Serving the Monadnock Region
Coordinator: Christine Parsons
24 Vernon Street
Keene, NH 03431
(603) 357-4661
All R Kids Supervised Visitation Center is a program of the Monadnock Family Resource Center--a Monadnock Family Services Program. ARK has provided a safe and confidential space for supervised visits and monitored exchanges since 1992.
What Is ARK?
ARK is a free-standing center offering a safe, neutral, child-friendly environment for supervised visitation and exchange that promotes healthy interaction between family members.
ARK services allow children to maintain consistent contact with their parent and provides for the safety of all participants, without the children being put in the middle of parents' conflicts.
Services Provided
- Fully Supervised Visits
- Semi-Supervised Visits
- Monitored Exchanges
In Fully Supervised Visits, Center staff are present throughout the visit. In Semi-Supervised Visits, Center staff periodically check on the visit. In exchanges, Center staff facilitate the exchange of the child between parents. The service level is determined by a court order or direction of the referring service provider. ARK objectively documents visits and exchanges before, during and after the service. Staff will intervene as needed if activities or conversations are inappropriate.
No physical or visual contact is allowed between parents.
ARK does not make recommendations or give opinions regarding present or future custody or visitation.
Who Can Benefit from ARK?
ARK services may be appropriate for a variety of family situations including: domestic violence, child abuse & neglect, mental illness, substance abuse or when the safety of the child and/or residential parent is at risk during visitation.
Parents who have a current restraining order find ARK services particularly helpful since the Center has separate entrances and parking areas; maintains staggered arrival and departure times; and does not allow any contact between parents.
Referrals
There are several ways a family may be referred to ARK. Families may be referred by DCYF, Courts, GALs, Department of Corrections, Attorneys, Batterers Intervention Programs, Therapists, Crisis Centers, or they may refer themselves.
Orientation
All individuals participating in services must come in for separate orientation sessions before visits may begin. At this time copies of court orders, restraining orders, and other pertinent information must be supplied.
When Is ARK Open?
Office hours: by appointment
Visitation/Exchange hours: by appointment.
The Visitation Center will be closed during all major holidays.
Fees
Payment for the orientation appointment is required. The fee cost can be determined by contacting the office.
A sliding fee based on income is available to all participants for the visit/exchange fee itself. Court ordered visitations/ exchanges are often assigned payment responsibility by the court. If this does not occur, both parties will pay their portion of the fee.
Each party is required to issue a deposit before services will begin. The deposit is fully refundable unless the party has outstanding fees owed.
ARK is funded in part by Monadnock United Way, Cheshire County Incentive Funds, and Monadnock Family Services.
ARK Features:
- Separate entrances for parents and staggered arrival/departure times
- Trained Visitation Monitors for all cases & neutral, objective documentation of contact
- Security features including cameras at entrances & in rooms, security check-in on arrival, and security personnel for high-risk cases
- Cozy visit rooms with child-appropriate books, toys, and games
- Summary court report available on request
- Confidential visit/exchange records