Filling a Crucial Need: The Visitation & Resource Center
The Homeward House Visitation & Resource Center is a homelike environment where parents who have been separated from their children can spend a few hours with them and receive the support they need to navigate challenges. It’s not housing but rather a safe space with resources and support for families to journey homeward — toward building stable homes of their own.
It helped me come somewhere and visit with my son when I had nowhere else to go besides McDonald’s. — Parent
Strengthening Parent-Child Bonds, One Visit at a Time
When children are taken from their parents and have to follow strict visiting rules, it can create distance and harm both parents and children. Family visitation in a safe and supportive environment is vital because it helps keep the parent-child relationship strong during these separations as the family works toward reunification. The more time a child and their parent can spend together, the better chance they have to maintain and strengthen their bond.
A home-like place to do normal family things. The center offers more than just a place for visitations and peer counseling from Parent Ally Mentors. Parents can use the kitchen to cook meals, plus they can do laundry, take showers, and access food, diapers, and clothing. The center also has quiet spaces where children can nap and families can bond in privacy.
Other support services are in the same place. The center also serves as a central location where parents can access wraparound services and training, including support for the whole family’s physical and emotional health and well-being.
It’s a homelike, peaceful, and quiet environment where you can even shower and do your laundry while you are doing visitation, which was wonderful since I was homeless at the time. — Parent
A lifeline for families. With a dedicated team of Parent Ally Mentors onsite, the center is a lifeline for families striving to stay together while overcoming the challenges of substance use disorders and poverty. In short, Homeward House Visitation & Resource Center embodies the belief that families can overcome even the most daunting challenges with the right support. It’s not just a place to visit; it’s a place where hope, resilience, and transformation take root.
My son loves baths, and I enjoy giving him a bath. It’s one of the ways we bond, so I’m glad they allow this. Also, providing food and kitchen use is awesome. — Parent
Who Can Use the Homeward House Visitation & Resource Center?
We welcome families with a newborn or infant up one year old in Snohomish County that are experiencing a substance use disorder and poverty, and are risk for being involved or currently involved with Child Protective Services.
The first step is to complete our referral form. This will help us understand your situation and how we can best support your family.
The Homeward House Visition & Resource Center is a Family Resource Center (FRC) and a member of the Washington Family Support Network. The Center is available to families in Snohomish County thanks to FRC funding from the Department of Commerce and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).