A peaceful way to ensure parents and children stay connected.

Safe Transitions for Families

Safe​ ​Transitions​ ​for​ ​Families​ ​is​ ​a​ FREE,​ ​No​ ​Contact​ ​supervised custody​ ​exchange​ and supervised visitation ​program.​ ​​ ​This service is provided by S.A.F.E.


Custody exchanges​ and supervised visitation may ​be​ ​very​ ​anxiety​ ​provoking​ ​for​ ​all​ ​parties.​ ​​ ​Our​ ​mission​ ​is​ ​to​ ​promote​ ​the​ ​physical and​ ​emotional​ ​security​ ​of​ ​children​ ​and​ ​their​ ​families.​ ​Our​ ​goal​ ​is​ ​to​ ​reach​ ​families​ ​struggling​ ​with custody​ ​exchanges or supervised visitation​ ​for​ ​any​ ​number​ ​of​ ​reasons​ ​and​ ​to​ ​facilitate​ ​custody​ actions​ ​in​ ​a​ ​neutral, family-friendly​ ​environment.​


When​ ​a​ ​family​ ​contacts​ ​us​ ​for​ ​services​ ​or​ ​is​ ​referred​ ​to​ ​us,​ ​we​ ​meet​ ​with​ ​each​ ​parent​ ​or guardian​ ​separately​ ​to​ ​conduct​ ​an​ ​interview.​ ​​ ​At​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​interview​ ​process​ ​we​ ​assign each​ ​parent​ ​or​ ​guardian​ ​their​ ​own​ ​parking​ ​area,​ ​entrance​ ​and​ ​waiting​ ​room.​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​SAFE staff​ ​have​ ​had training​ ​in​ ​family​ ​violence,​ ​custody,​ ​confidentiality,​ ​and​ ​de-escalation.​ ​​ ​They​ ​also​ ​have​ ​their​ ​child abuse​ ​clearances​ ​and​ ​criminal​ ​background​ ​checks.​ ​​ ​Our​ ​location​ ​has​ ​indoor​ ​and​ ​outdoor surveillance.

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This program is modeled on the Guiding Principles for Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Custody Exchange Grant Program.

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“In many instances, criminal cases involve family matters and custody, child welfare etc. are in the mix.  A safe exchange program is a huge asset to our community and a wonderful resource for parents, guardians and especially beneficial to the children involved.”

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

- Dani Gorman, Victim Witness Coordinator

Services

Supervised Custody Exchange

​We​ ​recognize​ ​that​ ​when​ ​custody​ ​exchanges​ ​do​ ​not​ ​go​ ​well​ ​it​ ​puts children​ ​in​ ​the​ ​middle​ ​of​ ​adult​ ​issues.​ ​​ When​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​history​ ​of​ ​family​ ​violence​ ​or​ ​stalking, custody​ ​exchanges​ may​ ​be​ ​especially​ ​dangerous or threatening.

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At Safe Transitions for Families, a​ ​typical​ ​custody exchange​ ​goes​ ​as​ ​follows:​ ​​ ​one​ ​parent​ ​will​ ​come​ ​to​ ​the​ ​facility​ ​and​ ​sign​ ​in;​ ​the​ ​coordinator​ ​then calls​ ​the​ ​other​ ​parent​ ​giving​ ​them​ ​a​ ​small​ ​window​ ​of​ ​time​ ​to​ ​drop​ ​off​ ​the​ ​children;​ ​​ ​the​ ​children arrive​ ​and​ ​wait​ ​in​ ​a​ ​child​ ​friendly​ ​room​ ​for​ ​about​ ​10​ ​minutes;​ ​we​ ​then​ ​transfer​ ​the​ ​children​ ​to​ ​the other​ ​parent​ ​and​ ​they​ ​are​ ​free​ ​to​ ​leave the facility.

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Our​ ​staff​ ​consists​ ​of​ ​2​ ​volunteers​ ​and​ ​one​ ​coordinator​ ​for​ ​each​ ​exchange.

Supervised Visitation

Supervised visitation custody orders also pose complications for families when there has been family violence. Often the children's grandparents, in-laws, or other relatives are put in an uncomfortable situation in order to have the requirement met. This may put the child's parents under further stress and subject to harassment from their ex's family. 

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At Safe Transitions,a typical  supervised visit will go as follows: the visit will start with the same steps as an exchange; once the children have been transferred to the visiting party, a monitor will observe the visit. The monitor's role is to ensure the visit is safe for the children and that there is no inappropriate conversations or actions between the visiting parent and the children. The monitor does not document the activities of the visit. The visit ends following the same steps as the exchange for transferring the children back to the custodial party.

(570) 265-5333

PO Box 186, Towanda PA 18848

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