Four Points, Inc. has been providing supervised visitation since 1996 to those in the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit and beyond. We currently see about 95 families on a regular basis for visitation. We offer visitation to families involved in child protective services as well as to private cases where there is a Court Order or mutual agreement to utilize visitation services independent of child protective services. If you have not been through it yourself, you may not know exactly what supervised visitation is. On the surface, it looks like this: a non-custodial biological family member(usually a parent) comes to our center and the custodial party brings the child(ren) to the center to spend time with the non-custodial party. The two adult parties never cross paths and are kept completely separated. The visiting party arrives 15 minutes early(30 minutes for some cases) and then the custodial party brings the child 15 minutes later to the outside of the building where staff brings them inside to the visit. The child(ren) spend 2 hours visiting with their family member while staff is present to supervise, document how things are going, and ensure that everyone is safe. There are plenty of board games, art supplies, toys, and playground equipment to play with during visits. Families can even cook meals together while they are visiting. Visitation is always scheduled to be the same time and day either twice weekly, weekly, biweekly, or monthly depending on the case and we always try to schedule visits so they do not disrupt a child's schedule. Four Points strives to create a pleasant center environment where parents and children feel welcome and comfortable. We take our role of ensuring safe and meaningful contact seriously. Parents are held accountable for their actions and there are a lot of rules to follow for both adult parties to ensure safe and meaningful visit time takes place. After the visit is over, the custodial party comes to the center and staff escorts the child to that party. The visiting party stays at the center for 10 minutes to ensure there is no contact between the parties after the visit. Four Points is a neutral third party and we do not make recommendations for cases. We are merely here to coordinate and facilitate safe and neutral visits for families.
Now that is what supervised visitation looks like, but understanding why we do it can be a bit of an eye opener. Our primary interest is the emotional and physical safety of the children. We also serve their adults and understand that they need this too. Visitation is normally ordered when the adult parties have a high conflict level, there is a history of domestic violence, there is substance abuse, there is mental instability, or other reasons that make more normal arrangements unsafe or not ideal for any of the parties. Children who are involved with these circumstances often feel a sense of abandonment or loss when they can no longer see a family member. Allowing them to maintain their bond with this family member, who could be a parent, sibling, or close relative reduces that sense of abandonment and loss and can assist them in their emotional adjustment to the situation. Visits support a child's sense of belonging and reinforce a sense of place and family networks. Overwhelmingly, children want to see their non-custodial family members that they are separated from. Sometimes, it is unsafe or too volatile for children and adults to successfully spend time together. Often times, there is so much conflict between the parties that having a third party neutral option is a relief to all involved. Parents and children only need to focus on their time together at visitation without the conflict or stress that may occur in a different setting.
Please see this link for much more information on visitation. Four Points, Inc. is a member of the Supervised Visitation Network and adheres to their standards and best practices.
If you are interested in learning more about supervised visitation, please contact us. Referrals can come from case managers, attorneys, Court Orders, or self referrals. All parties are required to complete an intake appointment prior to services beginning. Visitation is offered at our four center locations.
Now that is what supervised visitation looks like, but understanding why we do it can be a bit of an eye opener. Our primary interest is the emotional and physical safety of the children. We also serve their adults and understand that they need this too. Visitation is normally ordered when the adult parties have a high conflict level, there is a history of domestic violence, there is substance abuse, there is mental instability, or other reasons that make more normal arrangements unsafe or not ideal for any of the parties. Children who are involved with these circumstances often feel a sense of abandonment or loss when they can no longer see a family member. Allowing them to maintain their bond with this family member, who could be a parent, sibling, or close relative reduces that sense of abandonment and loss and can assist them in their emotional adjustment to the situation. Visits support a child's sense of belonging and reinforce a sense of place and family networks. Overwhelmingly, children want to see their non-custodial family members that they are separated from. Sometimes, it is unsafe or too volatile for children and adults to successfully spend time together. Often times, there is so much conflict between the parties that having a third party neutral option is a relief to all involved. Parents and children only need to focus on their time together at visitation without the conflict or stress that may occur in a different setting.
Please see this link for much more information on visitation. Four Points, Inc. is a member of the Supervised Visitation Network and adheres to their standards and best practices.
If you are interested in learning more about supervised visitation, please contact us. Referrals can come from case managers, attorneys, Court Orders, or self referrals. All parties are required to complete an intake appointment prior to services beginning. Visitation is offered at our four center locations.
Supervised Exchanges
Four Points, Inc. offers supervised exchanges at our four center locations. A supervised exchange occurs when two parents need to exchange a child(ren) to share parenting time, but there is conflict, violence, history of violence, or other issues that prevent safe and successful child exchange without a third party. By utilizing the supervised exchange, Four Points handles the scheduling and coordination, the events of the exchange are documented, and all parties remain safe and free of conflict during the exchange. The parent receiving the child(ren) arrives at the center 15 minutes prior to the exchange and then the parent delivering the child arrives right on time. The parties are kept separated at all times. After the exchange, the delivering parent leaves and the receiving parent remains at the center with the child for 10 minutes so there can be no interaction between the parties. This is done in reverse for the return of the child where the parent with the child comes to the center 15 minutes prior to the parent picking up. There are several rules and protocol that all adults are required to follow during exchanges.
If you are interested in learning more about supervised exchanges, please contact us. Referrals can come from case managers, attorneys, Court Orders, or self referrals. All parties are required to complete an intake appointment prior to services beginning.
If you are interested in learning more about supervised exchanges, please contact us. Referrals can come from case managers, attorneys, Court Orders, or self referrals. All parties are required to complete an intake appointment prior to services beginning.