Laid Off workers at Aviva
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Laid off workers at Aviva Video by kgun9.com
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Reporter: Stephani Ruiz
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - CPS cut off funds to nearly a dozen local agencies that provide visitation services- including Aviva.
Today, site supervisors at Aviva turned in car seats because they will no longer be picking kids up and reuniting them with their families for visits.
Paula Winters packed up books and toys, hoping this is not a goodbye for very long.
"We're all upset because obviously we've lost a job. But that's secondary really and I think if you asked anybody else walking in these hallways- what they're really feeling is it's about the families and children," Winters said.
Children that relied on Winters to take them to see their parents or siblings. She says the trips created a special bond.
Now Winters is one of 32 workers at Aviva forced to walk out the door- and walk away from those kids.
"It's not just a job. it becomes a lifestyle, almost. Because you go home and you care about these kids. And you wonder what's happening to them. And now we have no way to know," Winters said.
Now the rooms that Aviva says used to house 200-250 visits per week, are empty. And kids are paying the price.
"They don't understand. They don't understand. All they understand is last week they saw mom and probably dad too and from now on they're not going to see them until who knows when," Laid-off worker Linda Darnell said.
A setback that she says only means a longer recovery for both parents and kids.
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