Gitana spoke eloquently upthread about the supervised visits and monitored visits that DCFS offers in California. Actually, in Washington State there is quite a distinction between "monitored" visitation = meaning someone (ie: a 3rd party) has the ability to hear if someone yells, and they are checked on approximately every 10 - 15 minutes. "Supervised visits" must be done by a third party who has sight on the child at all times. The Supervisors are only required to have a h.s. diploma, a clear driving record, a clean background check, and a short training on how to take documentation and what would constitute child abuse/neglect and must be reported, as well as how to stop the visit and deliver the children to where they reside. In both of these scenarios, the 3rd party supervisor or monitor has no ability to intervene in the parenting and/or relationship between parent and child. They are only able to warn the parent of the rules and if those are violated - they can stop the visit and notify the Social Worker. If the visits prove to have a negative impact on the child(ren), (ie: MM crying uncontrollably or refusing to see her Mom or dramatic behavior changes, etc) immediatly following the visit then the Social Worker @ CPS can request therapeutic visits and that Mom comply with certain responsibilities like attending counseling in addition to the therapeutic visitations.
Washington State has an Imminent Harm standard for child abuse/neglect. The State must offer services to the parents to ameliorate the issues that brought the child into care. What DCFS knows right now is that MM is not safe to leave with JB (because she left Sky and he is missing). They do not have verification currently that visitation between jb and MM would be detrimental to the child. They cannot speculate that she might say something inappropriate, so they will tell JB the rules of the visitation and offer her the opportunity to see and interact with her child. If JB can follow the rules and show up at her scheduled days and times, there really will be nothing more that DCFS could do, and they will continue the visits.
Therapeutic visits must be done in the presence of a qualified therapist who can intervene if necessary on issues of parenting, mental health, attachment, relationship, etc.
