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The Shelby County Commission is applying for a federal grant that would set up a program designed to eliminate risks associated with child visitations with noncustodial parents.
The county is applying for the grant on behalf of Family Connection, which hopes to establish a center where a parent with custody of a child could take the child for a supervised visit with another parent.
A parent could also avoid contact with another parent if they might be having problems.
The grant would come from the U.S. Justice Department's Office on Violence Against Women. The county could get up to $400,000 over three years under the Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Grant Program.
The goal of the program is to allow for safe, supervised visits and child exchanges in situations such as domestic violence, child abuse, stalking or sexual assault.
Susan Johnston, executive director of Family Connection, said such a center is needed in Shelby County.
"It would be a great place to make sure everyone stays safe during visitations," Johnston said.
It would eliminate the chance of a child having to witness abusive situations or arguments parents may be having, she said.
If the county is successful in getting the grant, Family Connection plans to partner with Safehouse and Owens House in setting up a safe haven program, Johnston said.
Through discussions, it came to the attention of thethree groups that the county had no place where safe exchanges and supervised visitations could take place, she said.
The groups met with judges Michael Joiner, Hub Harrington and Jim Kramer, who see child/domestic relations in the court, to make sure there was a need for the safe haven, Johnson said.
The meeting with judges showed there is a need, she said.
The Birmingham News, Malcolm Daniels