Multicultural Child And Family Hope Center
SUPERVISED VISITATIONS
Supervised Visitations:
What is Supervised Visitation?
What is Supervised Visitation?
Supervised
Visitation refers to contact between a non-custodial parent and one or
more children in the presence of a third person responsible for
observing and seeking to ensure the safety of those involved. "Monitored
Visitation", "Supervised Child Access", and "Supervised Child Contact"
are other terms with the same meaning.
What
is Supervised Exchange?
Supervised Exchanges sometimes referred
to as "Monitored Exchanges" or "Supervised/Monitored Transfers", is
supervision of the transfer of the child from one parent to the other.
Supervision is limited to the exchange or transfer only with the
remainder of the parent/child contact remaining unsupervised. Most
frequently precautions are taken to assure that the two parents or other
individuals exchanging the child do not come into contact with one
another.
What is the purpose?
Both Supervised
Visits and Supervised Exchanges are designed to assure that a child can
have safe contact with an absent parent without having to be put in the
middle of the parents' conflicts or other problems. It is the child's
need that is paramount in making any decisions regarding the need for
such supervision. However, there are also some significant benefits to
parents.
It is our hope that no one will look
upon supervised visitation or exchange as a negative or stigmatized
service. It is a tool that can help families as they go through
difficult and/or transitional times. Some of the benefits for the
various family members are as follows:
For
the children:
- It allows the children to maintain a relationship with both of their parents, something that is generally found to be an important factor in the positive adjustment to family dissolution.
- It allows them to anticipate the visits without stress of worrying about what is going to happen and to enjoy them in a safe, comfortable environment without having to be put in the middle of their parents' conflict and/or other problems.
Tips
for the custodial
parents:
- You do not have to communicate or have contact with a person with whom you are in conflict or by whom you might be frightened or intimidated. The arrangements can be made by a neutral party (the visit supervisor) and there does not have to be contact before, during, or after the visits.
- You can relax and feel comfortable
allowing your child to have contact with the other parent-and can get
some valuable time to yourself.
- Read the court order
- Explain to your child where and when the visits will take place
- Have your child ready on time and be prompt
- Reassure your child that you support him or her in having a pleasant visit
- Avoid quizzing your child about the visit
- Avoid making your child a messenger to the other party
Tips for the non-custodial parents:
- You can be sure that your contact with your children does not have to be interrupted regardless of any personal or interpersonal problems you may be having.
- If allegations have been made against
you, which are often the case when supervision is ordered, you can visit
without fear of any new accusations because there is someone present
who can verify what happened during your time together. When using a
professional service, you can also be assured that the supervisors are
neutral and objective.
- Read the court order
- Arrive and depart on time
- Avoid discussing the court case or terms of the visit with your child
- Avoid quizzing your child about the other parent's activities and relationships
- Avoid making your child a messenger to the other party
- Say brief and positive good-byes to your child when the visit is over
Supervision in the case of parental separation:
When parents separate, the children most often will have
primary residence with one parent and regularly spend time with the
other. Visitation, contact, and access are words used to refer to post
separation contact with the non-residential parent or another
significant person, such as a grandparent, sibling, or other relative.
When the courts feel it is appropriate, they may order that such
visitation take place in the presence of a third party.
Supervised exchanges may be court ordered or arranged by
the parent and are generally appropriate when there is no question
about the safety of the child but when one or both parents do not feel
safe or comfortable interacting directly with the other. It is always
better for the child to not be put into a situation where he/she is
exposed to the anger and conflict of the parents.
Supervision in the case of
out-of-home placement:
When a child comes under the
jurisdiction of child protective services and is removed from the home
because of a risk of child abuse or neglect, it is usually important
that the parent/child relationship continue. Child Protective Services
generally provide these services. However, they may have limited
resources that restrict the frequency, duration, and nature of the
contact. In some areas, they have found it useful to contract with
outside supervised visitation programs to provide services, such as Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center.
Since supervision in the case of out-of-home placement
is generally controlled very closely by the State Of Washington and local CPS
regulations, the information here applies primarily to supervision in
the case of parental separation.
How
do I make sure the service will meet my needs?
Be sure to check
the court order to see if it specifies the kind of supervision. Then
check with the provider to see that all conditions can be met. Due to
the limited resources available in most communities for such services,
you will probably have to be flexible.
Remember, this is about your children-and their needs.
It may require some sacrifices on your part. Parenting is not always
convenient, and we need to be sure that we do not let minor
inconveniences interfere with your child's right to have time and
attention from both parents.
If you are the
non-custodial parent, your unwillingness to arrange your schedule to fit
the times available through (MCFHC) may be interpreted as a lack of
interest on our part, which can lead to termination of parental
contact.
If you are the custodial parent, your
inflexibility may be seen as an effort to keep the child from the
parent. This has been known to result in reversal of custody. You will
probably not have any difficulty, if you can truly think about it from
your child's point of view instead of your own.
When you contact Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center, remember that this is all
new and perhaps a little uncomfortable to you. We are experienced and are here to help. We will guide you through the process and do everything we can to assure that you and your child's needs are met.
Try not to displace your anger against the other parent or employees of Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center,
the system, or the unfairness of the situation onto them. They are not
responsible for the fact that you are being asked to use Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center. We are there to help and to do everything we can to make what may be
to you a bad situation, as comfortable for everybody as possible!
