As a parent dealing with child custody issues, it’s likely that you will be going through the process of gradually learning more about custody terminology and the options available to you. If you have been told about supervised visitation centers, you may not understand fully what they are.
Supervised visitation centers have been created with the purpose of helping make it possible for a child to have a relationship with both of their parents, even if one of their parents has been deemed to present some level of risk. As the name suggests, the visitation center facilitates constant supervision of the interaction between the parent and child. This enables the child to be safeguarded at all times, while still being able to enjoy quality time with their parent.
How do supervised visits work?
Supervised visitation centers are highly organized, and arrangements need to be made in advance. The visiting parent will need to arrive at the visitation center at the designated time. The supervisor of the sessions will be decided by the judge. Most typically, a social worker or counselor is the supervisor.
Can supervised visits lead to custody?
Supervised visits may be only a temporary measure, but they may also be put in place indefinitely. This depends on the perceived risk of the parent. If a parent is dealing with an addiction problem but later manages to get clean, they may be able to gain the right to unsupervised visitation.
If you are exploring custody options for your child, it is important to understand the law in full so you know what can be possible in your situation.