What are supervised visits?
Supervised visits happen when a parent is not allowed to spend time with their child unless someone else is there to babysit. During the supervised visit, the parent and the child are both under supervision. The person supervising the visit is expected and trusted to make sure the child is safe at all times. The supervisor may also be expected to provide a report outlining everything that happened at the visit and if there were any concerns with the parent or child during the visit.
Why are visits supervised?
People make mistakes. Supervised visits are usually a consequence of poor lifestyle choices or some other breakdown of trust. Supervised visits are a tool that can help a parent rebuild trust, reestablish and/or maintain a relationship with their children. Supervised visits are a great opportunity for parents to demonstrate parenting abilities and to move forward despite any past mistakes.
Having “supervised visits” does not mean that a parent is a bad person or a bad parent. Sometimes, it just means that the parent has never had to parent alone before, or the parent or the child is uncomfortable or feels unsafe without the extra support offered by the supervisor. The condition for supervision usually only last for a period of time before the visits can transition to unsupervised time.
How do I get supervised visits?
There are typically two ways to get supervised visits. The first option is with permission. If both parents agree to having someone present to supervise the visits, they are usually welcome to make those arrangements between themselves. When appropriate, parents should try to arrange for supervised visits with the help of mutually trusted friends or family members that have already established a positive relationship with the child.
If either parent does not want supervised visits, the next option is to get a court order. The parents can each explain their side of the story to the court, then a judge can decide if supervision is necessary. A parent seeking or disputing supervised visits should receive legal advice from a lawyer as soon as possible. The Edmonton Family Network has connections to exceptional family lawyers that may be able to help.
Who can supervise the visits?
Anyone willing to supervise visits can with both parents permission. If the parents are unable to agree on who can supervise the visit, then the next option is to get a court order that specifically names the people who are allowed to supervise the visits. The Edmonton Family Network recommends hiring a professional supervision agency whenever possible in high conflict situations. There are some pay-for-service options like:
- My Family Nexus
- Family Connections
- Mariam’s Footsteps
- West Point Investigations Corp.
- Haven Community Services Inc.
- Family Forever Inc.
- Heart & Justice
Professional agencies are neutral to the situation and can provide notes from each visit. A supervisors notes can be used as evidence in court to confirm the details and outcome of each supervised visit. The supervisors only interest in the wellbeing of the child, so their notes tend to be unbiased and completely child focused.
Final thoughts
The Edmonton Family Network was designed to be used as a resource to anyone dealing with a difficult family situation. The Edmonton Family Network is familiar with the current limitations of the legal system and the barriers many people face trying to access and afford legal services. The Edmonton Family Network aims to educate and connect people with affordable resources and service providers that can help.
