Supervised Access Centre
Our Objectives:
- Provide an environment that is non-stigmatizing and accessible - where families feel welcome regardless of their religious, ethnic or socio-economic background, gender, race, ability, and sexual orientation;
- Provide a safe drop-off/pick-up point where children may be transferred between a custodial party or other approved person, and the visiting party for visits or exchanges;
- Help ease the tensions of access arrangements for children and for both the custodial and visiting parties, eliminating direct contact, reducing opportunities for children to be subjected to conflict at the time of access;
- Ensure the safety of all persons involved in the program, including staff and volunteers;
- Facilitate families to carry out their access requirements as stipulated by court orders or by written agreement of the parties subject to the availability of the access centre;
- Directly supervise and monitor all interactions between participants and children and intervening when the safety, health or welfare of the child or other participants is at risk;
- Be an impartial observer and not an agent of either party, to assure that visitation is facilitated without risk to the health, safety or welfare of any child or any adult participant;
- Ensure that all parties are following the centre’s policies and procedure guidelines, which are provided to clients during the intake process;
- Provide, on request, factual documentation on the interaction between participants and children during access visits or exchanges to legal counsel and/or the parties.
*The Supervised Access Centre of Hamilton is funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General.
For more information please contact us by e-mail or phone 905-522-9922 x139.