Child Access (Supervised Visitation)

Mission

The Wichita Children's Home "Child Access " program strives to provide a safe, comfortable place for children and non-custodial parents to visit and maintain family ties, no matter what else may be happening in their lives. We know that children have a great need to love both their parents, and to feel loved and nurtured by both parents.

Supervised Visits

All visits take place at the Wichita Children's Home. Several families may be visiting at the same time, each in a separate visitation room with a supervisor assigned to each family. Visits can be scheduled weekly, subject to the Home's security arrangements and staff availability to supervise visits.

Supervisor's Responsibilities

The supervisor's job is to observe the visits, record the activities in an objective manner, and intervene if necessary for the emotional or physical safety of the child. Visit supervisors are present to assist the child and the visiting parent to feel safe and comfortable. The visit supervisor will not relay messages from one parent to another, discuss problems the parents may be having, or provide counsel.

Monitored Exchanges

Parents who are not required to have visiting time supervised may use the Home to exchange the child, thereby avoiding uncomfortable confrontations with each other and minimizing stress to the child caused by observing conflict between the parents. Each parent enters the Home through a different, assigned door. The parent leaving with the child exits the Home and the other parent remains for 15 minutes to avoid any interaction outside the building. The security guard on duty escorts the childrenfrom one parent to the other.

Who Is Eligible For Child Access Services?

Families are referred by the court only.

Situations That Might Warrant Supervised Visits/Exchanges

• Physical and/or emotional conflict exists between parents
• Visits have been difficult to arrange and carry out
• Extreme conflict over parenting styles
• Help is needed to re-establish the parent-child relationship
• There is concern for the child's physical and/or emotional safety
• There is fear of abduction
• One parent is being denied visitation

Important Rules

• No Contact: Parents will arrive and leave at different times and by different doors, as arranged.
• No Messages: Parents should communicate through their attorneys or the court - not the child or the visit monitor.
• No Negative Comments: Parents should make no angry or critical comments about the other parent or family.
• No Private Conversations: The visit supervisor is required to hear all conversations between parent and child.

Security

All incoming doors are locked and the receptionist identifies those wishing to enter. The doors are not locked to those exiting the Home. Security oversees the safety of participants during visits and exchanges.

Fees (please call for our current rates)

During orientation, prior to visits/exchanges being scheduled, an orientation fee and payment for the first month will be collected. Subsequent month fees for visits/exchanges need to be made by the third Sunday of the month in order to schedule visits/exchanges for the next month.

Referrals To Other Community Services

Please call the Wichita Children's Home Child Access Program Coordinator at 684-6581, ext. 221 to schedule an appointment to discuss possible services or to schedule an intake appointment before any services begin. The intake interviews must take place before any visits are scheduled.  If the Coordinator is not available, please leave a message and your call will be returned as soon as possible. Messages may be left 24 hours a day, seven days a week - and calls will be returned the next working day.

This project is partially funded by the State Child Exchange and Visitation Center Program and the Federal State Access and Visitation Program as administered by Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison and the Federal State Access and Visitation Program. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program are those of the Wichita Children's Home and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of the Kansas Attorney General, or the Office of the Govenor of Kansas.