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Many children in the Denver metropolitan area are separated from one or both of their parents. Frequently, the court may order the non-custodial parent to visit with the children only under the supervision of a third party. However, estranged parents often cannot agree on a third party to supervise the visits, and even when they can, they often cannot afford the cost of professional supervision. As a result, non-custodial parents and their children do not get to see each other, leaving the parent feeling frustrated and the children deprived of contact with that parent.
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The Central Visitation Program, or CVP, is a low-fee supervised visitation program that provides a safe and comfortable environment in which children and non-residential parents may visit. The parenting time is supervised by volunteers and allows children the opportunity to develop a meaningful relationship with the non-residential parent that might not otherwise be possible.
CVP provides services for supervised parenting time at our facility and for people who are seeking supervised exchanges.
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Supervised parenting time is designed to be a temporary solution to allow the children to be safe, happy and maintain a relationship with a parent until the parent resolves court or lifestyle issue. CVP has several families where the hurt and angry dissolved and the child(ren) won.
We first met Aaron when his grandparent brought him to the intake. He was full of giggles, a smile that never ended and a curiosity that might cause him a few scraps in life. Dad had made a few mistakes in his rather young life. His choice cost him some time in jail away from his son. Dad seemed to have decided to make a positive change in his life and was taking steps to make sure he was not away from his son again for long periods.
The first visit came and Grandpa was still very angry with the choice the father made. It showed on his face. Dad was a bit worried his son might not remember him. But as so many of the children CVP serve, Aaron jumped up and ran to Dad when he entered the room.
Dad was wonderful with his son. They laughed and played together. As the weeks went by and the parenting time went well, Grandpa began to relax.
After 6 months of supervised parenting time, the courts decided Dad could leave CVP and Aaron could go out with Dad. It may sadden CVP volunteers and staff just a bit when we say goodbye to a child, but we are more than happy and excited to see the family move on to the next step in their journey.
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