WHAT WE DO |
NEWS |
COURTS |
FAMILY LAW
|
||
Location: Home → Family Law → Supervised Access |
|
Supervised AccessAdobe Acrobat PDF Version Of Program Brochure Available
When parents separate, access visits with children may be a problem. Sometimes, difficulties arise at the time of the exchange of the child between the parents, or between the parent and a relative, such as a grandparent. Other times, there may be concerns about the visits themselves. The Supervised Access Program offers separated families a way to deal with some of these problems. Supervised access centres provide a safe and secure setting where visits and exchanges can take place under the supervision of trained staff and volunteers. The program is funded by the Ministry of the Attorney General and is delivered through partnerships with community-based organizations such as: children's mental health centres, neighbourhood support centres, YMCAs and local children's aid societies. What do supervised access centres do?
Who can use supervised access centres? Families can use supervised access centres if:
Do the centres charge fees for their services? Yes. Most centres charge a fee based on guidelines set by the ministry. The guidelines for user fees are as follows:
Please contact individual centres for specific information about fees. When might supervised visits occur? Supervised visits may be appropriate in cases where, for example:
How do I get access to centre services? You and your lawyer, if you are represented, must contact the supervised access centre directly. The centre will require a copy of your court order, endorsement or agreement for supervised access. Both parents will be asked to participate in separate interviews at the centre before service is offered. Each parent will be asked to sign an agreement with the centre, including release of information forms. Payment of fees will also be discussed at this time. The children may be invited to meet the centre staff and tour the centre before or on the day of the first visit to help prepare them for the visit or exchange. For further details, please contact the supervised access centre in your area. How do supervised access centres ensure the safety of families, staff and volunteers ? Safety measures include:
Do supervised access centres make custody and access recommendations? No. Supervised access centres provide a place for visits and exchanges. Factual observations provided by the supervised access centre may, however, provide information to guide an assessor in making recommendations to the court or may assist the court in making orders that are in the best interest of the child. Do supervised access centres provide services other than supervised visits and exchanges? No. The staff and volunteers at the supervised access centres do not provide services such as counseling, mediation, therapy, or parent education. Do supervised access centres provide off-site or one-on-one visits? No. Visits and exchanges are limited to on-site, group settings. Is there a limit on the period of time a family can use a supervised access centre? No. In some cases, families require supervised access over a long, or unspecified, period of time (e.g., cases where mental health concerns or violence are issues). Do staff and volunteers have special skills or training? Yes. They are trained to be aware of issues such as family violence, child development, abuse, mental health and substance abuse problems. Staff and volunteers must be sensitive to the needs of children, particularly those who are involved in high conflict custody and access disputes. Do supervised access centres provide service to children who are in the care of a Children's Aid Society? No. Supervised access centres supervise visits and exchanges in custody and access matters. Child welfare (protection) cases are governed by the Child and Family Services Act and are typically supervised by the Children's Aid Society (CAS). Are supervised access services provided only by the government funded centres? No. Other supervised access arrangements exist in Ontario including private "for profit" centres and private individuals charging a fee for service. These arrangements are not accountable to the provincial program. Ministry funded supervised access centres sign an agreement with the ministry requiring them to meet specific criteria. Where are the centres located? The Ministry of the Attorney General provides funding to the following 52 supervised access centres and satellites across the province as part of the Supervised Access Program. Please contact the individual centre for hours of operation and information about intake and fees. Supervised access statistics:
*03/04 electronic data collection implemented which calculates Families Served only when there is a date for intake entered into the system. Brief history of the Supervised Access Program:
|
|
What We Do |
News |
Courts |
Family Law |
Privacy | External Links Disclaimer Copyright information: © Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2006 Last Updated: 8/11/2006 3:19:31 PM This Web site has been created as a public service by the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the information presented is current and accurate. However, users of this site should verify the information before making decisions or acting upon it. The Ministry of the Attorney General does not provide legal advice to the public. |