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 Child Visits SoCal

The following protocols must be accepted and understood by parents.

1. The following must be followed:

• The monitor will be present at all times during the visit.

• For the start of the visit the non-custodial parent will arrive ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes prior to the start of the scheduled exchange and go inside of the visit location. The custodial parent will arrive five (5) minutes prior to the start of visit. The custodial parent will exchange the child(ren) with the monitor who will walk the child(ren) inside the location. The visiting parent will begin their visit. The custodial parent and/or designees are required to leave the area immediately upon exchanging the child(ren)/dropping off the child(ren).

• For the end of the visit the custodial parent will arrive at the exact time that the visit is scheduled to end. The custodial parent will notify the monitor of their arrival in the parking lot. The monitor will let the visiting parent know it is the end of the visit and walk the child out of the business to exchange with the custodial parent in the parking lot. The custodial parent and/or designees are required to leave the area immediately upon picking up child(ren).

• Fees for services must be paid in full, prior to each visit. No refunds.

• The visiting parent must arrive ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes prior to the scheduled visit time to avoid a loss in visiting time with their child(ren).

• If a parent or designee is habitual late past the 5 minutes grace period early or late, he/she will pay $2.00 for each additional minute.

• The Custodial parent will receive real time updates, for safety purposes when travel occurs during a visitation, except in some cases where there is a restraining order in place, where the custodial parent has been seen during a visitation, or if real time updates information is not used for its intended purpose of the safety of all parties

• A 2-hour minimum is required for all visitation monitoring services bookings in Riverside County.

• A 3-hour minimum is required for some areas of low desert, high desert, San Bernardino, San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles County.

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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 designees must avoid contact with each other during exchanges.

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. This includes hiring a process server to have the other parents served with court documents.

5. Monitors will only exchange information in regards to the child(ren)'s medical needs (i.e. medications, dietary needs) or in regards to visitation bookings. Any other dietary (food) requests are not monitored or enforced by the monitor. Custodial and visiting parties are responsible to meet the care needs while child(ren) are in each individual's care, e.g. diaper changing. feeding, etc. SA cases are exempt from diaper changing and taking children to the restroom.

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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).

The use of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs during a visitation is prohibited by the visiting parent(s) and their guests attending visits. Any guests that have permission from the custodial parent to attend visit must also follow the guidelines.

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 or an interpreter over the age of 18 is present.

Parents and children must speak loud enough for monitor to hear. No whispering.

11. Phone calls and video calls to immediate family members are permitted during visits and monitored by the visitation monitor.

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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 or the custodial parent to participate in the visitation that do not comply with the monitor's guidelines and rules may cause the supervised visitation to be terminated.

14. The visiting parent is responsible for providing for the child(ren) needs during visitations.

15. No gifts for the child(ren) are permitted without the custodial parent's agreement 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 does not monitor or enforce what is given as a gift. *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 of the cancellation. The monitor will confirm all cancellations. Both parents must confirm mutually agreed upon cancellations with the monitor. The canceled visit will be rescheduled in the same week or make up time will be provided at a future time. If the notice for cancelation is less than 24-hours before the visit, the parent that canceled the visit is responsible for paying the cancelation fee.

17.When visits fall on a holiday, cancellation must be made one week prior to the holiday visit. If holiday cancellations are made less than one week in advance, the parent that cancels the holiday visit is responsible for paying for the cancelation fee subject to the premium holiday rate.

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18. Failure of the visiting parent to arrive within 20 minutes of your designated time of arrival without calling to let us know that you will be running late, will result in cancellation of the visit. You will be responsible for paying the cancelation fee.

19. Except for late cancellations 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 8:00 pm (PST).

20. Photographs may be taken during visits with prior approval of 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 of the monitor is permitted for any reason.

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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 unless either party requests a change. If your court order has set days/times listed these will be followed unless all parties are in agreement to the day/time change.

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.

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