Toy drive for family visitation centers continues until June 10
During Supervised Visitation Awareness Month this May, the Department of Health and Social Services Office of Community Services is conducting a toy drive to provide new toys, books and games for use at Delaware’s six Family Visitation Centers. Through June 10, drop-off bins will be located at all State Service Centers, as well as the Charles Debnam Building and DHSS’ Main Administration building, both on the Herman Holloway Campus near New Castle. Drop-off location addresses and phone numbers can be found at https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dssc/ofclocations.html.
According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Over half of the killings of American women are related to intimate partner violence.” However, despite the availability of programs and resources intended to provide supervised visitation and safe exchange options for families with a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, child abuse or stalking, awareness of the importance of these services is still lacking.
For more than 20 years, Delaware’s Family Visitation Centers program has provided a safe, structured, and nurturing environment where children can maintain or re-establish a relationship with a non-residential parent. These centers help keep children, adult victims and other parties in cases of intimate partner violence safe during exchanges and visitation. DHSS’ Division of State Service Centers administers this program on a contractual basis with CHILD Inc. (New Castle County), and Turning Point at People’s Place II Inc. (Kent and Sussex counties). During State Fiscal Year 2018, 285 families were served statewide by the FVCs. The centers facilitated 1,479 monitored exchanges, 2,137 individual supervised visits, and 1,668 group supervised visits.
Family Visitation Centers are used when Family Court or the Division of Family Services has determined that the use of such a center is appropriate; a family may be experiencing or have a history of intimate partner violence; or the parents have had a history of hostile or violent arguments during the pickup and return of their children. Parents may choose to use the centers voluntarily or be referred by Family Court, the Department of Health and Social Services, attorneys, victim services or other agencies. The centers do not make recommendations about changes in custody or the appropriateness of changing visitation arrangements.
Today, there are six Family Visitation Centers open evenings, weekends and holidays. Hours vary by center. Fees are determined by income, and are as low as $4, excluding the Middletown Safe Haven Center. The centers are accessible via public transportation. For more information and office locations, go to https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dss/ofclocations.html.
