GUIDELINES FOR VISITS/EXCHANGES

1.  Visiting party shall arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled visit. This window helps avoid any contact with the custodial party. Please do not arrive any later.  Use this window to pay your fees, select a game or movie, have any gifts inspected, and wait for the child. For exchanges, this applies to the pick-up party. If visiting party is transported by another, that party must immediately leave the premises prior to the child arriving.

2.  Child shall arrive at the scheduled visitation/exchange time. Child will be escorted into the visitation room by a Professional Supervisor.

3.  Custodial party must leave the premises during the visit and will not be allowed to sit in the parking lot to wait.  

4.  The visit begins when the child arrives at the scheduled time.  Do not bring the child earlier and expect the visit to begin at that time.  It will commence at the scheduled time.

5.  If the visiting party is late, the visit will commence when the child arrives at the regular scheduled time. 

6.  Custodial party must bring necessary items for a baby/toddler’s comfort at the visit (diapers, bottles, baby food). The visiting party may bring these items as well, as long as approved by the custodial party.

7.  Visiting party may bring food and drinks if permitted by the custodial party.

8.  The electronic surveillance camera will be activated at the beginning of and during the entire visit.  There is to be no whispering, no quiet talking, no attempt to evade the camera.  Actions/discussions must be audible and able to be recorded. 

9.  Please keep the volume on the TV or other electronic device moderate so that other families are not disturbed and the recording devices are not overpowered by them.  The devices must be able to pick voices up.

10. In the event the child appears significantly traumatized or distressed at the beginning of the visit, Supervisor will allow visiting party sufficient time to calm the child down. If the child does not recover within ten minutes, Supervisor may cancel the visit. Court orders may supercede this. 

11. When the child enters the room, allow him/her to set the tone.  The visiting party shall not force the child for affection or to sit next to him/her.  If the visiting party asks for a hug or kiss, and the child shows any hesitation or discomfort, do not pursue any longer.  Staff will intervene to protect the child.

12. There will be no video-taping or pictures taken of the child by the visiting party without written permission by the custodial party. Center cameras will be recording the entire visit and will not be turned off at any time. Failure to comply will result in immediate termination of the visit.

13. Phone calls/texts are not permitted at any time during the visit. Failure to comply will result in immediate termination of the visit.

14. No discussions about courts, judges, lawyers, legal matters, child support, where child lives or attends school, exploratory or derogatory remarks about the custodial party will be allowed.  Child shall not be made to feel guilty about anything. Do not tell a child to "tell the truth" pertaining to the situation. The visit should be a time of pleasant conversation, not questioning or interrogating. Visiting party will be given an immediate verbal redirect, and will terminate the visit if it occurs a second time. 

15. Child cannot be physically examined by the visiting party during a visit. Changing a baby's diaper is not considered examining.

16. Visiting party must remain appropriate with child.  Uncomfortable displays of affection will not be tolerated. If the child tells the visiting party to stop (kissing, tickling, embracing), the visiting party must cease such affection. If staff deems behavior or conversation inappropriate by the visiting party, there will be one verbal redirect.  A second attempt will terminate the visit.

17. No pets of any kind are allowed on the premises at any time.

18. A child who is potty-trained will be escorted to the on-site restroom by the Supervisor.  Older children may use the restroom by themselves. 

19. Toys are provided in the room for the child to use during the visit.  Age-appropriate games, arts and crafts items, playing cards, and movies are available for the visit.  Please ensure that these items are treated with care and returned when the visit ends.  It is recommended that you only select games that are age-appropriate so that all game pieces remain with the game.  Do not allow your child to destroy our games, toys or movies.  You will be asked to replace these items if they are destroyed. 

20. If the visiting parent brings a movie to watch, they must be rated G or PG only.  Only age-appropriate movies, songs, or video games or other items are allowed on Center property. No illegally reproduced movies are allowed.

21. No weapons are allowed at any time. 

22. Any abuse outcry during a visit or suspected child abuse will promptly be reported to Child Protective Services, which is mandatory by law.

23. There are to be no messages or notes, verbally or on paper, passed between parties, or from child to the other party, unless it pertains to the welfare of the child during the visit.  Legal papers cannot be served on Center property.

24. Visiting party is expected to treat the child with respect.  Visiting party must maintain control of the child, and not allow child to disrupt other visiting families or destroy Center property.  At no time is corporal punishment (spanking, pinching or swatting) or yelling allowed. 

25. Supervisors are to remain neutral and respectful to both parties.  Neither party shall discuss case details or speak disparagingly about the other party to the supervisor.  Nor shall either party contact a supervisor after hours or ask personal questions of the supervisor.

26. Five minutes prior to the end of the visit, visiting party shall prepare the child to depart. Gather the child’s belongings, put on shoes or jackets that might have been removed, etc.  When the visit is over, the child must be ready to go. 

27. Visiting party shall be responsible to clean up the room after the visit ends.  Any trash that does not fit inside the provided trashcan shall be removed by the visiting party.  Please put toys back in the provided places and return any games, arts supplies, or movies.

28. Visiting party shall wait ten minutes to depart the Center after the child departs. No calls can be made during this wait time.

In addition to the preceding rules, the following rules will also apply to any case involving sexual abuse allegations against the visiting party and the visiting child is the alleged victim.

29. There will be no physical contact with the child unless initiated by the child.  These contacts must be limited and brief.

30. There will be no discussion about boyfriends, sexuality, sexual behavior, dating or any other related topic.

31. The child shall not sit on the visiting party’s lap or be cornered or coerced into horseplay, being tickled, or play games that might give chance to have the child or visiting party inappropriately exposed.

32. There will be no gifts given to the child.  

33. There will be no pictures, videos or audio taken by the visiting party. This does not include Center cameras, which record all visits and will not be turned off for any reason. No pictures showing family or themselves are permitted.

34. There will be no conversation about the child’s appearance (“You look nice, your hair is so soft").

*The guidelines above apply when the visiting child is the alleged victim.

 A.  If, after one verbal redirect by the Supervisor, the visiting party again tries to discuss court or legal matters, speaks negatively about the custodial party, or pressures the child in any way (interrogating, prying information, making child feel guilty, etc.);

B.  If the child appears significantly distressed or traumatized and cannot be comforted within ten minutes (and court orders do not insist on child remaining at the Center);

C.  If the visiting party attempts to make a phone call or take unauthorized pictures/videos of the child;

D.  If the visiting party ignores Center rules or refuses redirection by staff;

E.  If the visiting party yells at the child, speaks with profanity, threatens the child, or strikes the child (including spanking);

F.  If the visiting party threatens or is abusive to staff;

G.  If the visiting party appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Supervisor will determine if visiting party is capable of proceeding with visit.

Suspension/Cancellation of Services

Suspension of services may occur after Center has given several warnings or for major rule violations.  Suspension may be for a minimum of one week/one visit and a maximum of one month.  A letter of suspension will be provided to the offending party and a copy of the letter will be provided to the other party. 

Repeated violation of Center rules and/or continued disrespect of staff may cancel all services.  Both involved parties will be notified if cancellation is determined.