Parent-Child Visitation: Could Practice Make a Difference? Washington State CASA Conference October 2015Washington State CASA Conference October 2015.

• Parent-Child Visitation: Could Practice Make a Difference?

• Washington State CASA ConferenceOctober 2015

PURPOSE

• Promotes early, consistent and frequent visits for maintaining the parent-child-sibling relationship

• Maintains child-parent connection• Preserves continuity of

relationships• Provides opportunity to develop

appropriate connections• Fosters emotional and behavioral

well-being in children• Reassures the child about his/her

relationship with the parents and/or siblings

PURPOSE• Provides opportunity for parent

to demonstrate and strengthen parenting skills

• Provides opportunities to maintain sibling connections

• Provides opportunities to maintain connections with extended family

• Provides opportunities for cultural and community connections.

KEY ELEMENTS• Efforts must be made to hold a

visit within 72 hours of placement.

• The initial visit for the child and parent must occur within 5 business days of placement or the VPA being signed unless contraindicated due to safety concerns.

• If this first visit does not occur within 5 business days, the CA Worker will document the reasons why in a case note.

KEY ELEMENTS• Visits are more likely to

occur if a written visiting plan is developed in collaboration with the parents, child, siblings and caregivers.

• A written visiting plan is required within 3 business days of the child’s placement in out of home care or at the time the VPA is signed.

KEY ELEMENTS

• Any changes in the visit plan must be staffed between the CA Worker and Supervisor. Visiting plans should be reviewed at all shared planning meetings that include the parents, CASA, attorneys, family and friends.

• If a Tribal worker is assigned to the child’s case, his/her participation in the development of the visiting plan is requested.

KEY ELEMENTS• If a judge orders a parent to have

a psychosexual evaluation, CA may, with court approval, reassess the parent/child visitation plan, specifically looking at duration, supervision and location.

• When a parent or sibling is identified as a suspect in a violent crime, CA will make an effort to consult with the assigned law enforcement officer before recommending any changes to parent/child/sibling contact.

PRACTICE TIPS• Decisions regarding visits are made

based on the best interests of the child, including their safety, health, and welfare

• Visits will be offered and scheduled as frequently as possible and in consideration of the schedule of the child as well as the parent and caregiver.

• The location of the visit should create the most normal setting and be least intrusive

VISIT PLANS• Visit Plans and Decisions

– Reviewed in Shared Planning Meeting process

– Written plan with specific information documented in FamLink and provided to all stakeholders

• Considerations in visit plans– Age and vulnerability of the child– Child’s perspective– Safety– Well-being– Permanent Plan for the child

VISIT PLANS, cont. • A written visiting plan should be

documented in FamLink and reviewed prior to each court hearing.

• Plan should include:– Frequency– Location and transportation – Participants and their roles– Whether unsupervised, monitored, or

supervised– Expectations (rules)– Rescheduling procedures – Responsibilities/tasks of parties

SUPERVISED OR NOT?

• The determination of whether the visit should be unsupervised, monitored or supervised shall be based on the safety for the child and upon assessment of present or impending danger.

PHASES OF VISITS

• Initial Phase - Focus is on maintaining ties and safety; generally supervised and controlled for location & length

• Intermediate Phase - Visits typically occur more frequently, for longer periods of time, in a greater variety of settings & with gradually reduced supervision

• Transitional Phase - Focuses on smoothing the transition from placement to home

MYTHS & MISPERCEPTIONS

• A 2 year old cries hysterically and tantrums when returned to foster home after a visit.

• A 10 year old refuses to visit with parent.

• An 8 month old does not eat and wakes frequently for several nights following visits.

• Parent frequently does not show for visits.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS

• All parties in a dependency action have a responsibility in developing a visit plan to ensure parents and children have regular contact.