5.0 Program Operations                                                                         

5.1 Purpose

This section is intended to set forth basic operating requirements for providers.

5.2 Resources and Functions

A provider must offer only those services and serve only the number of clients for which they have adequate financial and personnel resources.

5.3 Program Policies and Procedures

Providers must have written rules and policies governing service delivery.

5.4 Premises

For on-site supervised visitation services, the physical layout of the premises must be designed to protect the safety and security of participants.

5.5 Accessibility

A provider must have policies and procedures about accessibility to supervised visitation services in terms of geographic location, transportation, hours of operation, American Disabilities Act and its equivalent legislation in the international jurisdiction, and sensitivity to the ethnic, cultural, and linguistic needs of the community.

5.6 Insurance

A provider must obtain and maintain insurance coverage that is appropriate to their business operations and the nature of the work and services provided.

6.0 Evaluations & Recommendations

6.1 Purpose

This section defines the limits for providing an assessment, evaluation, and/or recommendation concerning the treatment, future visitation arrangements, and/or child custody determinations. Specifically, the section prohibits a provider from performing any mental health, custody, parenting, developmental and/or attachment assessment and evaluation that more appropriately should be provided by a licensed mental health professional. This includes drawing conclusions and/or making recommendations about future visitation arrangements or child custody determinations.

6.2 General Policy

1. A provider must not perform any mental health or other evaluations or assessments unless as specifically noted in sections 6.3 and 6.4 below.
2. Supervised visitation services must function independently from a licensed or certified mental health professional or other professional who is performing a mental health, custody, parenting, developmental and/or attachment assessment and evaluation.
3. A provider must not make recommendations or state opinions about future visitation arrangements and/or child custody determinations.
4. This policy does not prohibit a provider from providing factual information based on observations of clients which may be used by others who are conducting an evaluation and/or assessment.

6.3 Risk Assessments                                                                          

A provider may review and analyze client information and behavior to determine whether services can be provided safely and/or to deny or suspend services because of potential risks of harm to a client or staff member.

6.4 Therapeutic Supervised Visitation Exception

A licensed mental health professional who is providing therapeutic supervised visitation may prepare a written report that demonstrates a parent's commitment or readiness for treatment and may include a professional opinion about parent/child readiness to enter the next phase of treatment. Any such report must not include an opinion or recommendation about child custody/access determinations.

9.0 Provider's Responsibility For The Child                                                  

9.1 Purpose

This section is intended to clarify the boundaries between parent responsibility and provider responsibility for children during the provision of service.

9.2 General Policy

A provider must have clearly defined policies and procedures for parental and provider responsibilities.

9.3 Parental Responsibility

1. While parents are responsible for their own behavior during supervised visitation, a provider may hold a parent accountable for their behavior by ensuring that the parent follows the program policies and procedures, the court order, and the signed service agreement.
2. Parents are responsible for the care of the child and the child's belongings during supervised visits, subject to any contrary order of the court.

9.4 Provider Responsibility

1. Children must not be left unattended with a noncustodial parent (their own or any other custodial or noncustodial parent) any time during visitation services. An exception to this rule is during intermittent supervision as defined under section 2.10.
2. Providers must have written polices and procedures for parent/child contact not covered by court order or agreement of the parents. These policies for the parent/child contact must not delegate authority entirely to one of the parents.
3. Providers are responsible for the care and protection of a child during the transition of the child from one parent to another.

9.5 Off-Site Supervised Visitation

1. A provider of supervised visitation or exchanges off site is responsible for working with the parents and/or referring sources to arrange in advance where the visit will take place and who can participate in the visit.
2. Providers must consider and take into account the safety of all participants in determining whether to offer off-site supervision.
3. In addition to the above, a provider of supervised visitation or exchanges must follow sections 9.4(1) and (3) above.

12.0 Training & Education

12.1 Purpose

The long-term goal of SVN is to develop and approve an international training curriculum, which will become the standard for supervised visitation providers and will cover each of the topic areas listed below. Until such time that this curriculum is developed and approved, the minimum required training and education requirements are defined by the number of hours for the topic areas listed below.

12.2 General Training Principles

1. The training of a provider must correspond with the services offered by the provider.
2. The training specified below must be completed within 12 months of employment.
3. Any person who has not completed the required training, may provide direct service only under the supervision of a person who has completed the required training.

12.3 Training for Visit Supervisors

Practicum training for trainees must include:

1. Direct observation of parent/child contact performed by a trained visit supervisor (shadowing);
2. Co-supervision of the visit by the trainee with a trained visit supervisor; and
3. Direct observation by a trained visit supervisor while the trainee independently supervises the visit (reverse shadowing).
4. New or geographically isolated trainees may substitute using a video of parent/child contact and telephone consultation from a trained visit supervisor for shadowing and reverse shadowing. Once there is a trained visit supervisor on site, the requirement of section 12.3(1) must be followed.

Any person who provides direct service to a client or who does clinical supervision of a person providing direct service must complete 24 hours of training covering at least:

1. SVN Standards and Code of Ethics when developed;
2. Provider policies and procedures;
3. Safety for all participants;
4. Mandatory child abuse reporting;
5. Professional boundaries, conflict of interest, confidentiality, and maintaining neutrality;
6. Basic stages of child development;
7. Effects of separation and divorce on children and families;
8. Grief and loss associated with parental separation and removal from the home due to child abuse and neglect;
9. Cultural sensitivity and diversity;
10. Family violence, including domestic violence and the effects of domestic violence on children;
11. Child abuse and neglect, including child sexual abuse;
12. Substance abuse;
13. Provisions of service to parents and children with mental health and developmental issues or other physical or emotional impairment;
14. Parent introduction/re-introduction;
15. Parenting skills;
16. Assertiveness training and conflict resolution;
17. How and when to intervene during visits or exchanges to maintain the safety of all participants;
18. Observation of parent/child interactions;
19. Preparation of factual observation notes and reports; and
20. Relevant laws regarding child custody and visitation and child protection.

12.4 Training for Supervised Exchange                                                        

Not withstanding the requirement of section 12.3 above, any person providing only supervised exchange services may meet these standards by completing 16 hours of training to include the following:

1. SVN Standards (and SVN Best Practice Guidelines and Code of Ethics when developed);
2. Provider policies and procedures;
3. Safety for all participants;
4. Mandatory child abuse reporting;
5. Professional boundaries, conflict of interest, confidentiality, and maintenance of neutrality;
6. Effects of separation and divorce on children and families;
7. Family violence, including domestic violence and the effects of domestic violence on children;
8. Cultural sensitivity and diversity;
9. Child abuse, including child sexual abuse and neglect;
10. Substance abuse;
11. Provisions of service to parents and children with mental health and developmental issues or other physical or emotional impairment;
12. Parent introduction/reintroduction;
13. Assertiveness training and conflict resolution;
14. How and when to intervene during exchanges to protect and maintain the safety of all participants; and
15. Relevant laws regarding child custody and visitation and child protection.

12.5 Training for Provider Management

Any individual provider or any person who is responsible for management of a program, in addition to the requirements of sections 12.3 or section 12.4 above, must complete an additional 16 hours of training covering at least the following topics:

1. Receiving referrals;
2. Conducting intake and orientation, including preparing children;
3. Record keeping and confidentiality;
4. Establishing a visitation contract with clients;
5. Setting fees;
6. Setting conditions (rules) for receiving services;
7. Setting up the physical space or location for safe visits/exchanges;
8. Collaborating with the court, child protective agencies, and other referring sources;
9. Referring clients to other services;
10. Training and supervising staff, including volunteers and interns;
11. Reporting to the court or other referring sources;
12. Testifying in court;
13. Suspending and/or terminating services; and
14. Managing and reviewing cases.

Any person in management who has no direct contact with clients and does not supervised direct service staff is not required to fulfill the requirements of sections 12.3 or 12.4.

Any person who provides clerical functions and who has no direct contact with clients is not required to fulfill the requirements of sections 12.3, 12.4, or 12.5.

12.6 Training for Supportive Supervision                                                      

In addition to the above, a visit supervisor providing supportive supervision must complete additional training on the following topics:

1. Intervention to promote change;
2. Parenting skills; and
3. Behaviors that facilitate positive attachment, separation and reconnection.

12.7 Training for Therapeutic Supervision

1. Any person providing therapeutic supervised visitation services must be a licensed mental health professional and complete the training specified in section 12.3 above.
2. Any person providing therapeutic supervised visitation as a provider independently must also have completed the training specified in section 12.3 for visit supervisors and section 12.5 for providers.

12.8 Current Members

1. Providers who have been members of SVN for five (5) years prior to the adoption of these standards (i.e., July 1, 2006) are deemed to have met these requirements.
2. Providers who have been members of SVN for less than five (5) years prior to the adoption of these standards (i.e., July 1, 2006) and who have not completed the training specified in these standards must do so within 12 months.

13.0 Referrals

13.1 Purpose

This section sets out the general criteria for accepting or declining cases by a provider.

13.2 Accepting Referrals

1. Referrals may be made by order of a court or may be from a child protective service agency that has taken custody of a child. In all other situations, including referrals from mental health professionals, mediators, and attorneys, the referral must include a signed agreement by the parents.
2. Referral information must include the reasons for the referral and information on any family issues that may impact on the parent/child contact or the safety of the participants.
3. If a provider receives a referral that does not cover frequency and duration of parent-child contact, type of service, and the parents disagree about provisions of service delivery, the provider must send the issue back to the court or referring agency for clarification. While waiting for a clarification by the referring agency or court, a provider may set temporary conditions for the use of service provided that the parents consent.

13.3 Declining Referrals                                                                                

1. A provider must refuse to accept any case when the safety needs and risks presented by the family cannot be managed. Reasons for declining a referral may include that the provider is not adequately trained, resources are insufficient to provide the type of service requested, or there are safety and/or security risks that the provider cannot manage.
2. A provider must inform the referral source in writing of the reasons for declining any referral.

15.0 Staff Preparation For Services

15.1 Purpose

This section is intended to describe how staff is to be prepared for service delivery and conditions of parent/child contact not covered by a court order.

15.2 General Policy

Providers, including staff or volunteers supervising a visit, must know the reasons for referral, the safety risks associated with the service provision, and the terms and conditions of the service being provided.

15.3 Conditions for Parent/Child Contact

1. A provider must have written policies and procedures regarding conditions of supervised visitation, including, but not limited to, issues such as visitors, toys, food, gifts, photo/video/audio recording, cellular phones, pagers, and toileting. Provider's policies and procedures must not delegate decision-making authority over these conditions entirely to one parent.
2. A provider must be able to speak and understand the language being spoken by the parent and the child being supervised. If the visit supervisor cannot speak and understand the language being spoken by the parent and the child, they must be accompanied by a neutral interpreter over the age of 18.

16.0 Interventions And Ending A Visit Or Exchange In Progress

16.1 Purpose

This section defines the parameters for staff interventions and ending a parent/child visit in progress.

16.2 General Policies

A provider must have written policies and procedures for intervening in and ending parent/child visits in progress. The policies must include situations in which the provider determines:

1. A child is acutely distressed;
2. A parent is not following the program rules set out by the service agreement; and
3. A participant is at risk of imminent harm either emotionally or physically.

Ending a client's parent/child contact may be a temporary measure and is not the same as termination of services.

18.0 Termination Of Services

18.1 Purpose

This section sets forth the procedural parameters for termination of supervised visitation services.

18.2 Reasons for Termination

A provider must have written policies and procedures that set forth the reasons for which services may be terminated, including, but not limited to:

1. Safety concerns or other case issues that cannot be effectively managed by the provider;
2. Excessive demand on the provider's resources;
3. The parent's failure to comply with the conditions or rules for participation in the program;
4. Nonpayment of program fees; and
5. Threat of or actual violence or abuse.

18.3 Refusal of Child to Visit                                                                      

1. A provider must have written policies and procedures for situations in which a child refuses to participate in parent/child visits.
2. If a child refuses to visit with the noncustodial party in such a way or for such a period of time that it raises concerns that continuation of services may be detrimental to the child's safety and emotional well- being, then a provider must suspend services pending resolution of the issue.

18.4 Procedures for Termination of Services

When a provider terminates services, the provider must:

1. Inform each parent in writing of the reason for termination of services;
2. Provide written notice to the court and/or referring source stating the reason for the termination; and
3. Document the termination and reasons for termination in the case file.

19.0 Special Standards In Situations Involving Child Sexual Abuse And Domestic Violence

19.1 Purpose

This section is intended to set forth additional conditions for the delivery of services for situations involving child sexual abuse and domestic violence.

19.2 Child Sexual Abuse

1. A provider must have written policies and procedures for the supervision of cases with allegations or findings of sexual abuse that provide for the safety of all participants using the service.
2. Any provider supervising the parent/child contact when sexual abuse has been alleged or proven must have specific training in child sexual abuse and its effect on children.
3. The contact between the visiting parent and the child must be supervised continually one-on-one so that all verbal communication is heard and all physical contact is observed.
4. If there is an allegation of sexual abuse that is under investigation, providers must not accept a referral or must suspend service unless there is a court order to the contrary or an opinion by a sexual abuse expert involved in the case.

19.3 Domestic Violence                                                                           

A provider must have written policies and procedures for supervision of cases with allegations or findings of domestic violence that provide for the safety of all participants using the service.

A provider must:

1. Develop and implement a plan for safe arrival and departure and safe use of the service for the client at risk;
2. Refer any victim of domestic violence to a resource expert that can assist and help the victim in developing a personal safety plan.
3. Develop and implement policies and procedures that address no shared decision-making, unless in a specific case shared decision making has been explicitly ordered by the court; and
4. Develop and follow policies regarding no contact or interaction between the parents, unless in a specific case contact or interaction is allowed by order of the court.

20.0 Reports To Courts And Referring Sources

20.1 Purpose

This section sets forth standards for submission of reports to the court and referring sources.

20.2 Factual Reports

1. A provider must have written policies and procedures regarding writing and submitting reports to the court or referring source or other entity.
2. A provider who submits reports must ensure all reports are limited to facts, observations, and direct statements made by the parents and not personal conclusions, suggestions, or opinions of the provider.

20.3 Cautionary Note on All Reports or Observation Notes

When submitting any reports or copies of observation notes, a provider must include a cautionary note stating the limitations on the way the information should be used.