Safe Visitation
Safe visitation provides children in families experiencing family violence with a structured place and the necessary supports to have supervised visits with a parent. Based on research that demonstrates the importance of children maintaining positive contact with both parents after they separate, safe visitation provides children an opportunity to have supervised visits with their non-custodial parent in a secure environment. The government provided $858,000 to five safe visitation pilot sites to deliver safe visitation services to families at risk of continued violence between parents in five Alberta communities:
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Grande Prairie
- Lethbridge
- Red Deer
In 2008-2009, Fort McMurray and Lloydminster will begin to provide safe visitation services to families in their communities.
Safe visitation services help children to retain relationships with both of their parents; while addressing safety concerns for all family members. Safe visitation is available to families who are at high risk of continued family violence between adult intimate partners. Families are referred to the safe visitation pilot sites by Child and Family Services Authorities, in partnership with local justice programs, and community-based family violence programs such as emergency women’s shelters and police.
For more information about Safe Visitation please call the Family Violence Info line at 310-1818.
