Child Visitation Exchange Program

Guidelines

• Each parent must complete an intake interview.
• After payment of the $10 registration fee, the program is free.
• Length and participation is generally one year but is subject to Exchange Program approval.
• Scheduling of visitation exchanges is at the discretion of the Center on Friday and Sunday evenings, generally between 5 to 7 p.m.
• All participants must sign an agreement releasing the Center from liability and agreeing to the rules.
• Participants may be terminated for rule violations, consistent lateness or cancellations, or threatening the safety of other participants, Center volunteers, or the Center itself.
• Parents may designate third parties to pick up and drop off children for visitation exchange through the Center.  These persons must also complete an intake interview and sign the participation agreement.

Procedure

• The Child Visitation Exchange Program at Westminster Presbyterian Church is open every weekend, on Friday and Sunday evenings.
• On Fridays, Non-Custodial parent or approved third party must check in at the scheduled time at the lower entrance to the Center.
• Custodial parent or approved third party must check in at the scheduled time at the upper entrance of the Center.  The children are taken directly to the non-custodial parent.
• Center Volunteers escort the child or children from one parent to the other.
• On the return exchange on Sundays, custodial parent or approved third party arrive at their scheduled exchange time and the non-custodial parent arrive at the scheduled time, at their assigned entryways to the Center.  Volunteers will again escort the child or children between parents.
• Parents must comply with the Dubuque Child Visitation Exchange Program rules at all times.
• Parents must arrive promptly as scheduled and leave promptly according to Center rules.

Copyright 2004-10
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Dubuque, Iowa  http://WestminsterDbq.org

Contact us at WestminsterDbq@mchsi.com or telephone us at 563-583-1729
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The Exchange Program is ideal for:

• Parents with civil protective orders.
• Parents with protective orders from criminal cases.
• Parents with child visitation orders as part of a divorce along with contact restrictions.
• Parents with any other court order restricting contact but allowing visitation with children. 

Court Order

For information about obtaining a court order from a judge, contact an attorney or one of the following agencies:

YWCA Domestic Violence Program
Legal Advocate

Office: (563) 556-3371
Crisis Line: (563) 556-1100

Dubuque Clerk of Court
(563) 589-4588

Dubuque County Attorney
(563) 589-4470

Emergency Contact

Emergency Contact Person for Westminster Presbyterian Church

Rev. Tom Young
(563) 580-3346

The Dubuque Child Visitation Exchange Program is made possible by volunteers of Westminster Presbyterian Church, in cooperation with the Dubuque-Delaware-Buchanan County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Additional volunteers are welcome. No special skills are needed other than reliable availability for several hours once a month. Six volunteers are needed each Friday and Sunday evening to support the exchange.

Volunteers either sit with one of the parents or escort the children between the custodial and non-custodial parents. Volunteers are assigned one Friday or one Sunday each month usually between 5 to 7 p.m. (The hours are often less.) Volunteers switch dates with other volunteers as needed. A pool of substitutes is also maintained.

Contact the Westminster child exchange supervisor at westminsterdbq@mchsi.com or phone the Westminster office at 583-1729.