Olmsted County recognizes supervised visitation services this month

May is Supervised Visitation Awareness Month and Olmsted County would like to take the time to acknowledge the importance of supervised parenting time services in the community. Supervised parenting time provides an opportunity for children and their loved ones to continue their relationship when it might not otherwise be possible.

Despite our current public health crisis, supervised visitation services continued to be provided throughout Olmsted County during the pandemic. This past year, trained staff from Family Service Rochester’s Family Access Center provided a safe environment for more than 1,000 parent-child interactions; this allowed 113 children to safely maintain a relationship with their loved ones.  

“Relationships can be disrupted through divorce, domestic violence, child maltreatment, and other conflicts. It is essential for children to maintain relationships with parents and other significant adults,” stated Director of Child Welfare Services at Family Service Rochester Kelli DeCook. “Olmsted County supports supervised parenting times for families to maintain vital relationships and prevent children from being placed in the middle of adult conflict.” 

It’s important to recognize supervised parenting time services that are provided in our communities but also throughout Minnesota, the Midwest and beyond. The Supervised Visitation Network (SVN) is an organization consisting of over 500 visitation providers worldwide. The organization firmly believes, “in an obligation to protect the rights and needs of all vulnerable family members.” Family Access Center is a local supervised parenting time/exchange resource and a member of the SVN.  

Please join Olmsted County this May in bringing awareness of Supervised Visitation and Exchange services to provide children opportunities for safe, conflict-free access to both parents and other loved ones. 

Learn more about supervised visitation services by visiting www.familyservicerochester.org or www.svnworldwide.org/.