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8 - The Canadian.Champion, Tuesday, October 3, 2000 Thanksgiving Monday, Oct. 911 487 Laurier Ave. vNew Milton supervised access centre provides 'support for families struggling with divorce By IRENE GENTLE The Champion When a couple makes the traumatic decision to call it quits, the children shouldn't be the ones to suffer. To help ensure they don't, two supervised access centres are running in Halton, Que inl Milton and one in Burlington. The purpose is to provide a sale and neutral place tor familles in contlict to meet duning the initial stages of marital disintegration. "If it's a new situation where they're just sep- arating, the issues are very hot," said Mary Anne Duncan, program coordinator with Burlington Couuselliug and Family Services (BCFS), which us both sites. Parents cau aiso, use the centre to exchauge their children without haviug to physically mccl. Tbe two-hour visits take place in an airy roomn bursting with toys and activities. Staff and vol- unteers discreetly monitor the meeting. jotting down factual observations. But there are no cameras recordiug the visit, and staff will ouly interfere if set miles - such as denigratiug the other parent - are broken. "Staff are very warm and welcoming. They don't participate and they don't intervene unless If they do step in, it's doue with tact. 'They'd take care of it as surreptitiously as possible," she said. iu mauy cases the disputes die down, and par- ents begin making their own arrangements. For others, the centre may become a perma- nient fixture in their lives. But there are no walk-ius perutitted. Families must meet iuitially with Ms Duncan, who eau be reached at 637-5256. The Burliugtou site is located at St. Christopher's Anglican Church, 662 Guelph Line. The Milton site, located as the Milton Community Resource Centre as 917 Nipissing Rd., recently heid a grand openiug sud open house, tbough it has been operating since June. "It's unfortunate wben children are in this sit- uation," said Milton Councillor Cindy Lunau, who cut a ribbon ceiebrating the ceutre's open- ing aloug with Halton Chair Joyce Savoline. "if you can make a chiid feel a littie more comfort- Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Familles in conflict have a better shot et staying In contact thanks to family workers Traci Wright lefI), Maggie Ford (centre) and programn coordinator Mary Anne Duncan <rlght) et Milton's newly-opened supervised access centre. It's located et the Milton Community Resource Centre on Nipissing Road. able, they'll feel lesa victimized." The access centre provides outside support for families struggling with a very private turmoil, said Ms Savoline. "tt's sucb a confusiug time for aduits when separations occur," she said. "You can't imagine what goes on in a cbild's mind." Some families arrive at tbe supervised acces centres via a court order, and there may be issues of domestic violence, mental ilîness or deug and alcohol abuse to cope with. But families witb probiems are still familles, and Uiey ueed to, stay in toucb, said Bill Bond, a board memrber witb the BCFS. "Children wbo continue to bave contact with both parents are better off," he said. "This is as enta as well." good a place as there could he for children." Strict mIles can help foster child-couscious The Halton sites operate through au ongoing pareutiug even outside of the centre. $75,000 fundiug commitmeut from the Ministry 'Tbere's no whispering. They're not aliowed of the Attorney General. to say negative thinga about the other parent," Curreutly, there are similar centres in 36 court said Ms Newman. "It helpa parents establish areas in Ontarto. positive pattems of interaction." The goal is to expand to ail court catchment The Milton centre currently opens every sec- areas in the province, said the ministry'a Judy ond weekend. Newman. Opeuiug more frequently wiIl rely on volun- "The service bas been very succeanful in pro- teers, and Ms Duncan is hopeful many will viding for the safety of the ebldren iuvolved in corne out to lend a heiping baud. separations and divorces," said Ms Newman. "We really, desperately need a lot of them," "It's so that kids can maintain s relationship she said. "They're going to be essential to us to with both parents. And they do it for grandpar- mun the program, and especially expand it." èi<~i~ 1~1~i COGECO 14 Programming Schedule - October 3rd, 2000 - Oct aber 9th, 2000 11 00 w lhiNh FIiM lu% Pm hW hi %1 ~ l% lm pid SM p & :30m Pk.dhW ~l %ItI1ý lU hi hm ::iý4f SamU $"N 5* âëû 9N30Ndh 5.30pM e Loca km. lu LmNuahliégD 6* 1N1 Uo kpd i: Utedhaie1111 6-2311 swmglmloes l6âp 111111WUh www.cogecO.Ca ldtiwhL 7Lud. Vellh Wb Tate ldSp T1LeU NORTH HAITON STUDIO 7p Mb a "i 21 Main Street North, 1111 tnulfUItU Actas, ON L7J 1V9 wwco (519) 853-4700 Cogeco 14's New Season Started Monday, October 2nd!