What is Supervised Visitation?
Supervised Visitation refers to contact between a non-custodial parent and
one or more children in the presence of a third person responsible for
observing and seeking to ensure the safety of those involved. "Monitored
Visitation", "Supervised Child Access", and "Supervised Child Contact" are
other terms with the same meaning.
When
parents separate, the children most often will have primary residence with
one parent and regularly spend time with the other. Visitation, contact,
and access are words used to refer to post separation contact with the
non-residential parent or another significant person, such as a
grandparent, sibling, or other relative. When the courts feel it is
appropriate, they may order that such visitation take place in the
presence of a third party.
Why not use a friend or relative rather than a professional service,
particularly when there is a fee involved?
First and foremost is the difficulty in finding someone on
whom you both agree. If you are having sufficient conflict that
supervision was deemed necessary, then chances are very slim you will be
able to find an individual that both of you will trust and feel
comfortable with. Secondly, it puts a real strain on friendships. Many
well-meaning friends and relatives will agree to provide the service but
will quickly tire of the regular commitment and/or being in the middle of
your conflicts. It is difficult for friends and relatives to restrain from
taking sides. Once neutrality is lost, then the credibility of the
"supervisor" will come into question and much of the feeling of security
and safety will be gone. And, finally, it may actually detract from the
quality of the parent/child time together. It is often tempting to spend
time interacting with the acquaintance rather than focusing on the child.
Children may then come to resent the visits because they feel that they
are secondary and not primary in the interaction.
