YWCA of Calgary’s Visitation Services provides an opportunity for children to have conflict-free visits with their non-custodial parent in a safe and comfortable setting. The program assisted 66 parents and 42 children in Calgary in 2014.
The program adheres to the standards initiated the Supervised Visitation Network to ensure consistent and safe service. Staff in the program look to the standards as a best practice resource.
The Supervised Visitation Network is a multi-national, non-profit membership organization which establishes standards, promotes education, and advances professionalism in the field of supervised visitation.
Stacey Ashton, Supervisor, YWCA Visitation Services and Child Support Programs, is a member of the Supervised Visitation Network and recently spent a week in Tucson, Arizona for intensive certification training, and to share her expertise and learn from other service providers across the United States.
The training reinforced how important it is that supervised visitation providers have a strong network of like-minded professionals who understand the nuances specific to providing this valuable service. It focused on several topics including professional boundaries and neutrality, safety, family violence, cultural sensitivity, child development, parenting skills, effects of separation, grief and loss, mental health, substance abuse and parent introduction and re-introduction.
“There were a lot of stories shared at the training that helped to illustrate the learning,” says Stacey. “Some stories were sad and brought home the importance of safety as a priority. The stories about family violence and child abuse are always hard to hear and they stir up emotions, but they also demonstrate exceptional resilience and hope.”
The stories about family violence and child abuse are always hard to hear and they stir up emotions, but they also demonstrate exceptional resilience and hope.
Stacey looks forward to sharing her learning with the staff at the YWCA. This progressive learning helps to support the ongoing safety, security and well-being of all program clients and continued development of the YWCA as a leader in supervised visitation services.
“Children have a right to a relationship with both parents and they deserve the opportunity to establish that important bond with non-custodial parents,” says Stacey on the program’s importance. “Obviously, there are situations where this is not possible, but it’s important for parents to remember that our children learn about the world from us. A strong, nurturing, safe relationship with both parents will help children thrive and have strong relationships of their own as they grow.”
