Interchange Gives Parents Neutral Ground
When people get divorced, tension can really heat up. The good news is they never have to talk to each other again if they don’t want to…unless children are involved.
The Interchange is an office that provides a safe, comfortable and neutral site for exchanging children between custodial and non-custodial parents. The exchange is repeated at the office after the visit.
Run by the Fulcrum Institute Dispute Resolution Clinic, The Interchange operates from 8 a.m.-9 p.m., seven days a week, by appointment.
The program, which got its start June 1, began because no neutral place existed where divorced parents could go to exchange children. “You could always meet in the nearest parking lot or at the mall, but public places don’t necessarily keep parents in line,” said Judith Gilmore, Fulcrum Institute associate director.
Divorces are emotionally charged, she said. Exchanging of children can elicit verbal or physical battles between parents in front of their children. There is a 30-minute time delay between each parent’s visit, so they do not have to run into one another.
The Interchange also supervises Department of Social and Health Services- and court-mandated visits. Private parties also use the service. Some monitored visits take place while parents attend treatments for domestic violence or when estranged parents re-enter a child’s life.
Many would argue that parents with a history of violence should not be allowed to see their children. The point of the program, though, is to bring families back together, said Gilmore. “Children are the reason the parents attend treatments,” she said. “We must expect that the parents will get well, and by law, they are owed the opportunity to see their children.”
The Interchange makes efforts to ensure that children feel at home during their visit. “They should be able to look for something familiar, and feel at home there - this isn’t a public parking lot,” Gilmore said. “It’s the crossroads from one home to another.”
The Interchange could use some help. It is in need of games, toys and books for kids ages 8 to 10. It could use a small TV and a VCR, and also monetary donations. And finally, the program could use some college interns interested in psychology education to help the Interchange run smoothly while gaining experience in the field.
For more information, call the Fulcrum Institute and ask for The Interchange at 838-2799.
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