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Organization : Exchange Club CASTLE Program : Valued Visits Funder: Children ' s_ Services Advisory Committee RFP # 6067 Be PROGRAM NEED STATEMENT (Entire Section B not to exceed one page) 1 . a) What is the unacceptable condition requiring change ? b) Who has the need ? c) Where do they live ? d) Provide local, state or national trend data , with reference source, that corroborates that this is an area of need . What : The unacceptable condition requiring change is contact between a parent and child that puts the child at risk . The child is at risk for abuse, at risk of witnessing domestic violence between parents , and at risk of being used in a manipulative manner by estranged parents . Following Florida law, visitation rights are often ordered between a parent and child, even if the parent poses a risk to that child, or has hurt that child in the past. It is unacceptable that these visits take place in the community, without supervision, placing the child, the ex - spouse, and the general community in jeopardy. Who : Children who are at risk of abuse, or are from homes where domestic violence is present . Where : Last year, parents were served in all parts of Indian River County Provide Data : In Indian River County, in 2002 -2003 , there were 121 children who came under the supervision of the Department of Children and Families . There were a total of 479 domestic violence crimes . There were 1 , 039 abuse reports . These children are eligible for Valued Visits , should visiting a parent pose a risk . Valued Visits has operated at capacity since shortly after opening in 2000 . There is generally a 2 -3 family waiting list . F2 . a) dentify similar programs that are currently serving the needs of your targetedulation ; b) Explain how these existing programs are under- serving the targetedulation of your program. e no other supervised visitation centers in Indian River County. Before Valued Visits opened, supervised visit occurred in the offices of Department of Children and Family caseworkers , the homes of relatives, at fast food restaurants , or in police station lobbies . Visits in these locations were often poorly supervised, and inadequately secure . Research shows that the majority of visits scheduled under these conditions were cancelled and did not occur as scheduled, which does not allow the parent/child relationship to mend . 5