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Reasons for Child Visitation Centers
Given the impact of domestic violence on children, most people believe that the most effective
act that a battered woman can do to protect her children is to leave the
battering partner.4 Unfortunately, this does not always
end the violence.
In fact, physical abuse,
harassment, and stalking often continue at a fairly high rate after separation
and divorce.9 Even more disturbing, research indicates that the
violence can escalate when a woman attempts to separate herself from the
abuser,1,4 especially if the male remains committed to
trying to control and dominate his partner. In some cases,
separation brings a heightened risk of child abuse and abduction, threats,
intimidation, stalking, and murder of both the mother and children.1,4
Much of this violence is a warped
attempt by the batterer to re-establish control over the abused party and
reconcile the ended relationship.4 Since the
batters have limited access to their victims once separation has occurred,
they may use any opportunity to further their goals. This means that
legitimate contact, such as child visitation, may become an arena to
coerce, intimidate, or punish the mother, which may lead to further
violence.4 Therefore, visitation can become a dangerous
time for mothers in which they may be at risk for further violence. This,
in turn, can put the child at risk to witness, or be victimized by, further violence.
Unfortunately, this research is in direct conflict with another body of
research that indicates that it is beneficial to children in all areas of
life if they have a close and continuing relationship with both parents in
a supportive atmosphere.6 Therefore, most social service
agencies and courts recommend and enforce child visitation.
Generally, most agencies hold that
visitation should follow several general principles, including the
guideline that contact between child and parent should be structured in a
way that limits the child's exposure to parental conflict and the
recognition that transitions between parents can be a problem in cases of
ongoing conflict and where there is reasonable fear of violence.9
Recognizing the need to strike a
balance and create a practical solution to these problems, a new
phenomenon has begun to spring up in communities across the
country---Child Visitation Centers. Through the use of a child
visitation center, children can have contact with the non-custodial parent
yet keep the abused parent safe. This allows the child to maintain
their relationship with both parents while limiting his/her risk for
exposure to further violence when the visitation exchange occurs.
Having the option of making the exchange through a center can increase the
number of visits between parents and children, which helps maintain the
parent-child bond while not sacrificing safety.8
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