Promoting innovative female responsive techniques through education and advocacy
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
Position Paper
Services for Females under Juvenile Court Jurisdiction with High Risk and/or Need Factors
Goals & Objectives
Goal: Strengthen, through collaboration, the continuum of care for females involved in the juvenile justice system.
- Objective 1: Advocate for legislation, policies and rules that create an appropriate level of instate care for high risk, delinquent young women;
- Objective 2: Educate and train stakeholders and increase public awareness on the importance of female-responsive services;
- Objective 3: Pursue new research/data as well as analyze and link existing research/data regarding juvenile females in the justice system.
Iowa Task Force for Young Women Members
Jennifer Tibbetts, Chair Catherine McAuley Center Cedar Rapids | Ashley Artzer 5th Judicial District Juvenile Court Services Des Moines | Linda Bisgaard Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa Des Moines |
Kristen Corey Office on the Status of Women Des Moines | Andrea Dickerson Youth & Shelter Services Ames | Rita Ferneau Retired Malcom |
Julie Hibben Bureau of Substance Abuse Iowa Dept. of Public Health Des Moines | Margaret Johnson Iowa Public Information Board Des Moines | Lori Rinehart Polk County Juvenile Court Des Moines |
Recent ITFYW Meetings
The Iowa Task Force for Young Women meets quarterly during the months of February, May, August, and November. Please check the calendar for future times and locations.
- ITFYW Agenda 8-5-2016
- Minutes will be posted once approved by the committee at the next meeting
- ITFYW Meeting 5-6-2016 (cancelled)
- ITFYW Agenda 2-5-2016