|
|
Colorado Home Page | Standards
|
|
Supervised Parenting Time and Exchange Standards
GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND DUTIES
- Service Providers shall have as their primary purpose the protection of children.
- Service Providers shall act professionally.
- Service Providers shall maintain objectivity.
- Service Providers shall be qualified through education and training and shall maintain competence through appropriate training.
- Service Providers shall acknowledge when an issue is beyond his or her competence.
- Service Providers shall have no private or ex parte communication except at the direction of the court.
- Service Providers shall maintain confidentiality.
- Service Providers shall not serve dual or conflicting roles.
- Service Providers shall assist the parties in implementing the court's order.
Definition of Services
Unless the Court and Service Provider have otherwise agreed the following terms will have the following meanings:
"Supervised" Parenting time means there shall be a ratio of one supervisor to one family. The supervisor shall be within sight and sound of all participants and present during the entire visit.
"Group" or "Family" Supervised Parenting time means there shall be a ratio of one supervisor to two families. The supervisor shall be within sight and sound of all participants and present during the entire visit.
"Monitored" Parenting time means the supervisor will periodically observe the visitation, but will not be within sight and sound of all participants and present during the entire visit.
"Therapeutic" Parenting time means there shall be a ratio of one supervisor to one family. The supervisor shall be a licensed mental healthcare professional and shall be within sight and sound of all participants and present during the entire visit.
"Supervised Exchange" or "Safe Exchange" means the exchange of children for the purpose of parenting time where each parent or guardian shall have pick up and drop off times and/or locations that prevent face to face contact and while the child is under the supervision of the Service Provider there shall be one supervisor for up to 12 children.
Financial Management
Service providers must maintain financial records and follow generally accepted accounting principles. Financial records must be retained for a period of seven years.
Personnel Policies
A provider with employees or volunteers must maintain personnel records for a period of 15 years. All employees or volunteers shall be required to undergo a fingerprint based criminal history records check and no Service Provider shall use or employ any person who has been convicted of:
- Child abuse as specified in section 18-6-401, C.R.S.
- A crime of violence, as defined in section 18-1.3-406, C.R.S.
- Any felony offenses involving unlawful sexual behavior, as defined in section 16-22-102 (9), C.R.S.
- Any felony, the underlying factual basis of which has been found by the court on the record to include an act of domestic
violence as defined in section 18-6-800.3, C.R.S.
- Any felony involving physical assault, battery or a drug related offense within the preceding five years.
- Any offense in any other state, the elements of which are substantially similar to the elements of one of the offenses described in a – e above.
Family Records
A provider must keep client records for a period of seven years after the 18th birthday of the youngest child visited. The collection and reporting of data based on client records must not compromise client confidentiality. Records should be kept in a manner that will allow provider to segregate records in order to protect the confidential information of each of the parties.
Case Review
Subject to each jurisdiction, providers must work with the court to have written procedures for case review to consider the status of the case, any needed changes to the court order, or whether participation in the service will continue or terminate. Information about how to take a matter back to court must be made available to clients.
Declining Unsafe Cases
A provider must refuse to accept any case when the provider cannot reasonably ensure the safety of the client and must inform the referring court of their refusal to accept the case and the reasons therefore.
General Policy for Security
A provider must make reasonable efforts to ensure that security measures are provided. Providers must have written policies and procedures that include, collaborating with local law enforcement to facilitate a rapid response; ensuring that the facility meets all state and local fire, building, and health codes; and establishing protocols for emergency situations.
Additional Security Measures in High-Risk Situations
When there is any risk of violent or highly conflicted interaction between parents, providers must have procedures that keep parents physically and visually separate so that contact or interaction between the parents does not occur. Providers must have a safety response plan and assist the client in creating a personal safety plan for any client at risk.
Critical Incidents
A provider must record and report critical incidents to the referring court and any other appropriate authority. Critical incidents are those that cause physical or emotional harm to any child, provider or other participant or that cause substantial property damage.
Mandatory Reporting
A provider who has reasonable cause to know or suspect that a child has been subject to abuse or neglect or who has observed the child being subjected to circumstances or conditions which would reasonably result in abuse or neglect shall immediately report such fact to the county department or local law enforcement agency.
Training for Visit Supervisors and for Supervised Exchange
A visit or exchange supervisor must complete 8 hours of training and shall maintain and regularly update their training in relevant areas. A minimum of six hours of such training shall cover at least the following required topics:
- Safety for all participants;
- Mandatory child abuse reporting;
- Professional boundaries, conflict of interest, and maintaining neutrality;
- Basic stages of child development;
- Effects of separation and divorce on children and families;
- Grief and loss associated with parental separation and removal from the home due to child abuse and neglect;
- Cultural sensitivity and diversity;
- Family violence, including domestic violence and children's exposure to violence;
- Child abuse and neglect, including child sexual abuse;
- Substance abuse;
- Provisions of service to parents and children with mental health and developmental issues or other physical or emotional impairment;
- Parent introduction/re-introduction;
- Parenting skills;
- Assertiveness training and conflict resolution;
- How and when to intervene during visits to maintain the safety of all participants;
- Observation of parent/child interactions;
- Relevant laws regarding child custody and visitation and child protection.
Training must also include:
- Definition of client, understanding of the role and responsibilities of supervisor, conflict of interest;
q
- Policies and procedures;
- Preparation of factual observation notes and reports;
- Direct Provider observation of parent/child contact performed by a trained visit supervisor (shadowing);
- Co-supervision of the visit by the trainee with a trained visit supervisor; and
- Direct observation by a trained visit supervisor while the trainee independently supervises the visit (reverse shadowing).
Training for Providers
In addition to the training for a visit supervisor a provider must complete an additional 6 hours of training covering at least the following topics:
- Receiving referrals;
- Conducting intake and orientation, including preparing children;
- Record keeping and confidentiality;
- Establishing a visitation contract with clients;
- Setting fees;
- Setting conditions (rules) for receiving services;
- Setting up the physical space or location for safe visits/exchanges;
- Collaborating with the court, child protective agencies, and other referring sources;
- Referring clients to other services;
- Training and supervising staff, including volunteers and interns;
- Reporting to the court or other referring sources;
- Testifying in court;
- Suspending and/or terminating services; and
- Managing and reviewing cases.
Accepting Referrals
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 an agreement by the parents.
Feedback to Parents
A provider must inform a parent if there has been an injury to a child, a critical incident during a visit, or an incident that presents a risk to that parent's safety; and a provider must inform a parent if he/she has violated a provider rule which may lead to the suspension or termination of services.
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:
- Safety concerns or other case issues that cannot be effectively
managed by the provider;
- Excessive demand on the provider's resources;
- The parent's failure to comply with the conditions or rules for
participation in the program;
- Nonpayment of program fees; and
- Threat of violence or abuse.
Procedures for Termination of Services
When a provider terminates services, the provider must inform the referring court and each parent in writing of the reason for termination of services and document the termination and reasons for termination in the case file.
Factual Reports
Generally a provider may not submit reports to the court without sending copies to both parents unless ordered otherwise. Reports should be limited to facts, observations, and direct statements made by the parents and unless the court has specifically requested the personal conclusions, suggestions, or opinions of the provider.
|
|
|
