WASHINGTON – Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) announced that Saginaw County would receive $350,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice to provide safe visitation options for children and women who are victims of domestic abuse. The Office on Violence Against Women, a division of the U.S. Department of Justice, awarded the grant to the Saginaw County to increase supervised visitation and exchange options for families with a history of domestic violence. 

“This funding will allow Saginaw County to expand prevention and treatment efforts for victims of abuse,” Congressman Kildee said.  “By providing safe treatment and visitation environments for victims, while at the same time holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes, justice can be better served.”

With funding from this program, Saginaw County, in collaboration with the 10^th Circuit Court of Michigan, the Saginaw County Court, and the Underground Railroad, Inc., will establish SafePlace, a supervised visitation program.  The grant program, titled “Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange” is a two-year pilot program authorized by the Violence Against Women Act that expands supervised visitation and exchange options for families with a history of domestic violence, child abuse or sexual assault.  The courts will submit referrals and case information to SafePlace, which will collaborate with the city of Saginaw and director of Saginaw County’s 911 to develop programs ranging from emergency response to staff training.