What is it?
Supervised
Visits are professionally monitored visits between
non-custodial parents and their children in a safe and
neutral environment. Each family has their own visitation
room in which parents and children can interact and play.
Toys, games, art supplies, and light snacks are provided for
the family’s use. Visits are monitored by trained
professionals who observe and document the parent and child
interactions. A monitor is always present with each
individual family throughout the entire visit. Monitors
intervene during visits only if a child’s safety is at risk
or program rules are broken. There is never any contact
between the custodial guardian and non-custodial parent
during Supervised Visits. Supervised Visits may occur during
the week, on weekends and/or during holidays and typically
range in duration from one to four hours in length. The
frequency and duration of visits may be dictated by the
court system or Department of Children’s Services. The
Family Center is a member of a national Supervised
Visitation Network and all professional staff are highly
trained individuals.
Why participate?
Regardless of the quality of the parent/child relationship,
most children want and need to have contact with that
parent. Supervised Visits can help the child cope with
separation from the visiting parent and allow the parent and
child to begin to rebuild a healthy, safe, and consistent
relationship. Parents often participate in Supervised Visits
if they are under investigation for child maltreatment or
when the court has determined that there are significant
safety risks for the child during visits. A court system or
the Department of Children’s Services may determine that it
is necessary for visits to be supervised in order to gain
information about how the parent and child interact with one
another for case assessment and planning.
Supervised
Visits may be court ordered or voluntarily agreed upon by
both parties. Most commonly, parents have Supervised Visits
with their children due to sexual, physical or emotional
abuse or neglect of the children by the parent; domestic
violence or intense conflict between spouses/partners; the
presence of substance abuse or dependence by a parent; or a
high possibility that the parent may abduct the child.
Supervised Visits may also be appropriate when the child
expresses concern about visiting with a parent or when the
parent has had little or no contact with the child in the
past.
Where are services offered?
- Visits occur at both our
Nashville and Murfreesboro locations
- Visits may be scheduled on
weekends or during the week
- This program operates year
round and provides services during all major holidays.
How much
does it cost?
- Visitations range in cost
between $12 to $48 per hour depending on income.
- A sliding scale fee is
available for those who qualify.
- Payments for visitations
are paid in advance.
- Intakes are $48
and typically last one hour.
How
do I get started?
To begin Supervised Visits, you must call The Family Center
and schedule an intake appointment. Both the custodial and
non-custodial guardians must complete separate intakes
before beginning visits.
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