The YMCA is a member agency of the United Way
Family Visitation Services
The Supervised Visitation Program (SVP) provides a safe and neutral environment for non-custodial parents to visit with their children. The SVP and the referring parties (DSS, Attorney’s and the Probate and Family Court) work with the families toward reunification.
The SVP staff supports the non-custodial parents by modeling parenting skills and providing constructive feedback to the visiting parent at every visit. The staff encourages and supports parents toward understanding their child’s physical, intellectual and emotional development with anticipation of improving the parent/child relationships and encouraging age appropriate activities for the children. Additionally, the custodial parent/guardian has the assurance that interactions and conversations between non-custodial parent/child are appropriate.
The SVP operates Monday through Sunday and offers evening appointments. Visits are conducted at the Pittsfield Family YMCA and in community settings. All visits, exchanges, and intakes are by appointment only.
The Child Exchange Program offers families a safe and neutral place to exchange their children from one parent/guardian to the other. Families can use this service whether or not there is a protective order in place.
The Step-Down Program offers families a “partially unsupervised” visit for families progressing into reunification/unsupervised visitation. The visiting party and the child(ren) remain at the YMCA but do not have a visit supervisor supervising their visit. The visit supervisor would “check in” periodically to ensure the child(ren) feel(s) safe and comfortable. The visit supervisor would meet with the visiting party and the child(ren) before and after each visit, to assess how the visit went. The family would be allowed to use all of the facilities of the YMCA. The child(ren) can anticipate the visits without the stress of worrying about what is going to happen, and enjoy their time in a safe, familiar, and comfortable environment without being put in the middle of their parents’ conflict and/or other problems.
Payments are due before each intake, exchange or visit. The Y offers Y-Aid, our financial assistance program, for families and is based on income eligibility. Applicants can pick up a Y-Aid application at their intake or at the Pittsfield Family YMCA’s Welcome Center. Financial assistance is based on a sliding scale fee which ranges from $35 per hour to as low as $15 per hour. Applicants must live or work in the Y’s service area. The intake fee is not included in the financial assistance.
Downloadable Information
Supervised Visitation Form
For more information, contact Community Development Director Justine Gingras at 413-499-7650 x32.
Residence Program
Our efficiency studios offer ease of living, as well as convenience on North Street. All residential applicants MUST pass a CORI and SORI checks and meet income eligibility guidelines. For more information regarding affordable, supportive housing for low-income adults, contact Berkshire Housing at 413-499-1630 x110.
