Supervised Visitation & Monitored Exchange

Children can often get inadvertently caught in the middle of the conflict between their parents. When this occurs, children who are exposed to parental conflict may begin to experience a variety of emotions which can lead to an unhealthy relationship with one or both parents. To foster healthy and loving child-parent relationships in these situations, we provide a safe, positive, and neutral environment where children and their non-custodial parents can engage in conflict-free visitation or exchanges while being supervised. Visits are both video and audio recorded for the safety of the parent and child. Both children and parents have an opportunity to develop, nurture and maintain a loving relationship separate and apart from the adult conflict.

Basic Program Information

  1. Both custodial and non-custodial parents or caregivers will be required to fill out an in-take with the supervisor.
  1. Supervised visitation is intended to provide a safe environment in which the child may visit with the non-custodial Talking about the other parent or asking questions to receive intel on the other parent/family is absolutely not tolerated. Discussion about unresolved issues or feelings with the child that exist between each parent is not allowed. No references about the other parent to the child (whether positive or negative) is to occur during the visit. Focus on creating a positive and bonding experience for you and your child/ren.
  1. Custodial parents must be on time. Non-Custodial parent will need to be at his/her visit 15 minutes early. All visitors will not leave the ACFC visitation room without staff permission. Any person transporting the visiting parent shall vacate the premises immediately after drop-off.  All Non-custodial parents and visitors will leave ACFC 15 minutes after the visit has ended.  Violation of these guidelines at any time may result in termination of visitation.
  1. Conversation with the monitor will be kept to a minimum to encourage quality interactions between visiting parties and their children. Staff’s interactions with all parties may be documented. Conversations with either parent will be limited to issues related to the visitation. Clients who demonstrate a need for this type of interaction will be referred to a counselor at your cost.
  1. While it is not our desire to become involved in the legal process, it is important to note that the requesting parties responsible for subpoena will be responsible for all document production fees and any court/legal appearance fees. Should any staff be ordered to appear the client requesting the appearance will be charged the appearance fee, which is to be paid in full prior to any staff attending the hearing of. Speak to your visitation supervisor to determine fees.
  1. All unusual incidents will be documented and reported to the court and all interested parties.
  1. Should you have legal concerns at any time, please address them with your legal counsel and not ACFC staff, as we are not qualified to provide legal counsel.

Program Guidelines

The following guidelines are intended to provide a safe, positive environment for the child, with consistency and predictability for everyone involved, and to minimize misunderstandings between parties.

Punctuality is crucial, try to arrive within 15 minutes before the start of your Arrival time will be documented on monitoring logs for both parties. Late Arrival: If a party is late, the facility may or may not be able to accommodate an extended time & may end at the originally scheduled time.

  • No call/No show: If the visiting parent is more than 15 mins late without contacting the visitor, the visit will be cancelled & the visiting parent may be charged the designated fee for that hour before scheduling another visitation. If the parent calls to alert the visitor that they will be late, the visit will still be available. Time will likely not be extended due to other scheduled
  • Cancellation: If a visit needs to be cancelled & it is after standard office Email sporter@anotherchancefc.org, so that we can notify the other parties. If a custodial parent cancels a visitation, makeup time can be offered if available. Speak with your supervisor about scheduling makeup time for missed visitations.
  • ACFC requires 24-hours-notice of visit cancellation. If a visit is cancelled the same day or the visiting parent does not show at all, ACFC may charge the designated fee for that hour, unless there is a documented emergency.
  1. Parents will avoid one another by arriving at separate times. Non Custodial parents should arrive 15 early. If you suspect a parent is in the parking lot, call to inform staff immediately; do not approach the other party.
  2. The residential parent will arrive at agreed upon time and ensure that the young children have all needed supplies (snacks or diapers), unless other arrangements have been agreed upon between parties.
  3. The visiting parent is responsible for assuming the full parental role during visits, including limit setting when necessary for the safety of the children and others involved in the visit. Visiting parents may assist in toileting, as long as the door remains open in order to be supervised. Visiting parents may change diapers unless there are child sexual abuse
  4. Video recording will be done on all of the visits by staff for security reasons; videos are not maintained as part of the permanent record but are retained for 30 days. All visits are documented on a visitation report form and maintained in the client file.
  5. Each visitor is subject to the security policy of the Staff may take all keys, cell-phones, purses, etc. into safekeeping at the beginning of each visit.
  6. Any suspected drug/alcohol use will result in immediate termination of the visit and a request that the parent submit to a drug screen before another visit is allowed. All fees associated with the drug screen are the responsibility of the parent in question. Any weapon discovered by security of staff will result in termination of the visit and all services by ACFC and notification to the Court (NO EXCEPTIONS).
  7. The visiting parent is responsible for ensuring that all ACFC toys and other property are properly cared for and put away at the end of the session.  The supervisor will follow behind after the visit is over to properly disinfect the room.
  8. If the guidelines have been violated, the child has become acutely distressed, or the safety of the child or monitor is at risk, the monitor will interrupt the visit and may either give the visitor a warning or terminate the visit immediately. All interruption or terminations of visits while in progress will be recorded in the Supervised Visitation Report.

The Visit

  1. Parents agree to arrive alcohol, tobacco, and drug Visit will be cancelled if substance abuse is suspected, and a negative screen will be required prior to the next visit.
  1. The visit should focus on the present so that the child experiences a calm and pleasurable References to the past events which may have caused stress/trauma to the child should be avoided in discussions with the child. Discussion of future plans should also be avoided.
  1. Visiting parents can invite, but not demand or coerce, physical contact with the child. 
  1. Use appropriate language at all times
  1. Visiting parents must remain in the visit room and speak in conversational tones, whispering and passing notes are not permitted.
  1. Parents will only speak respectfully of the other parent, family members, or professionals involved in the family’s case. Parents will not use their child or the program staff to pass documents or personal possessions between the parties. Parents will not use their child or program staff to get intel on the other parent/family.
  1. If there is an issue to discuss with staff, parents will do so outside of the visitation time while children are not. If there is an issue with the monitor, parents are to contact executive director at (205) 200-5314 or at sporter@anotherchancefc.org.
  1. If your child asks about the terms of visitation/custody/court orders or about future outcomes, state that the visits will be at ACFC and we will let them know when that Parents will not initiate discussion about the Court or other parents. Parents should redirect conversations about court and future outcomes instead of initiating or encouraging the conversations. This can lead to more confusion and stress for the child/ren. Supervisor may interrupt or terminate the visit if this happens.
  1. The visiting parent will use positive methods of discipline, i/e speak to the child, redirect the behavior, address behavior by removing the toy or item, or use a short time out in the room. Parents should not spank, hit, yell, shout, when disciplining during visitation. This can create a negative experience for the child.
  1. Parents are encouraged to play with children and have fun, ensuring it is age appropriate. 
  1. Asking probing questions such as “Do you love me?” “Do you miss me?” “Why…. or why not?” “Don’t you want to be home with me?” is prohibited. This often puts the child in a stressful and uncomfortable situation, especially when hearing this from both parents/guardians. Both parties should encourage a positive environment for their child/ren.
  1. Parents should not make any promises concerning any future visitation Avoid saying things such as, “this will be over soon, I promise.” “Things will get better, I promise.” “Mommy/Daddy will get you back before long.”
  1. Parents are welcomed to bring gifts and food for their children, unless it is a health issue or prohibited by a Court Order. Parents are to show staff what is brought when entering the visit room. Visiting parents can also bring games and toys, but they will need to return home with visiting parents after the visit. ACFC cannot store toys or items for families at the Center. Avoid slime, putty, playdough, markers, paint, Items may or may not be approved based on the age of the child/ren.
  1. Parents are free to take pictures during the visit, unless otherwise ordered by the court or in cases of alleged child sexual abuse. No video/audio recording will be done by parents. All cell phones must be put on silent and not answered during the visit. If it is an emergency, step outside of the room and alert the supervisor.
  1. Parents cannot approach each other, even through a third party, including having legal papers served to the other parent at ACFC or on approach/leaving the visit. Any breach of this rule may result in immediate termination of all services and notification to the Court. Custodial parents will not be allowed past the front lobby. Noncustodial parents should not go past the visitation room/restrooms unless exiting the facility with the supervisor. Non-custodial/Visiting parents will say goodbye with their child/ren in the visitation room. The supervisor will walk the child back to the front The non-custodial will wait for the supervisor to return to escort them out the front entrance after the custodial parent and child/ren have left the parking lot.
  1. Parents will let children know they are loved; however, it is important to ensure your child does not feel responsible for your feelings or Parents should not force children to say phrases such as, “I love you” or “I miss you”.
  1. Altering the child’s appearance (changing the child’s clothing, non-permanent tattoos, cutting hair) is not allowed. However, re-combing or re-styling minor’s hair, clear or colored fingernail polish, age appropriate makeup (i/e playing dress up) is acceptable; as such activities are part of the child/parents bonding experience. Parents are not required to ask permission from the other parent or caregiver to engage in such play activities unless prohibited by the court order.
  1. All parties will assist children in entering and leaving the visit in a positive and timely manner. Therefore, a prolonged goodbye by a parent is not permitted.