Professional Supervised Visitation in North Carolina
Supervised visitation is contact between a noncustodial party and one or more children in the presence of a neutral third person. (Scroll for video.)
The supervised visitation professional will observe and provide documentation for appropriate authorities such as CPS , CSD, other parent, attorneys, and/or the Court.
FCCS works with families who are facing issues related to:
- divorce
- domestic violence (DV)
- abuse
- custody
- CSD / CPS involvement
FCCS accepts referrals from:
- Child Welfare Agencies
- Family Court
- Juvenile Court
- Domestic Violence Programs
- Self-Referrals
Getting Started: The Initial Interview
A separate and thorough Interview shall be completed with each adult and child who is old enough to participate.
The Supervised Visitation Monitor will:
- gather information about your needs and circumstances
- receive copies of Court orders, protective orders and other important documents
The Next Step: The Orientation
After the Interview, an Orientation will be scheduled. We try to conduct the Interview and Orientation on the same day, when possible.
The Orientation will provide you with:
- information on how services are provided
- guidelines for visits
- reasons for termination of a visit
- fees
- cancellation and late arrival policies
- documentation and Summary Report policies
- confidentiality limits
- how to handle concerns regarding services
Children who are old enough to participate should be included in this pre-visit step.
The Best Part: The Visits!
After the Interviews and Orientations have been complete and your family is approved, your visits can begin. Please note that visits can not begin until the Intake and Orientation have been completed for all adults involved.
After initial Intake and Orientation are complete, and if the Court Order allows, visits may happen in the community. This means you may do your visits at a park, the bowling alley, the library, or your favorite restaurant. Travel fees may apply.
The Parent is the Parent during Parenting Time
Parents may bring approved snacks, meals, gifts or activities to engage children during session, as appropriate and unless contraindicated by Court Order.
Parents are responsible for the child, including diapering and toileting, except in sexual abuse cases.
Therapeutic Visitation
Therapeutic Visits often include coaching from a trained and/or licensed professional. If Therapeutic Visits are warranted, they will be specified in the Court Order.
Supervised Visitation and Facilitated Visitation services do not include therapy services. However, you may receive Reunification Therapy, Child Therapy and/or Family Therapy separate from your visits, if ordered or allowed by the Court. The same person who provides one service cannot provide another. For example, your Monitor cannot also be your Therapist. For information on Therapy Service, check here.
Supervised Visitation is not mediation. Your Monitor cannot get involved in the personal emotions, frustrations and/or relationship complaints that are often present in a divorcing or ineffective co-parenting situation. Those issues should be addressed with the Court, your attorney, mediator, therapist, and/or other professional. A Monitor's job is to remain neutral and provide a safe visitation experience. Custodial and Visiting Parents must each follow SV guidelines.
