St. Clair County is collaborating with Monroe County to implement a Children’s First Foundation pilot program for a Neutral Exchange Center/Supervised Parenting Time Program.
“The Children First Program in our family courts has been a tremendous success and a worthwhile asset for our community,” St. Clair County Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson said. “We look forward to sharing our framework and experience with Monroe County. We are confident in their success in implementing a similar program.”
The Children’s First Foundation operates Family Center programs in St. Clair and Madison Counties and serves families experiencing difficulty during court ordered parenting time.
“Children First has been a quiet asset and has provided a vital and significant contribution to the St. Clair County community for decades,” Gleeson said.
The program is designed to reduce the opportunities for parents to use exchanges of the children or parenting time to engage in dangerous communication or behavior.
Monroe County Resident Circuit Judge Chris Hitzemann said he is thankful that board member Christopher Smith approached him about the pilot program. Smith joined Executive Director Julie Chambers and members of the Children’s First Foundation board to work through the details to implement the program.
“In family cases the court is always looking out for the best interests of the children involved,” Hitzemann. “I am confident that the services provided by the Children’s First Foundation will assist us in that regard.”
“As an attorney in private practice and as a court appointed Guardian Ad Litem, I have seen children, families and the court system benefit from participation in Children First Foundation programs by reducing conflict in families and providing a safe and neutral location for parenting exchanges and supervised parenting time,” Smith added. “I am confident that the Children First Foundation can help provide these effective benefits to children and families through this pilot program for the 24th Judicial Circuit - Monroe County.”
St. Clair County Associate Judge Alana Mejias and Circuit Judge Heinz Rudolf were also part of the committee implementing the pilot program.