subject matter experts who are invested in comprehensive system improvement that reflects valuing and empowering every girl, no matter her circumstances.
One purpose, one passion - transforming systems to empower every girl
The Iowa Task Force for Young Women (ITFYW) was formed in 1995, as a subcommittee of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council (JJAC). The JJAC serves as Iowa’s State Advisory Group for administration of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. The ITFYW serves to address the issue of females and juvenile justice and to advise the JJAC. The goal of the ITFYW has been, and continues to be, to facilitate a comprehensive fundamental change in the juvenile justice system that will enhance the understanding and utilization of innovative gender-responsive approaches in all programs and services that serve the adolescent female population of Iowa’s juvenile justice system.
“The Iowa Task Force for Young Women has been front and center on influencing change in the juvenile system and understanding best practices for working with girls – even before the term ‘gender responsive’ was popular.”
~Giovanna Taormina, Executive Director, One Circle Foundation, California
“When you recall that today’s girls are tomorrow’s women, the Iowa Task Force for Young Women is guaranteeing that the future will be bright for tomorrow’s leaders, female as well as male, while also providing the nation with a model approach to girls’ services.”
~Dr. Meda Chesney-Lind, University of Hawaii
Iowa Task Force for Young Women Members
Jennifer Tibbetts, Chair | Catherine McAuley Center | Cedar Rapids |
Lori Rinehart, Vice Chair | Des Moines | |
Ashley Artzer | 5th Judicial District Juvenile Court Services | Des Moines |
Tiffany Berkenes | Iowa State University Extension & Outreach | Altoona |
Andrea Dencklau | Youth Policy Institute of Iowa | Des Moines |
Andrea Dickerson | Youth & Shelter Services | Ames |
Jackie Ellenbecker | Juvenile Court Services | Marshalltown |
Stephanie Hernandez | Family Resources | Davenport |
Bethany Kohoutek | Lutheran Services in Iowa | Des Moines |
Julie Martin | Linn County Juvenile Justice Center | Cedar Rapids |
Danielle Masten | Juvenile Court Services | Des Moines |
Nickole Miller | Drake University Law School | Des Moines |
Ariel Perry | Can Play Sports | Des Moines |
Olivia Ray | Girls Inc. of Sioux City | Sioux City |
Marissa Schuster | Thrive Counseling Center | Ankeny |
Maria Smith | Juvenile Court Services | Des Moines |
Position Paper
Services for Females under Juvenile Court Jurisdiction with High Risk and/or Need Factors
Goals & Objectives
Priority Four: Female Equity* | |
Goal 1: Make the experiences and needs of girls who are disproportionately represented in the juvenile justice system (i.e., black, native, and LGBTQ+ youth) central to all ongoing work. | |
Objective A JJAC/CJJP uses racial and gender equity lenses intentionally throughout all of its work.
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Objective B Continue collaborative work with the DMC subcommittee.
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Objective C Complete revamp of cornerstone publication, “Healing Justice”.
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Objective D Support the implementation of recommendations related to gender and race from the IDA validation report. | |
Goal 2: Establishment of a specialized setting(s) for serious, violent, and chronic offenders as well as systemic measures to reduce the need for such a setting as outlined in the recommendations of the “Serious, Violent and Chronic Juvenile Female Offenders” report. | |
Objective A Select a small number of recommendations from the report to elevate.
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Objective B Engage legislative and/or other leadership champions interested in establishing this level of care.
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Goal 3: Fill the gaps and improve the quality in the continuum of care for girls in both residential and community-based service settings with well-defined options that allow for differential responses based on culture, risk level, development and needs. | |
Objective A Document what options/opportunities girls have compared to boys throughout the system to demonstrate any need for capacity building.
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Objective B Explore ways to leverage DHS FFPSA work to fill service gaps for girls.
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Objective C Explore ways to study low risk/high need girls under JJ supervision. |
*A complete list of goals & objectives for the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council can be found here.
Recent ITFYW Meetings
The Iowa Task Force for Young Women usually meets quarterly during the months of February, May, August, and November. Please check the calendar for future times and locations.
ITFYW Agenda 2-4-2022
Minutes will be posted when approvedDMC-ITFYW Joint Meeting Agenda 5-5-2021
DMC-ITFYW Minutes 5-5-2021