NEW CASTLE (May 15, 2019) – During Supervised Visitation Awareness Month, the Department of Health and Social Services’ Office of Community Services is conducting a toy drive to provide new toys, books and games for use at Delaware’s six Family Visitation Centers (FVCs). Through June 10, drop-off bins will be located at all State Service Centers, as well as the Charles Debnam and DHSS’ Main Administration buildings, both located on the Herman Holloway Campus near New Castle. Physical donation drop-off address locations can be found by visiting the DHSS/Division of State Service Centers (DSSC) website:
https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dssc/ofclocations.html

According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Over half of the killings of American women are related to intimate partner violence.” However, despite the availability of programs and resources intended to provide supervised visitation and safe exchange options for families with a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, child abuse or stalking, awareness of the importance of these services is still lacking.

For more than 20 years, Delaware’s Family Visitation Centers (FVC) program has provided a safe, structured, and nurturing environment where children can maintain or re-establish a relationship with a non-residential parent, and help keep children, adult victims and other parties in cases of intimate partner violence safe during exchanges and visitation. DHSS’ Division of State Service Centers administers this program on a contractual basis with CHILD, Inc. (New Castle), and Turning Point at People’s Place II, Inc. (Kent and Sussex). During State Fiscal Year 2018, 285 families were served statewide by the FVCs. The centers facilitated 1,479 monitored exchanges, 2,137 individual supervised visits, and 1,668 group supervised visits.

Family Visitation Centers are used when Family Court or the Division of Family Services has determined that the use of such a center is appropriate; a family may be experiencing or has a history of intimate partner violence; or the parents have had a history of hostile or violent arguments during the pickup and return of their children. Parents may choose to use the centers voluntarily or be referred by Family Court, the Department of Health and Social Services, attorneys, victim services or other agencies. The centers do not make recommendations about changes in custody or the appropriateness of changing visitation arrangements.

In efforts to prevent or reduce intimate partner violence in Delaware, the Office of Community Services in partnership with the Family Courts and members of the Family Visitation Steering Committee began awareness outreach for Supervised Visitation Awareness (SVA) Month on May 1, 2019 by providing:

• Family Visitation Center Program SVA Information Cards with Orange Pins
• A Statewide Donation Drive
• A “Call to Action,” asking to show support for Supervised Visitation Awareness Month by wearing orange ribbons and/or an orange item on May 17, 2019.

SVA information cards with orange pins can be picked up at all of Delaware’s State Service Centers. Teams and community members wearing orange are encouraged to take pictures and post them on social media platforms using these hashtags: #SafetyFirst #AllLivesMatter #Awareness #SupervisedVisitation.

New children’s toys, books and game donations are being requested to help support families serviced at the six Family Visitation Centers. Location Drop: Donations can be made until June 10 to bins at the State Service Centers, and at the Main Administration and Charles Debnam buildings on the Herman M. Holloway Sr. Campus. Drop-off location addresses and phone numbers can be found on our website at:
https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dssc/ofclocations.html

Today, there are six Family Visitation Centers open evenings, weekends and holidays. Hours vary by center. Fees are determined by income, and are as low as $4, excluding the Middletown Safe Haven Center. The centers are accessible via public transportation.
For specific items, and or information on referrals, and/or appointments please see agency contact below.

Family Visitation Locations and Contact Information

NEW CASTLE COUNTY
Contact: CHILD, Inc.:
(302) 283-7518
www.childinc.com

Center: Belvedere State Service Center
310 Kiamensi Road
Wilmington, DE 19804

Center: Hudson State Service Center
501 Ogletown Road
Newark, DE 19711

Center: Safe Haven Center
210 Cleaver Farm Road
Middletown, DE 19709

KENT COUNTY
Contact: Turning Point at People’s Place II, Inc.
(302) 424-2420
www.peoplesplace2.com

Center: Dover Center
165 Commerce Way
Dover, DE 19904

Center: Milford State Service Center
13 S.W. Front Street
Milford, DE 19963

SUSSEX COUNTY
Contact: Turning Point at People’s Place II, Inc.
(302) 424-2420
www.peoplesplace2.com

Center: Adams State Service Center
546 South Bedford Street
Georgetown, DE 19947

Funding to operate five of the Family Visitation Centers is provided by the General Assembly and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Support Enforcement, and grants to States Access and Visitation Program. Funding for the sixth Family Visitation Center in Middletown is provided by grant #2012-CW-AX-K025 awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

Note: The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this website/publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice.

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The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of life of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

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