If the other parent of my children and I are having problems with transferring the children to one another on access, or if one of the parents needs to have their access supervised by a neutral third party, is there a program on PEI that can assist us?
Yes.
A new supervised access and exchange program provides safe spaces for children of separated or divorced parents.
The Government of Prince Edward Island announced that it has partnered with CHANCES and PEI Family Resource Centres to provide safe and neutral places for children to be picked up or to spend time with a parent. There are ten supervised access and exchange sites in Prince Edward Island.
Supervised access is a type of visitation between a parent and their children that take place with a trained, independent service provider. The visiting place has toys and games to help make the visit positive and focused on the child
By comparison, supervised exchange occurs when a neutral third party collects the children from one parent and escorts the children to the access parent for their visit. Supervised access and exchange services are both accessed through a court order.
Chances will be providing the service seven days a week. The maximum hours of service delivery is 22 which includes the intake process and orientation of the child or children and the parents (or other persons) in addition to the supervised access or supervised exchanges and administrative tasks. Examples of the cycle of supervised access could look like:
• 12 weeks of 1.5 hours per access visit
• 18 weeks of 1 hour per access visit
• Such other cycle as may be ordered or determined to be in the best interests of a child and may be reasonably be provided by the service provider
In rare circumstances, the parties may apply for a second or third cycle of visits. Families may also decide at one point to discontinue the access cycle and at another point return to the process. There is no cost to access the Program, however, the services may only be accessed through a referral and authorization by Order of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island.
Prince Edward Island’s Family Resource Centres also provide services like parent education, support groups, prenatal nutrition programs, drop-in play, and outreach programs.
Locations:
• CHANCES Charlottetown
• Cap Enfant Wellington (French-speaking service)
• CHANCES Cornwall
• CHANCES O’Leary
• CHANCES Stratford
• Families First Resource Centre Montague
• Family Place Summerside
• Kids West Inc. Alberton
• Main Street Family Resource Centre Souris
• Mi’Kmaq Family Resource Center – Charlottetown (for First Nations families)
Service delivery can also be provided in Family Resource Centre satellite sites, including Borden-Carleton, Kinkora, and Kensington.
Contact one of Key Murray Law’s family law team to learn more about the Supervised Access and Exchange Program.
Pamela M. Stewart
Associate
Pamela.stewart@keymurraylaw.com
902-368-7829
Legal information appearing in this article and elsewhere on Key Murray Law’s website is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for or replace any legal or other professional advice. If you have specific concerns or a situation in which you require legal advice, you should consult directly with one of our lawyers.