The Youth Justice Initiative (YJI) plays a critical role in our community by emphasizing personal accountability, healing, and community engagement. Its impact resonates deeply within our district and schools, promoting empathy, social responsibility, and the understanding that collective efforts towards restorative justice can create a greater sense of community safety, social harmony and peace for all.

Dr. Matt Adams, Superintendent, West Des Moines Community Schools

YJI identifies at-risk youth and provides them the education and support they need to stay in school and be successful. YJI also gives our youth offenders who made a dumb decision a second chance to have a successful life with a recidivism rate near zero. We are so lucky and I am so grateful to have YJI in our community.

Russ Trimble, WDM Mayor

The thing that stands out to me about the YJI program is they don’t give up on you. They continue to keep in touch with families. […..] even though my son has already completed the YJI program, we will forever have a family and continued support from YJI.

– shannon

During my time with YJI, a lot has changed about my life. Before I was in the program, I wasn’t going to school. I would call myself in pretending to be my mom. I missed so much school the assistant principal came to my house. I was taken away from my mom and placed with my dad. Tuesdays are A & M Tuesdays (Ashlee – Molly Days). Me and my dad went to family class and then me and my mom did. Being in this program helped me better understand my parents and they now better understand me. The YJI program has meant a lot to me and my family. I am thankful I got a second chance to save my education.

– Molly