Kansas receives grant for supervised visitation program
Governor leads efforts to protect families with a history of domestic violence

Kansas has received a $400,000 grant from the U. S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. The Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Grant Program will support efforts to develop and enhance services for supervised visitation and safe exchange of children in situations involving domestic violence, dating violence, child abuse, sexual assault, or stalking.

“Children are still vulnerable to family violence even after separation from abusive situations,” Governor Kathleen Sebelius said. “This grant funding will allow us to ensure the safety of children during parental visits by providing increased supervision.”

Supervised visitation helps reduce the anxiety of children who are afraid that they will be hurt or threatened during parental visits. It also helps to reduce the risk that children will be physically abused or abducted during visitation and substantially reduces the risk of emotional abuse.

“Domestic violence is its own kind of child abuse. It destroys families, harms kids and damages our communities,” said Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison. “This grant will help minimize the stress and enhance the safety of children confronted with domestic abuse.”

Sebelius’ office has partnered with the Kansas Network of Visitation Providers, Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, Kansas Office of Judicial Administration and Kansas Attorney General’s Office to administer the grant. 

These partners will develop and conduct a needs assessment, update the state child exchange and visitation guidelines, provide skills training to visitation and safe exchange providers and strengthen and expand programs.

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