The Children First Foundation is piloting a neutral exchange center/supervised parenting time program with the 24th Judicial Circuit in Monroe County. 

The Children First Foundation operates Family Center programs in St. Clair and Madison counties, which serve court-referred families experiencing exceptional 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,” St. Clair County Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson said. 

These difficulties can result in exposing children to adult conflicts, including verbal abuse, stalking and threats of violence. The design of the program is to reduce the opportunity for the parents to use exchanges of the children and/or parenting time as an opportunity to engage in less effective communication and/or dangerous behavior.  

Children First Foundation supplies trained security personnel for participants. These programs are offered at no additional cost to the participants that are referred to by the court system.

“I am thankful that board member Christopher Smith recently approached me about a potential pilot program, and I would like to thank him, executive director Julie Chambers and all members of the board at the Children First Foundation for meeting and working through the details to implement a pilot program for our community. In family cases, the court is always looking out for the best interests of the children involved. I am confident that the services provided by Children First Foundation will assist us in that regard,” said Chris Hitzemann, Monroe County Resident Circuit Judge.

The pilot program being implemented locally is a collaboration between the Monroe County judiciary – Judge Hitzemann and Associate Circuit Judge Lucas Liefer – along with Chambers and the support of Children First Foundation Board members.

“I greatly appreciate the efforts of the working committee composed of Circuit Judge Chris Hitzemann, Associate Circuit Judge Lucas Liefer, Christopher Smith, Associate Circuit Judge Alana Mejias and Circuit Judge Heinz Rudolf in making this endeavor possible. I look forward to providing services to the children and families in the Monroe County community,” Chambers said. 

“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. 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 in Monroe County,” board member Christopher B. Smith said.

For more information, visit children1stfoundation.org.