VISITATION 1

Competencies  SW Ability to complete visitation plans that underscore the importance of arranging and maintaining immediate, frequent, and meaningful parent-child visitation when out-of-home placements are deemed necessary  SW Ability to prepare parents for the agency’s expectations about a parent’s role and responsibilities during parent-child visitation  SW Understands the complex emotions experienced by children and parents prior to, during, and after parent-child visitation  SW Ability to help prepare parents and children for the unique challenges of family reunification in a manner that minimizes stress and provides maximum support 2

Learning Outcomes You will be able to: Explain the importance and benefits of visitation Describe how visitation improves Safety, Permanency, and Well-Being outcomes State the elements of a quality visitation plan Cite the RCW and Policy that dictates visitation Define the three types of visitations Complete specific tasks in each phase of the visitation process Ensure successful visits between parents and their children 3

What is the Purpose of Visitation? Observe the parent with the child? or Maintain the child-parent attachment and relationship? 4

Guiding Principles Early, consistent, and frequent visitation is crucial for maintaining the parent-child relationship Visitation is necessary to develop appropriate connections between parents and children Purposeful visitation improves safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes 5

For the Child, Visitation is: Essential for a child’s well-being Fundamental to permanency Vital to a child maintaining family relationships and cultural connections 6

Visitation is Essential for a Child’s Well-being A child needs to see and have regular contact with their parents, as the parent- child relationship is the foundation of child development 7

Visitation is Fundamental to Permanency Necessary for lasting reunification Promotes timely reunification Helps in the decision-making process to establish alternative permanency plans 8

Visitation is Vital to Preserving Cultural Connections Maintaining family ties has life-long significance for the child A loss of family connection is a loss of family history and cultural information 9

Visitation is a Legal Right for Children and Parents Visitation and family contact should never be used as a reward or punishment, but should be considered a right of families and children 10

Benefits of Frequent Visitation Exhibit fewer behavior problems Have less anxiety and depression Have higher well-being ratings Improved rates of adjustment to placement More likely discharged from placement Experience shorter placements 11

Definitions of Visits Supervised Monitored Unsupervised 12

Legal and Policy Requirements cite= http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx? cite= Practice and Procedures Guide

Three Phases of Visitation Initial Phase First visit Frequency of visits Fathers Supervision level Who may visit the child Written visitation plan Middle Phase Assessment of the plan Challenges Progress Preserves the child’s connections Promotes decision-making Transition Phase Promotes the permanency plan Preserves the child’s connections 14

INITIAL PHASE OF VISITATION 15

First Visit Schedule as soon as possible Research suggests within 48 hours of placement Shelter care visitation standard 16

Contracted Visit Service Providers Contracted visit service providers will: – Complete a Parent-Child Visit Assessment (2 hours) on all new referrals. – Provide the report to the CA worker within 5 calendar days from initial visit. – The report will include the visit schedule and any additional needs of the family not documented in the referral. – The assessment includes the first visit between the parent and child. 17

Engaging Fathers Make efforts to immediately identify and contact fathers Contact fathers to discuss the visits Keep fathers equally informed about the child’s appointments/activities Ensure that foster parents know about father’s involvement 18

Frequency of Visitation The primary purpose of visitation is to maintain the child’s attachment and relationship with their parents Frequency of visitation is consistent with the child’s age and development 19

Frequency of Visitation Very young children School age children Youth Siblings 20

Supervised or Unsupervised Visits? 21

Supervised Visitation The visitation plan includes a summary statement of the assessed safety reasons that a supervised visit is necessary. The parents, child/youth and foster parent understand the reasons why the visit is supervised. The plan describes the conditions and arrangements of the supervision. 22

Developing the Visitation Plan Completed in FamLink Prepared by the social worker in partnership with the parents within 3 days of placement Involves parents, child/youth, and foster parents, best practice includes family support system Includes visits with parents, siblings and the child’s other significant relationships 23

Continued: Developing the Visitation Plan Ensure frequency and settings of face to face visits Connects a child’s safety with supervision Considers child’s and parents daily schedule Respects and incorporates the family’s culture 24

Continued: Developing the Visitation Plan Ensures parental involvement in decision- making associated with the child’s wellbeing and participation in child’s activities Plans for transportation Plan to manage likely problems Identifies behaviors that are considered a safety factor which may end the visit Provides a process/notice to cancel a visit Plans for other forms of visitation/contact 25

Working Towards Successful Visits Preparing the parents and children Ensure the level of visitation is the child’s best interest Placement decision supports frequent visits Individualized visitation plans Visits in the least-restrictive, safe location 26

Suggestions for Parents Do Age appropriate activities, food, etc. Bring a book Play a game Talk about school Bring a healthy snack Provide comfort Don’t Discuss court orders, case plans, and other legal/case management issues Make promises that cannot be kept Whispering Drugs, profanity, and/or weapons Handout: Positive Parenting Tips for Healthy Child Development 27

Location Options CA office or private agency Parent’s home Relative home Foster home Park or public location 28

Middle Phase of Visitation 29

Assess the Visitation Plan Visitation activities offer parents the chance to demonstrate new skills? Does the plan address the challenges? What are the reactions to visits? Does the visitation plan support achieving the permanency goal ? 30

Promotion of Safety, Permanency, and Well-Being Outcomes Assess and consider how visitation is promoting these outcomes: Are parents involved in making decisions about their child? Is visitation enhancing the parents’ capacities? Does the plan provide a shift of parental responsibilities? 31

Assessment of Visitations Role of a visit supervisor Documentation versus evaluation Behavior specific versus judgmental Social worker assess quality of visits 32

Third Phase of Visitation From Foster Care to Permanency 33

Transition Phase Visits are structured to: Support stable reunification or transition to alternative permanency family Ensure the child’s well-being needs are met Support the child’s family, kinship, cultural and community connections 34

Things to Remember Visitation is a child’s right, not a parent’s privilege Visitation should never be used as a reward or punishment Visitation should be planned and purposeful Visitation activities should match the child’s developmental level Visitation should occur in as natural a setting as possible 35