What is it?
-
Supervised
Visits are professionally monitored visits between
non-custodial parents and their children in a safe and
neutral environment.
- There is never any
contact between the custodial guardian and non-custodial
parent during Supervised Visits.
- Each family has their
own visitation room in which parents and children can
interact and play. Toys, games, art supplies, and
light snacks are provided for the family's use.
- Visits are monitored by
trained professionals who observe and document the
parent and child interactions. A monitor is always
present with each individual family throughout the
entire visit.
- Monitors
intervene during visits only if a child’s safety is at risk
or program rules are broken.
- Supervised Visits may occur during
the week, on weekends and/or during holidays and typically
range in duration from one to four hours in length.
- The
frequency and duration of visits may be dictated by the
court system or Department of Children’s Services. The
Family Center is a member of a national Supervised
Visitation Network and all professional staff are highly
trained individuals.
The Exchange Club Family
Center has the only Visitation Centers in Davidson and
Rutherford Counties.
Why participate?
Regardless of the quality of the parent/child relationship,
most children want and need to have contact with that
parent. Supervised Visits can help the child cope with
separation from the visiting parent and allow the parent and
child to begin to rebuild a healthy, safe, and consistent
relationship. Parents often participate in Supervised Visits
if they are under investigation for child maltreatment or
when the court has determined that there are significant
safety risks for the child during visits. A court system or
the Department of Children’s Services may determine that it
is necessary for visits to be supervised in order to gain
information about how the parent and child interact with one
another for case assessment and planning.
Supervised
Visits may be court ordered or voluntarily agreed upon by
both parties. Most commonly, parents have Supervised Visits
with their children due to sexual, physical or emotional
abuse or neglect of the children by the parent; domestic
violence or intense conflict between spouses/partners; the
presence of substance abuse or dependence by a parent; or a
high possibility that the parent may abduct the child.
Supervised Visits may also be appropriate when the child
expresses concern about visiting with a parent or when the
parent has had little or no contact with the child in the
past.
Two parents who participated in our Supervised Visitation
Program shared their experience noting: "I got to see my
son, no words can describe how happy that made me. Everyone
was nice and helpful,” and
“my son was kept from me for weeks at a time prior to
Exchange Club [Family Center]. My son didn’t even know me
anymore at our first visit. Now we are very close and have a
great time together.”
Where are services offered?
- Visits occur at both our
Nashville and Murfreesboro locations
- Visits may be scheduled on
weekends or during the week
- This program operates year
round and provides services during all major holidays.
How much
does it cost?
- Visitations are provided
on a sliding scale fee based on income.
- Payments for visitations
are paid in advance.
- Intakes are $48
and typically last one hour.
How
do I get started?
To begin Supervised Visits, you must call The Exchange
Club Family Center
and schedule an intake appointment. Both the custodial and
non-custodial guardians must complete separate intakes
before beginning visits.
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