Children First Foundation pilots Neutral Exchange Center, Supervised Parenting Time program with Monroe County court

(Photo courtesy of the 24th Judicial Circuit Court – State of Illinois website.)

The 24th Judicial Circuit, in collaboration with the Judiciary and Bar Association of St. Clair County, has announced the implementation of a pilot program for a Neutral Exchange Center/ Supervised Parenting Time Program in Monroe County.

This pilot program is a collaboration between:

• Monroe County Judiciary, including Circuit Judge Chris Hitzemann, Associate Circuit Judge Lucas Liefer, and
• Children First Foundation Board Members: President Bridget Buckley; Vice President and Associate Circuit Judge Alana Mejias (20th Judicial Circuit-St. Clair County); Secretary Dr. Cindy Doil; Treasurer Christopher B. Smith, JD; Dr. Daniel Cueno; Cathy Daesch; Associate Circuit Judge Angela P. Donohoo (3rd Judicial Circuit-Madison County); Dr. Ella Duncan; John Johnston; James Keehner; Josyln Sandifer; and Circuit Judge Heinz Rudolf (20th Judicial Circuit-St. Clair County), along with Executive Director Julie Chambers.

The Children First Foundation operates Family Center programs in St. Clair and Madison Counties, Ill., which serve court referred families experiencing exceptional difficulty during court ordered parenting time.

“The Children First Program in our family courts has been a tremendous success and a worthwhile asset for our community. We look forward to sharing our framework and experience with Monroe County. We are confident in their success in implementing a similar program,” noted Chief Judge Andrew J. Gleeson of St. Clair County in an official statement.

“Children First has been a quiet asset and has provided a vital and significant contribution to the St. Clair County community for decades,” he added. “These difficulties can result in exposing the 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 the 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’s 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 the Children’s First Foundation will assist us in that regard,” said Chris Hitzemann, Monroe County Resident Circuit Judge.

“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,”  noted Children First Foundation Executive Director Julie Chambers.

“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.” added Board Treasurer Christopher B. Smith, JD.