The Guadalajara Reporter

Kids from broken homes get safe haven for parental visits

With divorce rates and problems of family disintegration on the rise in Mexico, Jalisco’s Consejo de la Judicatura (Judiciary Council) and the state’s DIF family services agency have joined forces to address the issue of legal and social conflicts that impact the lives of children and adolescents growing up in broken homes.

On Friday, January 17, representatives of the two government dependencies arrived at Chapala’s DIF headquarters to join local officials for the opening of the Centro de Convivencia Familiar Supervisada (CCFC), a cozy area inside the DIF facility designated for supervised visits between non-custodial parents and their offspring. 

The visiting room is accommodated with child-size furnishings, playroom space, television and video equipment and cheery decorations, as well as office furniture and seating for adults.

Among dignitaries attending the project launch were Judiciary Council representative Maria Carmela Chávez Galindo; Consuelo Leon Cortez, standing in for Jalisco DIF president and First Lady Lorena Jassibe Arriaga; Chapala Civil Court judges Alma Luz Arce Sanchez and Carlos Ramirez Rodriguez; Mayor  Joaquin Huerta Barrios; his wife, DIF Chapala president Marisela Navarro Rodriguez; and general director Olga Ramirez Lopez.

Visiting rights will be established either by court order or mutual consent of mothers, fathers and other blood relations involved in family disputes. Scheduling will be handled by DIF staff in coordination with the civil court. 

Chapala is the fourth municipality to put a CCFC area into operation. Others are located in Puerto Vallarta, Tlajomulco de Zuñiga and Guadalajara.