Domestic Violence Exchange--Family visitation center offers 'New Hope' for parent-child bonds By Lori Berkey, Contributing Writer 08/12/2005

Region - Westborough resident M.J. Leadenham worked so hard to rebuild a domestic violence agency program into a reputable resource that the organization's leaders voted in May to dedicate the service facility to her. Now officially named the New Hope M.J. Leadenham Family Visitation Center, the Worcester-based program serves as the only site in Worcester County that offers supervised visits between non-custodial parents and their children. Within its safe, supportive setting, the center also offers the service to parents who are under a restraining order or who are in the midst of a divorce or other dispute.
   According to Leadenham, the center's program coordinator, the program works to reunify parents and children who have been separated either through domestic violence, neglect, or abuse, or because one or both parents are substance-abusers. Courts, the Department of Social Services and other human service providers order or refer parents to the center, and some families refer themselves. Focused on the child's best interest, the program strives to help parents develop healthy skills to better interact with their child.
Support offered
   Once a family is referred, a separate intake is set up with each parent. Rules are explained and an assessment is made to determine if visits are appropriate. Parenting skill support is offered throughout the family's participation. If it is decided that supervised parent-child visits are in order, a staff person then meets with the child. Any questions the child has are answered in an effort to help him or her become comfortable with the process.
   Leadenham said when parents first enter they are often very tentative, nervous and angry because they don't understand why they have to be in the program. She said they try to help parents realize that being there is "not a bad thing," because the aim is not to "keep them forever," but to work with them toward their goal of getting unsupervised visits. Reports about how the visits are progressing, how the parent interacts with the child, and how the child is responding are provided to the court.
Safety measures
   Leadenham said several measures are used to secure the safety of program participants. If, during the thorough assessment, a parent does not agree to abide by program rules or it is otherwise determined that visits may be unsafe, visits are not permitted. Parents may be referred to other programs that address the complicating issues. Another safety measure is a staggered child drop-off and pick-up time that is mandated to avoid contact between the parents.
   Parents are given rules for what topics can and cannot be discussed with the child. If children do not wish to participate in the program, they are not required to attend.
   One of the biggest issues parents struggle with, according to Leadenham, is that a child is permitted to voice any concern, but parents are restricted regarding topics they can raise. Leadenham said this structure empowers children because they are able to talk about things they may not have felt safe discussing in the past without retaliation from the parent.
   "So it's really a wonderful avenue for these children to express themselves in a safe and healthy environment," she added.
   Some parents who abide by the rules but who are still struggling with related issues may be referred to programs that they can participate in simultaneously. Some of the fathers are referred to "RESPECT," a New Hope program at the same location that provides groups for men who abuse their partners.
Program parameters
   While the center does offer a safe place for supervised visits, the program does not provide "therapeutic visitation." If families are dealing with issues that need to be dealt with through counseling, referrals are made. If families are involved with outside agency clinicians or other service providers, providers are welcomed - with parental consent - to participate in the process at the center.
   Chris Biron, clinical director at Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, said working with the center is a great opportunity for therapists to collaborate in helping families.
   "It's a nice assessment tool," Biron said, "to be able to say, 'We can have these visits and then when we come to therapy we'll be able to process a little more of what's happening.' But you're empowering that child within that visit to have that safe place as a regular visit that's not therapy."
   Janet Trippi, cochair of Against Domestic Violence In Shrewsbury Education Project (ADVISE), also feels the center is a useful resource.
   "I'm delighted it [the visitation center] is available," she said. "It's great that they have it."
   The center also works with grandparents and families with open adoptions, and has employees who are bilingual in Spanish and English. To make a referral, or for more information, call (508) 852-6501 or visit www.new-hope.org.

Resource list:
Hotlines/Help lines:
Daybreak (resources for women and children): (508) 755-9030
New Hope: 1-800-323-HOPE (4673)
Rape Crisis: 1-800-870-5905
ADVISE: (508) 842-0056
Westborough Abuse and Violence Education and Support (WAVES): (508) 770-8555
Wayside Trauma Intervention Services 24-hour hotline: 1-800-511-5070
Voices Against Violence (Framingham): 1-800-593-1125, TTY: (508) 626-8686
The National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE.
Shelters:
New Hope: 1-800-323-HOPE (4673)
Daybreak (resources for women and children): (508) 755-9030
Abby's House: (508) 756-5486
Counseling and Referrals:
Marlborough Community Services (advocacy and referral): (508) 481-4080
Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services: (508) 845-6932
Westborough Youth and Family Services: (508) 366 -3090
Southborough Youth and Family Services: (508) 481-5676
Northborough Family and Youth Services: (508) 393-5020
Legal Help:
Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts: (508) 752-3718, TTY: (508) 775-3260
Other:
Day Break RESPECT Program (for men who abuse their partners): (508) 226-8286
This column is made possible through a partnership with Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services (SYFS) and ADVISE. Special acknowledgements go to Chris Biron, MA, LMHC, clinical director at SYFS and Janet Trippi, cochair of ADVISE, for sharing their expertise and for their assistance in coordinating input from other community resources.

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