Tragedy in Oklahoma highlights need for safe, supervised visitation space
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News from Aaron Fulwiler, CASA of Lake & Sanders County
LAKE/SANDERS COUNTIES — CASA of Lake and Sanders Counties extends heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the recent tragedy in Kansas and Oklahoma, underscoring the critical importance of safe supervised visitation spaces for children and their families. The deaths of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley during a custody exchange underscore the need for enhanced safety measures when children spend time between separated parents whose emotions are running high. CASA Director Ann Marie McNeel notes that the local CASA program in Lake and Sanders Counties expanded its services to include supervised visits to ensure the safety of all involved parties in a secure facility through its Youth Connection program. She explains that public spaces that are intended for general use lack the specialized security measures necessary to minimize the risks inherent in high-conflict custody situations. McNeel explains, “Through Youth Connection, we emphasize the importance of supervised visits conducted by trained professionals in controlled environments.” Youth Connection, along with other members of the national Supervised Visitation Network, implements safety protocols that mitigate the potential for violence and provides for the well-being of everyone involved. Youth Connection has a facility in Polson and is currently opening another in Thompson Falls.
While CASA of Lake and Sanders Counties continues to train and support volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children who have been removed from their homes, Youth Connection addresses the need to prevent child abuse by offering supervised visits between a child and parent when needed and community-based parenting classes. McNeel explains that Youth Connection utilizes volunteers as supervised visit monitors to help children and their parents enjoy visits together, instead of being torn apart. McNeel works closely with 16 volunteers from the local community who get to know the children they serve, along with their families, and provide best-interest advocacy as both CASA advocates and Youth Connection visit monitors. She remarks that it is a unique volunteer experience.
At a recent volunteer recognition luncheon, Board Vice-Chair David Rensvold recognized these volunteers who put their hearts and soul into children who are in crisis situations. As the longest serving Board Member for CASA of Lake & Sanders Counties, Rensvold commented on the organization’s ability to sustain continued services to children in crisis through child advocacy provided by valuable volunteers.
Montana CASA Director April Barnes, who also spoke at the luncheon, recognized local volunteers as the backbone of the 15 local CASA programs in Montana, working on the front lines and making a difference. Barnes highlighted the new CASA program in Lincoln County that has opened its doors to children and the funding approved by the Montana Legislature to help establish other new CASA programs throughout the state as well as to expand existing CASA services to reach more children. Youth Connection is a recipient of this funding.
All CASA programs have to be invited and supported by its local district court judges. CASA of Lake and Sanders Counties has served at the request of the 20th Judicial District Court judges for 20 years.
