What is Supervised Visitations?
Supervised visitation involves interactions between a non-custodial parent and one or more children while a third party is present to observe and help ensure the safety of everyone involved. Terms such as “monitored visitation,” “supervised child access,” and “supervised child contact” refer to the same concept.
What is Supervised Exchanges?
Supervised exchanges, also known as “monitored exchanges” or “supervised/monitored transfers,” involve oversight during the transfer of a child from one parent to another. The supervision is restricted solely to the exchange process, while the rest of the parent-child interaction remains unsupervised. Typically, measures are implemented to ensure that the two parents or other individuals involved in the exchange do not come into contact with each other.
What is the purpose?
Both supervised visits and supervised exchanges are intended to ensure that a child can maintain safe contact with a non-custodial parent without being caught in the middle of parental conflicts or other issues. The child’s needs take precedence when making decisions about the necessity for such supervision. However, there are also significant advantages for parents involved. We hope that no one will perceive supervised visitations or exchanges as negative or stigmatizing services. Rather, they serve as a resource that can assist families during challenging and transitional periods. Here are some benefits for various family members:
For the Child
- It allows the child 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 the other parent in a safe, comfortable environment without having to be put in the middle of their parent’s conflict and/or other problems.
For the Custodial Parent
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 arrangement can be made by a neutral party (the visitation supervisor) and there does not have to be contact before, during, or after the visits.
- You can relax and feel comfortable allowing you child to have contact with the other parent and can get some valuable time to yourself.
For the Non Custodial Parent
- You can be sure that your contact with your child 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 is often the case when supervision is ordered, you can visit without fear of any new accusations because there is someone present who verify
- what happened during your time together. When using a professional service, you can also be assured that the supervisors are neutral and objective.