KIDS AT HEART, L L C

Denise Boeckmann

Mission StatementTo provide a safe, secure environment for children to spend quality time with their parents, siblings and other family members.

• Kids at Heart LLC, was founded on October 24, 2004 by Denise Boeckmann and Shari Frazier.

• Denise and Shari initially worked for DCFS and once budget cuts were made the state agency urged them to continue working and they decided to start their own supervised and monitored visitation services.

• The goal for the agency is to provide their clients, Social workers and the courts with honest, unbiased, detailed reports on each interaction between parents and their children

WHAT DOES KIDS AT HEART PROVIDE?

• Kids at Heart,LLC, provides exchanges, transportation for

children to and from visitation and supervised visitation for

children, parents and families. It also provides telephone

visits.

• There are three main forms of visitations:

Supervised – within sight and sound of children at all

times.

Monitored- if the visitation is two hours, the visitation

specialist will be present for the first 15 minutes and the

last 15 minutes or however the social worker or court has

decided.

Strict unsupervised-provides transportation to and from

visits

QUALIFICATIONS

Kids at Heart, LLC is a proud member of the Supervised

Visitation Network, which is an international organization of

professionals who provide supervised visitation and access

services to families

Their dedicated employees must have a minimum of 27 hours of

PRIDE training (foster parent training) and possess certification

in First Aid/CPR, blood borne pathogens/HIV, car seat safety,

personal bias, grief and loss and domestic violence. There are

also other trainings held throughout the year.

VISITATION SITES

Kids at Heart offers a safe and convenient location

for visitations to take place in. Their Kennewick site

offers a one-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen,

and a fenced backyard that parents and children can

utilize to make their visit in a home-like

environment.

They also provide supervised/monitored visitation

throughout the community in an approved site per

social worker or court order.

BIO/PERSONAL GOALS

13-14 years back Denise realized this is what she always

wanted to do, help children.

She doesn’t know what else she would be doing if it weren’t

for Kids at Heart.

Her hopes in working in this field are to ensure quality time

between parents and children so they may retain their bond.

She believes in making a difference in each persons life

even if it may only be minimal.

LIKES

She loves her job because she gets to meet the kids

and likes to help the parents retain their bond if

that’s what’s best for the child.

She loves her work and is not in it for the money

because there is none.

Everyday is a different day and it constantly

changes so it doesn’t get routine.

DISLIKES

The pay is horrible

This job can bring different situations which can be

dangerous and the constant need to watching out for warning

signals can be draining.

Must be available seven days a week

Lots of paperwork because they are contracted by DCFS ,CPS

, family court, and superior court, and all require extensive

documentation

There is no funding for parents who aren’t court order but

still could benefit from their services

CAUSES OF CHILD ABUSE

Sometimes it’s the way their parents raised them,

and this passed down from generation to generation

because the lack of education

Lack positive parenting skills

INTERVENTION/PREVENTION

Educate parents to provide positive environments

by first gaining necessary skills

Community involvement

Things shouldn’t have to get so bad before

something happens

ADVICE FOR THOSE PURSUING SOCIAL WORK

Be sure that this is what you want to do because

it’s long hours and not enough pay

Be prepared to deal with heartbreaking situations

Keep an open mind

Expect lots and lots of paperwork!

THANK YOU!

Kids at Heart, LLC

121 N. McKinley St. #1

Kennewick, WA 99336

(509) 531-4728 Phone

(509) 737-1363 Fax

By: Brisa Vasquez