CONTACT: Shelley Burke

COMPANY: Welcome to Our Place

PHONE: 614-888-1690

FAX:614-888-6302

EMAIL: wtop1690@gmail.com

WEBSITE: welcometoourplace.org

HOW CAN WE PREVENT FUTURE TRAGEDIES DURING SUPERVISED VISITS?

Welcome to Our Place is a member of the Supervised Visitation Network, a membership organization of professionals who provide supervised visitation and access services to families. Welcome to Our Place and the Supervised Visitation Network send our condolences to all of the victims of the Powell family tragedy.

It is impossible to know if this senseless crime could have been prevented, but tragedies such as these highlight the need for increased awareness and education about how important it is to have properly trained and resourced supervised visitation providers available to courts and child welfare agencies serving high risk families.

Since 1991, Welcome to Our Place and other members of the Supervised Visitation Network have understood that quality visitation time with non custodial parents is critically important for children in these cases, but also that when supervised visits have been ordered for reasons determined by the court, working with a parent who has lost custody of their child can present unique emotional and physical safety risks that require careful preparation and training of those providing this service.

While Ohio does not have any statutes or legislation governing how supervised visitation services are provided and there is no certification for SV providers, Welcome to Our Place voluntarily follows the SVN published minimum standards that address all aspects of the provision of services, including a section on providing safety and security for all participants. These standards are post at www.svnworldwide.org

For more information about Welcome to Our Place, PLEASE CALL 614-888-1690