A $500,000 federal grant will help a Bloomington child and family service agency expand its weekly supervised visitations and safe exchanges to more clients.
Children’s Home & Aid plans to expand its services after receiving the three-year Justice for Families Program Grant through the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women.
McLean County residents have long had access to Children’s Home & Aid’s Family Visitation Center, which offers a child-friendly setting and incorporates safety features and protocols to ensure meetings between children and parents are nurturing and protected from violence. The grant will now allow families from Ford, Livingston, Logan, and Woodford counties to also participate.
“Before Oct. 1, we were providing supervised visitations and exchanges for seven families in McLean County only. However, with this grant, we’ll be able to provide services for 35 families,” said Children’s Home & Aid Family Support Services Program Director Tiffanny Powell.
The grant will also fund training seminars for those who regularly work with survivors of physical, domestic, or sexual abuse.
“The training component includes training for court personnel, judges, attorneys, and any other service provider,” said Powell.
Community members are invited to an open house from 12-2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Family Visitation Center, 403 S. State St., Bloomington.
“It’s an opportunity for anyone to come and visit the space where we provide supervised visits and exchanges and ask us any questions regarding the new grant,” said Powell.
