Child Custody and Safe Exchange/Visitation: An Assessment of Marginalized Battered Parents' Needs

Abstract

During a 2-year project, the researchers examined supervised visitation and safe exchange (SEV) programs in the context of family violence in an upper Midwest state. The overall purpose was to determine the current and best practices of SEV to be implemented into future services. Data were obtained from ethnically diverse parents (N = 77) whose families experienced abuse or violence, SEV service providers (N = 17), and SEV referral sources (N = 128). Themes that emerged confirmed the complex relationship between both the criminal justice system and SEV programs and client needs, centering on accessibility, resources, power dynamics, and cultural (in)competency.

KEYWORDS:

• child custody
• access
• culture competency
• family violence
• supervised visitation
• safe exchange

Acknowledgments

The study was funded through Office on Violence Against Women Grant # 2002-CW-BX-0022 awarded to the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance. The authors wish to acknowledge the support of the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance, and Kittie Smith, VAWA Program Planning Analyst; Sharon Lewandowski, DHFS Family Violence Program Manager; Gretchen MacDonald, Office of Crime Victim Services Grants Unit Manager; Sara Mooren, Safe Havens Project Coordinator; Joan Fordham, and Cynthia Hinckley.