MARIETTA – After six years with closed doors, the EVE Inc. Washington County Supervised Visitation Center will be able to provide visitation services for the community once again.

“It’s a real need in the community and we have not had the service anywhere – even in the surrounding communities – for the past six years,” said Mary Barnas, McCoy professor of psychology at Marietta College and Washington County Supervised Visitation Center coordinator. “Families that are in this situation have a safe location where the child is protected from being exposed to conflict.”

The center is expected to reopen on Sept. 7 at the St. Luke’s Lutheran Church on Fourth Street in Marietta. Hours will be 6 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 6 to 7 p.m. Fridays; 8-9 a.m. Saturday and 6 to 7 p.m. Sundays.

Individuals and families can be referred to the center through the court, or they may also refer themselves or others in need by contacting Barnas at 740-376-4960.

The Washington County Supervised Visitation Center is divided into two parts: the exchange center and the supervised visitation center.

Due to limited funding, they are, as of now, only able to open the exchange center, according to EVE Inc. Director Janet Wells, but they hope to eventually gather enough funds to be able to open the supervised visitation center as well.

“It’s something that we had from 1997 to 2010 and it was just so valuable to the Marietta community,” said Wells.

Essentially, the exchange center works as a drop-off center where parents who are unable to have contact with each other to drop off their children in a safe environment for the other parent to pick them up.

“People were exchanging kids at the McDonalds or outside the (Marietta) Municipal Court,” said Wells. “They just didn’t have a safe place to do that.”

Cindy Davis, director of the Washington County Family and Children First Council, agreed and noted that the center offers way for children to be handed off without fights or traumatizing situations for the child.

Parents are able to drop off their child without ever having to see the other parent as the center provides staff to watch the children in between exchanges.

“It gives a comforting place for the children versus having to do the exchange at the police department, which is very unnatural for the situation,” said Davis. “These families are obviously already dealing with enough stress; it’s a way for them to relieve stress not only for the parents, but for the child as well in that situation.”

Funding comes from the Washington County Healthier Buckeye Council that was formed by the Family and Children First Council. The center received a one-time grant for one year of $87,181 that will completely cover the safe exchange program.

The costs cover three staff salaries and fringe benefits, purchases for equipment and supplies, rent, insurance, advertising and administration, according to Davis.

“The purpose of the grant itself is to promote self-efficiency and reduce the reliance on public assistance,” said Davis. “The center reduces reliance on public assistance through a community environment that maximizes opportunities for individuals and families to achieve optimal health.”

While the grant ends in one year and is not renewable, Wells said she feels they will receive enough funding to maintain and even grow the center.

“We’re still collaborating within the community; the court has a grant out that they are expecting to hear back from in September or October and EVE (Inc.) has also written grants that we should hear back from in September or October,” she said. “I think we will be able to continue the exchanges and hopefully add back in the supervised visitation piece.”

Wells noted that they would need at least an additional $80,000 to run the center to its full capabilities, including the supervised visitation aspect, which is for families that require supervised visitation with their children.

Those who wish to donate may call the center at 740-374-5820 and ask for Donations Coordinator Sheri Harris.

They may also visit www.eveshelter.com or mail checks to P.O. Box 122, Marietta – for both, donors must note that the money is for the Washington County Supervised Visitation Center.

Wells said getting the center back to where it was and to keep it running is vitally important for the area.

“The big picture is getting the people of Washington County to be able to get out of poverty,” she said.

“The exchange center is one piece of that, but a really important piece.”