Sunflower Kids, a local nonprofit  that provides supervised visitation and monitored exchange services, will cease operations on March 1, 2018.  Our agency, GreenHouse17, plans to assume delivery of these critical community services as soon as possible.

“It is our goal to provide immediate and long-term safety for survivors and their children,” says Darlene Thomas, GreenHouse17 Executive Director. “Safe exchange and visitation services are another way we can fulfill our mission.”

A press release issued by Sunflower Kids explains the federal grant from the Office on Violence Against Women in the Department of Justice that provided the majority of funding for the agency recently expired, leaving insufficient funds to operate. The fiscal crisis prompted the Board of Directors for Sunflower Kids to seek another nonprofit agency with the capacity, experience, and stability to assume these critical services.

The closing will affect offices in Lexington and Georgetown.

“We regret the lapse in service that will occur,” says Steven Stadler, Chair of Sunflower Kids’ Board of Directors, “but we will continue to work with GreenHouse17 to make the transition as smooth and quick as possible.”

GreenHouse17 will contact all clients formerly served by Sunflower Kids to arrange for continuation of services when operations resume.

Community partners, including Fayette Family Court, Friend of the Court, Lexington Fayette Urban County Government’s Department of Social Services and Division of Grants and Special Programs, the Lexington Police Department, and the Georgetown Police Department, are committed keeping families safe in the interim and after services resume.

“We have been working diligently to secure funding and figure out next steps to reopen services as soon as possible,” explains Thomas. “We look forward to the opportunity to serve these families in need.”

Clients with questions about visitation should contact their attorneys, if possible, or the court that issued the visitation order. Safety planning assistance is available 24-hours a day by calling 800-544-2022.

GreenHouse17 is a nonprofit organization committed to ending intimate partner abuse in families and its impact on the community. To learn more about our services, please visit this link.