Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Program provides a neutral, safe setting where parents can exchange children for visitation purposes when court orders prevent contact between the parents. Supervised visitation creates a safe environment for parents and children to interact with each other.The program is possible because of a 2002 grant awarded to El Paso County.The El Paso County Department of Human Services is the fiscal agent for the grant, and Court Appointed Special Advocates or CASA of the Pikes Peak Region provides program management and the staff and volunteers. Thirteen community agencies serve on the advisory committee and provide support for the program.The commissioners also approved this year’s contract for $137,708 between the El Paso County Department of Human Services and CASA. The Office on Violence Against Women provides the federal dollars for the contract. “This grant award supports supervised visitation and safe exchange options for families with a history of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault and stalking,” said Commission Vice Chair and DHS liaison Sallie Clark.
