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VISITING SERVICES:
CVP has two locations. Our main office and visitation site is in the Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Denver. CVP has a secondary location in Brighton at the 1st Presbyterian Church of Brighton. CVP is a independent not for profit and not related to either church. All supervised parenting time takes place on-site at our facility. The residential parent drops off the child (children) with the supervisor and the non-residential parent arrives 15 minutes later for a one-hour visit. After the visit, there is another 15-minutes period before the residential parent arrives to pick up the child (children). This time cushion serves to avoid any confrontations between the parents and also allows the children time to make the transition from one parent to another.
Non-residential parents may bring food and games or other activities to their parenting time which are age appropriate and take into consideration the child(ren) dietary needs. The parenting time is a chance for parents and children to begin to repair their relationships, to maintain them, or sometimes to begin them for the first time.
Supervisors are present in the room to observe but do not usually participate in the visit. However, supervisors may intervene, if necessary, with support, limits, or suggestions. Supervisors may also intervene if something is upsetting or traumatic to the child (children), and may even stop the visit at that time.
Supervisors monitor and record the activities of the visit as well as the impact of the visits on the children. However, supervisors are not therapists, and their observations are not an analysis of the children or the parents.
In addition, CVP recognizes that families experiencing divorce, separation, and visitation are in the midst of a difficult time. For this reason, we suggest that families seek the support of a counselor or other mental health professional to help them with any difficulties that may arise during this time. Supervisors cannot, and will not, fill this roll. Furthermore, CVP will not tolerate inappropriate behavior by a parent toward a supervisor. Use of profane language, harassment or abuse of a volunteer supervisor or staff member will result in immediate termination of CVP’s services.
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EXCHANGE SERVICES:
Parents using the exchange service bring the child (children) to CVP at their assigned time. A staff member or volunteer supervises for 15 minutes until the non-residential parent arrives. CVP relays any necessary information concerning the visit to the other parent. CVP generally prefers that before exchanges take place at least two supervised parenting times have occurred with our program so we can get to know the child(ren) and parent.
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SUMMARY:
WHAT CVP PROVIDES:
an opportunity for children to visit with a parent in a safe, comfortable environment under trained supervision
a trained supervisor, a room for the visit, and some age-appropriate games and activities for the children
matching supervisors with families to provide some continuity for the families
evening and Saturday hours for visits
exchange services
WHAT CVP DOES NOT PROVIDE:
recommendations regarding future visits or child custody
transportation to and from visits
food for the visits
counseling or therapy
CVP will not tolerate any mistreatment of the volunteer supervisors or the children. Parents may not use profane language, nor may they insult or degrade the other parent in the presence of the child (children) during visits.
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Why does CVP provide these services?
Central Visitation Program is interested in serving the best interest of the child. Research shows that regardless of parental problems and shortcomings, children need the opportunity to foster a proper attachment to their parents. Children who have healthy attachments to both parents have better self-esteem and are better equipped to function well and become productive citizens. CVP gives the children a fun, safe and comfortable place to see a parent that may have made poor choices in the past.
Besides the benefits to children, CVP helps the community by eliminating the potential for violence that might occur in homes and neighborhoods if a neutral setting for visits were not available. There are wonderful visitation programs in the Metro Denver area that deal with families from all soco-economic backgrounds. In addition to the children and parents, the community also benefits because parents who are given the opportunity to have contact with their children are much more likely to pay their child support obligations.
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