Mission Statement

The Children’s Visitation Center is a Court Program whose purpose is to allow child-parent contact in a friendly environment with assurance of child safety during a contested Court case.

Philosophy

“Children have a right to see and be with their loving parents. This program allows it.” Judge Ronald A. Legendre

Program Overview

In 1999, Judge Ronald A. Legendre was a member of the Domestic Violence Task Force in Osceola County. One area of concern of the Task Force was that children of parents involved in domestic violence were going without visitation with the respondent parent in the injunction or the defendant parent in criminal domestic cases. The Children’s Visitation Center opened its doors for the first visits on February 27, 1999. The visitation center allows children to bond with their parents in a safe environment. When an injunction is granted and the visitation center is Ordered, the Petitioner and Respondent must attend a Court Ordered orientation (separate from each other). During the orientation, each party is made aware of the rules of the visitation center and visits are scheduled. The visits are two hours every other week and each family is monitored by an observer who listens to all conversations between the parent and child. To ensure a safe atmosphere, an Osceola County Sheriff’s Deputy is present at all times during visitation center operating hours. Reports are written at the conclusion of each visit. These reports are given to the presiding Judge in the case for review. Both Judge Ronald A. Legendre and Judge Roger J. McDonald are avid believers in this program and collaboratively support the visitation center and the positive outcomes that result from supervised visitation and monitored exchange of the children involved in domestic violence cases. The Children’s Visitation Center for Families with Domestic Violence Injunctions is a cooperative effort between the Ninth Judicial Circuit, Osceola County Government, Osceola County Sheriff’s Department and Osceola County Schools.

Visitation Center Policies

• To be present in Court during all Domestic Violence Injunctions
• To schedule Court Ordered orientations for Petitioners and Respondents
• To provide informational orientations for Petitioners and Respondents
• To conduct successful supervised visits for children with their non-residential parent
• To conduct successful monitored exchanges for children with their non-residential parent
• To provide presiding Judge with written reports concerning supervised visits, day visits, monitored exchange weekends and home visits.
• To provide status reports to presiding Judge when necessary
• To report to presiding Judge status of visits during Injunction reviews
• To record receipt of visitation fees
• To complete monthly and quarterly reports
• To co-operate with the Victim’s Assistance Program and the Domestic Violence Case Manager to protect the best interests of the children

Contact Information

Jackie Dalton, Program Coordinator
2 Courthouse Square, Suite 3100
Kissimmee, FL 34741
407-742-2467