Safe Connections
Helping parents and children develop save and health relationships
The YWCA Safe Connections Program provides supervised parenting time and custody exchange for families experiencing violence, abuse, mental illness, or addiction.
Families will find:
A physically and emotionally safe environment
Distinct family spaces, designed for younger and older children
Lots of games, activities, and even a gym where children and parents can play together
Qualified, trained, and attentive staff
An organization with more than 40 years of expertise addressing safety and trauma within families
Participation
A parent looking for supervised parenting time or custody exchange services may contact Safe Connections directly, or be referred. Families can be referred by family courts, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, other social service agencies, and family law attorneys. Safe Connections primarily serves families from the West Michigan region, but accepts referrals regardless of geography.
A YWCA case manager will initially meet with each parent for an intake interview to discuss the case history, the family’s physical and emotional safety needs, program rules/expectations, fees, and scheduling. Following the intake interviews, the case manager will contact each parent to advise them of the schedule for their weekly visits or exchanges. Parenting time and custody exchanges occur at the YWCA. To enhance safety and prevent contact between parents, each one is assigned a different parking area, entrance, and arrival/departure time.
Program Hours: Mon-Thurs 10:30-7:30 Friday By appointments only. Sunday's 10:30-6
Parenting Times* Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday-3;30-7:30, Sundays-11-6pm
Please contact Safe Connections for current hours. Missed sessions are accommodated as program availability allows, but are not guaranteed.
*Closed All holidays