Allyn Anderson

Bus. Phone: 949.489.1172

Cell Phone:  949.274.2256

E-mail:  allyn@r-time.org

TIPS FOR THE

CUSTODIAL PARENT

Supervised visitation can also be a challenge for you. Typically you have been taking care of your child's everyday needs and have a routine for yourself and your family. Supervised visitation can sometimes feel like one more responsibility. Of course you also have concerns and questions about the visits and how they will affect your child. This is understandable. In difficult times you may also want to talk to a mental health professional or find a support group where you can talk about your feelings. Here are a few suggestions that might help you in the process: ·

Read the Court Order / Custody Order thoroughly

 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.

· Do not quiz your child about the visit

 Do not make your child a messenger to the other party.

California Law
Standard 5.20 defines the standards of practice for all providers providers of supervised visitation within the state of California, under Family Code section 3200. The goal of the standards is to assure the safety and welfare of those involved in the visitation process (parents, children and providers); after safety is assured the paramount consideration is for the best interest of the child.

Court Rules

Rules for Supervised Visits

California Rules of Court § 26.2 2 Uniform Standards for Supervised Visitation states that during supervised visitation, a monitor will ensure that:

• · No derogatory comments are made about the other parent, the parent’s family, caretaker, child/children or their siblings
   
• · All contact between the child/children and the non-custodial parent takes place within monitor’s hearing and sight at all times
   
• · There is no discussion of court case or possible future outcomes during visitation
   
• · No child will be used to gather information about the other parent or caretaker or to transmit documents, information or personal possessions
   
• · There is no spanking, hitting or threatening the child/children, and no emotional, verbal, physical or sexual abuse
   
• · No visits shall take place while visiting parent or caretaker appears to be under influence of alcohol or illegal drugs
   

• Parents or caretakers being monitored understand that:

• · No confidential privilege exists
   
• · Any suspected abuse must be reported to the appropriate agency as provided by law
   
• · If monitor determines that the rules of a visit have been violated, the child/children have become acutely distressed or the safety of the child/children or monitor is at risk, the visit may be temporarily interrupted, rescheduled at a later date or terminated and that all interruptions or terminations of visits must be recorded in the case file
• Supervised Visitation - The public policy of the State of California is to protect the best interests of children whose parents have a custody or visitation matter within the Family Courts. Sometimes, based on issues of protection and safety, a judge will decide that in order for a child to have contact with a parent, a neutral third person must be present during visitations to observe the visit and ensure the safety of all parties involved. A judge may make these orders on a temporary basis in order to give the visiting parent an opportunity to address specific problems or when contact is being reestablished after a prolonged absence. The court order will specify the time and duration of the visits. Sometimes, the court order will also specify who the provider is to be and where the visits are to take place.

Supervised Exchange: Refers to the transfer of a child from the custodial to the noncustodial parent at the start of the parent/child contact and back to the custodial parent at the end of the contact. The supervision is usually limited to the exchanges, with the remainder of the noncustodial parent/child contact unsupervised. Exchanges may be supervised on-or-off the site, the location may be specified in the court order or it will occur in an agreed upon location between the parents and the provider. A supervised exchange may also be referred to as "exchange monitoring," "supervised transfer," "monitored exchange," "safe exchange," and "neutral drop-off/pick-up."