Rules and Policies Regarding Supervised Visitation

Out and About is a supervised visitation program that allows parents to have meaningful interactions with their children in a safe and neutral environment. The program is designed to help families that are going through a difficult time and need assistance in maintaining a healthy relationship with their children.

The visitation process for Out and About is relatively simple. The location and times for the visitation are determined by the parties involved in the program. Once the agreed-upon time arrives, a text message is sent out to each party to come up separately to the designated location.

During the visit, the parent who is being supervised will spend quality time with their child, engaging in activities that are appropriate for their age and interests. The supervisor will be present throughout the visit to ensure that both parties are following the program’s guidelines and to intervene if any issues arise.

At the end of the visit, the party being supervised will leave the premises before the other parent arrives to pick up the child. This ensures that there is no contact between the parties, which can be particularly important if there is a history of conflict or domestic violence.

Overall, the Out and About program provides a safe and supportive environment for families to maintain their relationship during a difficult time. By following the program’s guidelines, both parties can have a positive and constructive visit with their child, which can help to strengthen their bond and promote healthy development.

If any of the below behaviors are

witnessed, we reserve the right to cancel the visit, without a refund, and

report to all necessary parties.

• No purses will be allowed into the bathroom if the parent needs to use the restroom. That must stay outside of the restroom with the supervisor.
• A parent being supervised is engaging in any conduct
• that appears to be in violation of the court order.
• A parent being supervised is making statements or asking questions regarding the other parent or their social/ professional life or household or asking for information from the children regarding the work, home, or social life of the other parent – a warning will be given first before visit is ceased.
• A parent is asking the child questions that are not age appropriate- a warning will be given before the visit is ceased. In some cases, we will email the parent after letting them know if their behavior was starting to look like it would cross the line.
• Examples include but are not limited to:

1. Inquiring and or making disparaging statements about the other party, their families, or anyone in the Child’s life.
2. Telling the child, the step-parent is not mommy, daddy, grandma, real family etc.
3. Making promises that the child will be able to come home with mommy/daddy, or the child will be able to come over to the house.
4. Comments about custody arrangements.
5. Asking about the other parents significant other.
6. asking about child support or issues regarding money.

• A parent has not brought the funds in order to have the activity proceed – we do not loan or front fees or cost.
• A child or children are not wearing weather-appropriate
• necessary clothing – the visit will cease or not begin with no refund or rain check given.
• A visit will not commence if a parent who is to be supervised is more than 10 minutes late and the parent will forfeit the entire fee for the entire visit with no rain check. It is important to be on time as these visits are very tightly arranged and we cannot extend the time due to parents being late.
• If a parent with the children arrives late the visit will proceed but will still end at the correct appointed time. 
• We will also cease the visit or decline the visit if the child, children or placement parent is ill but we will reschedule and offer a rain check – but no refund.
• If a parent arrives late to retrieve the children by more than 5 minutes than a penalty of $50 for every 20 minutes is due immediately. No additional visits will be scheduled until the penalty fee is fully paid. This is important as this will cause another parent’s visit – who is waiting after you – to be canceled. 
• If this occurs twice you will no longer be able to utilize our services for a period of 6 months. 
• We are not childcare providers or parent educators. Our role is to observe and report and record. We are at the placement, but we are not nannies. We are not going to change a child’s diaper or toilet a child. We are not an extra set of hands. We will endeavor to be pleasant and friendly but the whole point of the process is to allow the parent and the children to interact as parent and child or children and manage their needs – ie parenting. That means that discipline (no physical discipline) and feeding and toileting is all attended to by the parent being supervised.
• The purpose of the visitation is to cultivate the relationship between the child and parent, not the parent and supervisor, or the supervisor and child.
• The parent with the children is expected to bring appropriate clothing and care supplies for the child and not assume that the worker will be providing supplies. 
• If the placement location is at a restaurant or a place
• where food is customary then the parent being supervised is expected to
• provide the food/beverages for the child/ren. If the restaurant is a sit-down restaurant then the parent being supervised will be required to provide a small soup or salad for the supervisor as is customary when utilizing establishments.
•  If there are any dietary needs, then the parent bringing the child should ensure that they bring the special food/beverage as well. 
• The parent being supervised is also expected to and required to pay all attendance fees and costs for all the children, themselves, and the worker. TO THE PARENT BEING SUPERVISED: You agree to the location and activity so you must pay all costs.
• We will not accept a sleeping child. If the child is sleeping, you must wake the child fully up before we will begin the visit.