Ceasefire Mediation provides individualized supervision of parent-child contact. We coordinate a professionally trained staff who supervises visits at the office. We will consider other child-friendly locations based on the situation and the length of the visit.

Our goal is providing supervised visitation in order to minimize the conflict that children frequently have to endure as a result of custody litigation while allowing the child to have safe and positive contact with their parents and/or other significant relatives.

These guidelines outline the basic expectations and procedures for services. Failure to comply with guidelines may result in termination of our agency’s services.

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GUIDELINES

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An order or agreement must detail the individuals who are to participate in the supervised visitation sessions and whether any other family members, relatives, or individuals are permitted to attend visits. The

order or written agreement must include each individual specifically or they will not be permitted to participate.

An order or agreement must detail the schedule of supervised periods of visitation which shall include the days, times, and length of each supervised period of visitation. The agency will attempt to comply

with specific times; however, the exact time and day will depend on the availability of agency staff. Consideration for the schedule will be determined in this order -

1. Court Orders

2. Agency Availability

3. Child(ren)’s schedule(s)

4. Parent’s availability

   
   

An order or agreement must detail the location restrictions (if any) of where the supervised periods of visitation are to take place. A minimum of three visits will take place at the agency’s office. Off site visits are possible after completion of office visits, so long as this is permitted by the court order or written agreement and the location is determined by the agency.

Examples of off site visits may include but are not limited to the following:

Public Places: Restaurants, libraries, parks, entertainment places, etc.

Private Places: Parent's home, vehicle, etc.

Off site visits are possible after completion of office visits, so long as this is permitted by the court order or written agreement and the location is determined by the agency.

An order or agreement must detail the person who is responsible for the cost of the supervised visitation. Otherwise, the agency will invoice each parent for their portion of the supervised visitation fee respectfully.

Additional Fees other than the supervised visit fee will be invoiced to each parent respectfully. Those fees may include the following:

$50 per hour court appearance, two hour minimum

$25 per document records request. Notice: per document does not mean per category. For example, each email can be a file of it's own. All records requests must be made in writing and payment is required prior to the records being released. Additionally, records will be released with appropriate authorizations to agents working for the Court, including but not limited to psychologists, social workers, counselors, child custody evaluators, and attorneys.

Note: Late fees, rescheduling fees, no-show fees are outlined in the following paragraphs.

If the individual who is paying for the supervised visit does not show up for a visit, the fee for that visit is non-refundable. If the individual who did not pay for the supervised visit does not show up they will be responsible for reimbursing the cost of the visit. The determination of which parent will be responsible for fees of missed visit is ultimately up to the discretion of the agency director. If this individual is not compliant with payment, the Court and attorneys will be notified.

If the individual being supervised arrives more than 15 minutes after the appointment time, the supervisor has the right to cancel the visit without a refund or allow a shortened visit at that time, without any refund being given for the missed time. If the parent transporting the children is late arriving or picking up the children, the agency has the right to impose a $25.00 for each time they are late.

The agency clocks determine the correct time concerning appointments, services, lateness and cancellations.

If the supervisor or the agency has an emergency that results in your visit being canceled, a refund will be provided.

Illness and emergency exceptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. It is up to the supervisor's discretion to determine if the proof provided is considered valid.

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LOGISTICS OF SUPERVISED VISITS

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The supervisor is not able to provide transportation.

The transporting parent may select another competent adult to deliver or pick up the child(ren) from the visit. Please submit an email to the supervisor with the name, DOB, and relationship information prior sending another competent adult. Make sure this adult brings their driver's license and appropriate car seats with them.

Note: a child will not be released to someone the supervisor can not identify and a child will not be released to someone without the appropriate car seat.

The individual being supervised must arrive 10 minutes prior to the start of each visit and remain in the location as directed by the supervisor until the child arrives.

The individual dropping off or picking up the child must remain outside of the building. The supervisor will meet the transporting parent at the front door or on the sidewalk. The transporting parent will be expected to leave the parking lot while the child is escorted into the building and to the room with the supervised parent. The individual being supervised shall not have any contact with the child until the supervisor is present.

After the visit has ended, the individual being supervised must wait inside the building until the individual with the child has vacated the property.

These designated locations and rules are set in order to prevent the parties from interacting.

If the individual being supervised is in the parking lot and the individual with the child arrives early, the individual with the child is required to remain in their vehicle until the individual being supervised arrives inside the building. If there are any concerns or issues that take place in the parking lot prior to or following a visit, please email the supervisor with your concerns.

In the event of an emergency, call 911. Exact arrangements regarding the drop off and pick up of the child will be made on a case by case basis and are up to the discretion of the supervisor. All parties and individuals involved in the visitation are expected to comply with the supervisor’s

instructions and failure to comply can result in the cancellation of services.

Parties and individuals being supervised are expected to take care of and be responsible for managing the child’s behavior during all visits. They are expected to set limits and discipline appropriately when needed; however, physical discipline of any type (spanking, swatting, pinching, etc.) is not allowed.

All contact between the individual being supervised and the child will be monitored by the supervisor. Children who are potty trained will use the restroom privately without being supervised. If a child is being potty rained, the supervisor will accompany and observe the individual being supervised when assisting the child. If the child is in a diaper or pull-up, the individual being supervised is responsible for changing the child while the supervisor remains present to observe.

All parties are expected to interact with the child in a positive and supportive manner. Any communication or behavior that is emotionally or physically damaging or threatening is not permitted and will not be tolerated. Profanity, derogatory comments, or any negative comments

about the other parent or any other party involved is not permitted and can result in the supervisor ending the visit. In addition, comments regarding the litigation, the current court case, or any issues pertaining to issues regarding the current court case are not permitted.

All conversations should be as audible as possible to the supervisor. Public places are sometimes too noisy to hear. Whispering, hand gestures, or written notes are not permitted. All conversations must be in English, unless the supervisor is multilingual. If you are deaf or speak a different primary language, arrangements must be made prior to the visitation.

Interrogation of the child is not permitted. The behavior that constitutes interrogation is left to the discretion of the supervisor, but this includes using the child to gather information about the other parent or party involved, or leading the conversation in such a manner that encourages the child to reveal such information. Conversations should be focused on the child.

Cellphones, Apple watches, Ipads, and/or any other electronic devices are only permitted upon the approval of the supervisor. The individual being supervised must turn off their cell phone and remove Apple watches and must request permission prior to using any device. No videoing or audio recording of the visit is permitted at any time.

Children are not permitted to bring their cellphones, but if they do, they will be required to turn them off. The individual who transported the child or other parent/party involved is not permitted to have any communication with the child during the visitation. In the event there is an emergency, the individual will contact the supervisor through the office telephone.

The individual transporting the child to and from the visit is required to leave the location of the visit. There will be times the child and individual being supervised will be permitted to go outside of the office and the child must not see the transporter’s vehicle. If the transporter chooses to remain nearby, please ensure your vehicle is not in sight in any direction of the agency’s building. This also applies to any off site visitation. The transporter must comply with any requests by the supervisor to leave the premises.

The agency will allow only the exchange of the child and certain items for the child. Neither the agency, supervisor or the child should be used to pass messages or exchange items that are not for the visit, with the exception of medication, but this information must be approved prior to the start of the visitation by the supervisor. Gifts may be given to the child during the visits; however, this is to be limited and is left to the discretion of the supervisor if considered to be too much or inappropriate, and should be restricted to items a child or adult can carry in one trip to the vehicle. Gifts given to the child should be for them to leave with at the end of the visit, gifts are not permitted to be given with the condition of the child having it later when with the other parent/party or at the next visitation. The agency and supervisor reserve the right to inspect all items brought to the visit and all gifts prior to presentation to the child.

The party or individual being supervised is permitted and encouraged to provide food or snacks to the child. The agency does not provide any food. The food must be appropriate and the supervisor has the right to prevent the child from eating certain foods, such as foods that are not

age appropriate or providing a child with a significant amount of sugar and/or caffeine. The individual being supervised is required to clean up the food and trash at the end of the visit.

Threats of physical violence or inappropriate behaviors will not be tolerated and could result in termination of services from the agency. All parties must conduct themselves in a manner that clearly demonstrates that the well- being of the child is their highest priority. Individuals being

supervised are not to place their hands on the child in any way that the staff deems inappropriate and they are to ensure that the child does not inappropriately expose themselves during the visit.

The supervising staff and agency will determine appropriate and inappropriate behaviors and conversations with the child. All parties comply with the limits set by the supervisor without complaint, comment, or further explanation during the visit. Parties may request to speak to the supervisor after the child leaves, if time allows, or contact the agency during business hours to discuss any questions they may have regarding the supervisor’s directives.

The supervisor is present to observe and record the behaviors and interactions between adults and children. Supervisors may interact when necessary at their own discretion.

Neither party should initiate involvement of the supervisor in conversation or activities. Parties are not to ask personal questions of the staff or supervisor, nor are they to offer food or other gifts to them. Furthermore, parties are not to involve the supervisor in discussions regarding the court case, their opinions of the other parties involved, or any disparaging remarks. Any concerns regarding the other party or the current case must be addressed at the time of the orientation or during business hours outside of the scheduled visitation. All supervisors are required by law to report any reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect. This includes physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, and physical neglect. Staff will also contact the appropriate authorities if there is harassment, threats, or physical contact during the exchanges.

This agency has the right to terminate any and all services for supervised visitation for any reason deemed necessary, including but not limited to:

1. If ongoing contact appears too stressful or traumatic for the child;

2. The agency determines that it cannot effectively address safety or specific issues in the particular case;

3. The case places an undue demand on the agency’s resources;

4. A party harasses or threatens staff or other parties; and

5. One or both of the parties fail to comply with policies and guidelines.

   
   

The most important guideline to remember is that all parties are expected to comply with all directives from the supervisor and the agency staff. Although parties may not understand why an instruction is given or may not agree with the instruction, they must comply at the time without comment or complaint. The time to address questions or concerns about the directives is not during the visit or in the presence of the child, but at a later time.

These guidelines are not meant to be all encompassing. Additional arrangements, policies, instructions, and modifications may be made at any time based upon changes and specific case details.

By signing this form, I have read and agree to abide by all the policies and guidelines of Ceasefire Mediation.