There are still a lot of questions surrounding the abduction of a 9-month-old baby boy who was found safe Wednesday morning in Wisconsin.
The boy was taken during a "supervised visit" between the child and a non-custodial parent, which is common in certain situations and often provides a great opportunity.
"I think the most basic right of a child is the ability to spend time with their parent safely," Ann Gaash, the CEO of Family Wise, said.
The organization facilitates visits with children and parents during difficult times.
"It could be a parent who is struggling with a mental health issue or chemical dependency issue, and they need some additional support. It could also be that they are re-establishing their relationship if there has been an interruption." Gaash said.
Either a staff member or family member monitors the activity and verbal exchanges that could get tense during the supervised visits. But while there is a risk, children have a chance to get to know their parents again, making it worthwhile.
"They model behavior, like doing homework, reading books, or having a healthy meal," Gaash said.
Gaash added that while most visits take place without incident, there is always a chance things could turn.
"It is a risk that comes along with the services," Gaash said. "We do everything we can to prevent it, and we take many precautions to make sure it does not happen."
Regarding the situation in Scott County on Tuesday, Gaash said, "My heart goes out to everyone in the family. Because I know how stressful and difficult this time it's hard to see their child under the supervision of someone else."
The organization was started after the child was abducted, and Gaash said that most visits go on without incident, but there have been tragic situations in the past, including a fatal shooting earlier this year.
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