“For many victims of domestic violence, leaving the relationship does not end the abuse perpetrated by their partners. The risk of abuse to the non-abusing parent and children during separation and after divorce often continues or increases; in some cases, abusers may kill their partners and children during this escalating period of violence. After separation, children are often exposed, directly or indirectly, to violence, threats, intimidation, manipulation, and coercive controls, which can profoundly compromise their emotional stability and psychological well-being.
Program Overview
Supervised Visitation Program
The Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Grant Program (Supervised Visitation Program) funds the supervised visitation and safe exchanges of children—by and between parents—in situations involving domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, child abuse, or stalking. The goals of the program are to ensure the safety of adult victims and their children during supervised visits and exchanges; protect children from the trauma of witnessing domestic or dating violence; and reduce the risk of further abuse, injury, or abduction of the children during supervised visits and monitored exchanges.
The 2013 reauthorization of V A W A replaced the Supervised Visitation Program, along with the Courts Program, with a new comprehensive grant program: the Grants to Support Families in the Justice System Program (Justice for Families or JFF Program). The Justice for Families Program improves civil and criminal justice system response to families with histories of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse. The last Supervised Visitation Program grants were awarded in FY 2014.