Supervised Visitation
Supervised Visitation (Supervised Time Sharing) is a service where a trained third party (Family Monitor) can help facilitate this valuable parenting time and document the quality and duration of each session.
Supervised visitation is when the court determines that at least for some short measure of time, there needs to be observation and recording on the interactions, behaviors and significant events within this time sharing period. In this way, the visiting parent will have the most important opportunity to have reunification with their child and demonstrate to all parties their ability and desire to remain in their child’s life, regardless of cause why they had been absent.
Reports are provided both parent which can be used to assist each party when returning to court to reexamine the child custody decisions.
Additionally, Family Monitors may keep field notes that may be available through subpoena to assist in further litigation.
The goals for visitation are to provide neutrality, to keep children emotionally and physically safe, and to foster and strengthen the bonds between a child and their ‘absent’ parent who is trying very hard to enjoy and earn more time with their child who research shows they need.
Toby Center Child Access Services offer parents and children a safe, neutral and comfortable location for supervised visitation and monitored child exchange.
Our trained monitors are respectful, compassionate and vigilant and serve to ensure your child’s safety and well-being.
Family monitors help with family reunification and help reconnect children and parents through support and facilitation and are accountable also to the court or agency which has ordered these services.
The Toby Center forms partnerships with community and faith-based organizations to provide family-friendly locations to conduct supervised visits and also neutral drop off and pick up locations as well.
Below are 2 handy PDF flyers:
What is a Toby Center visitation location?
A Toby Center visitation location is a neutral, family-friendly third-party venue offering emotional and physical safety, and comfort that is age appropriate for the children. You will find children’s toys, carpeting, comfortable and large furniture, and children’s artwork or play areas including swings, picnic area, and other comforts. Toby Center frequently uses children’s museums, parks and recreation areas, and other friendly locations which will provide the stimulation and fun that meets the child’s emotional, social and physical abilities. Family Monitors will provide these services at a parent or family member’s home if court ordered or otherwise agreed upon by the parties.
Why a neutral transfer or visitation location?
Neutral locations eliminate he said/she said in custody cases. Neutral locations allow both the child and the visiting parent less stress for reunification and strengthening of the child and parent bond. Trained family monitors monitor, observe and document each child exchange and supervised visitation session. Neutrality affords control for building integrity and honest interactions which can be protected by the monitors.
For appropriate supervised visitation, it is important that the parties have a court order. We have found that court orders frequently lack clarification for visitation including:
- who is responsible for intake fee;
- Who is responsible for service fees;
- when will visitation be scheduled;
- how frequently shall the visitation occur;
- maximum number of hours.
Given these and other variables, we recommend that counsel consider our template which includes these and other details. Upon review, counsel is welcome to use and modify this to apply to their concerns for clients.
Please know that each party needs to consider that the Toby Center is responsible for the physical and emotional safety of both parents and children. Therefore, the Toby Center staff will consider all requests from the parties and or court order, but we will need to make the final determination of location, time, frequency based on our experience and background understanding of the clients including age and capacity of the children.
If you may have any questions, please contact the Toby Center Program Director. The Visitation Program Director is also available to speak at your Bar Association of other Professional Association to explain any aspect of supervised visitation.
Fees
The goals for visitation are to provide neutrality, to keep children emotionally and physically safe, and to foster and strengthen the bonds between a child and their ‘absent’ parent who is trying very hard to enjoy and earn more time with their child who research shows they need.
Income Fee Per Hourly Session
above $80,000 $ 80 per hourly session
$60,000 to $79,000 $75 per hourly session
$50,000 – $59,000 $70 per hourly session
$40,000 – $49,000 $65 per hourly session
$30,000 $39,000 $60 per hourly session
Less than $29,000 $55 per hourly session
Indigent Status $45 per hourly session
* A separate intake/registration fee is required for each client family. The intake/registration fee is $95 per party. It is recommended that all Court Orders and or other visitation agreements should specify which party is responsible for the fees. Fees may be allocated between the parties with specified percentages designated per party.
Click here to see SVN: Supervised Visitation Fees
Click here to see TSVN: Therapeutic Visitation Fees
