Guidelines

The following protocol must be accepted and understood by parents.

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1. The following must be followed:

• The monitor will be present at all times during the visit.
   
• The  Custodial parent will arrive fifteen (15) minutes prior to the start of  the scheduled exchange and return exactly at the end of the scheduled  exchange. Custodial parent and/or designee will be required to leave  the area immediately upon signing in/dropping off child(ren) and picking  up child(ren).
   
• The  Non-custodial parent will arrive at the exact hour of the scheduled  visit and will leave fifteen minutes (15) prior to end of the scheduled  exchange.
   
• Fees for services must be paid in full, in cash, prior to each visit. No refunds.
   
• The visiting parent must arrive promptly at the scheduled time.
   
• If a parent or designee is more than 5 minutes early or late, he/she will pay $2.00 for each additional minute.
   
• Use of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs during a visitation is prohibited.
   

2. The following must be avoided:

• Inappropriate touching of the child(ren)'s body.
   
• Inappropriate demands for physical contact.
   
• Use of foul language.
   
• Shouting or yelling at ANYONE.
   
• Threat of physical abuse or violence to ANYONE.
   
• Attempts to move child(ren) away from the sight and/or hearing range of the monitor.
   

3. Parents and/or designee must avoid each other completely.

4.  There will be no correspondence (e.g. regarding child support) or messages to the other parent by means of child(ren), monitor, etc. It is  prohibited to use the visitation scheduled exchange site or surrounding  areas for the service of court documents.

5.  Monitors will only exchange information in regards to the child(ren)'s medical needs (i.e. medications, dietary needs) or visitations. Only  prescription medication may be sent in pre-measured doses. Any other  dietary (food) requests are not monitored or enforced. Custodial and visiting parties are responsible to meet the care needs while children are in each individual's care, e.g. diaper changing. feeding, etc. SA  cases are exempt from diaper changing.

6.  Parents must not share detailed court information or court documents  with the child(ren) or make promises to the child(ren) about future living arrangements, time sharing, or visitation modifications.  Discussions and activities should focus on the present so as to avoid  added pressure and/or disappointment of the child(ren).

7. Parents will not speak negatively about the child(ren)'s other parent and his/her family in front of the child(ren).

8. Parents must not question the child(ren) about the other parent's whereabouts or activities.

9.  Parents will not use alcohol or non-prescribed drugs 24-hours prior to or during their visit with the child(ren). Visits will be cancelled if a parent is suspected of using these substances.

10.  Parents and children must speak English during the supervised visit  unless there is a monitor present who speaks a family's native language.  Parent must speak loud enough for monitor to hear. No whispering.

11.  Phone calls to other individuals are not permitted at anytime during  the supervised visit. The use of cellular phones is not permitted during the scheduled visit unless in case of emergencies only.

12. Weapons or any articles that could be used as weapons are not permitted on the supervised visit.

13.  Family members and friends authorized by the court to participate in the visitation that do not comply with the monitor's guidelines and  rules will result in the cancellation of the supervised visit.

14. The visiting parent may bring a snack for the child(ren), if agreed by the Custodial parent.

15.  No gifts for the child(ren) are permitted with the exception of the  child(ren)'s birthday(s), Christmas, Hanukkah, or other holidays at which gifts are usually given. Gifts will also be allowed at the first visit when there has been a substantial amount of separation between visiting parent and child(ren). The Monitor will not monitor or enforce what is given. *Some cases are not allowed to exchange gifts.

16.  If for any reason you are unable to bring the child(ren) or attend the visit with your child(ren) it is your responsibility to notify the monitor and the other parent. In the event of adult parties not having access to each other's telephone numbers, the monitor will confirm cancellations. Both parents must confirm mutually agreed upon cancellations with the monitor. If notice is less than 24-hours before the visits, you are responsible for paying the appropriate monitor's fee.

17.  For Saturday or Sunday visits you must call by Friday at 5:00pm to cancel. When visits fall on a holiday, cancellation must be made no later than one week prior to the visit. If holiday cancellations are made less than one week in advance, parents are responsible for paying the late fee.

18.  Failure of the visiting parent to arrive within 15 minutes of your designated time of arrival without calling to let us know that you will  be running late, will result in cancellation. You will be responsible for paying the appropriate fee and the child(ren) will be returned to the custodial party.

19.  Except for late cancellation or inability to arrive on time, all calls are to be placed to the monitor during office hours, Monday to Friday,  9:00 am to 5:00 pm (PST).

20.  Photographs may be taken during visits with prior approval of  Administration, the child(ren), and the custodial parent. The custodial  parent must sign the consent form prior to photographs being taken.  Photographs should not be taken of monitors or any participant at any  time. Monitor shall not take photograph of the parents and child(ren).  NO audio or visual recording is permitted for any reason.

21.  There are to be no changes in the supervised visitation schedule unless approved by the court and/or monitor. Once the day and time has been  set, it will be followed on a weekly basis unless either party requests a change. Changes in the schedule must be done one week prior to visitation.

22.  There shall be no permanent alteration of the child(ren) during  visitation without prior approval of the custodial parent. This  includes, but is not limited to: haircuts, tattoos, body/ear piercings,  etc.

23. Non-compliance with any rule or challenging the supervised monitor may lead to termination of services.

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Refer to 2016 California Rules of Court 5.20 for full list of parental guidelines.