Supervised Access Program
Important Updates about the Supervised Access Program
The number of families requesting service from the Supervised Access Program has grown over the past year. This means that the length of time that families will wait for service has increased substantially. Please note: New applicants may wait up to a year for service. Read more…
Program Information
When parents separate or divorce, visits with the children may be a problem. Parents may prefer, or the Court may order, that a neutral third party mediates visits with children.
In other situations, exchanges or visits are problematic, and supervision of the exchanges may be preferred (or Court ordered) to allow for a safer, less conflictual experience for the children and their parents.
The supervised access program provides a safe, neutral, and child-focused setting for children to visit with their non-custodial parent. All visits and exchanges take place under the supervision of trained staff and volunteers.
The volunteer’s job is to ensure that the visit is safe. Volunteers stay close to the visit to listen to what is said, and they will intervene when needed, for example, when comments are made that appear to make the child feel uncomfortable. The volunteers observe the visit and record their observations. Staff are on site to support the volunteers and families. Staff are responsible to ensure that program guidelines are followed.
Before beginning the program, we provide orientation visits to children and parents.
Locations
Visits take place in three Ottawa community centres: Wednesday evenings at the Parent Resource Centre (300 Goulburn Avenue), Saturdays at the Heron Road Community Centre (1480 Heron Road), and Sundays at the Sandy Hill Community Centre (250 Somerset Street East).
Hours of Service
Visits are offered every second Wednesday evening (6:00 – 8:00 pm), Saturdays (9:30-11:30 am, 11:45am-1:45 pm, 2:00-4:00 pm), and Sundays (9:30-11:30 am, 11:45am-1:45 pm, 2:00-4:00 pm). The coordinator is available at our offices at 312 Parkdale Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Costs/Fees
Supervised visits and exchanges are offered on a sliding fee scale.
- $20 per visit for a participant in full time employment, $5 for those unemployed.
- $15 per supervised exchange for a participant in full time employment, $5 for those unemployed.
How to Apply for Supervised Access
Please read the following instructions before completing the application:
Each parent/guardian must complete and submit a separate application form.
Submitting the application form is a request to participate in the program. It does not guarantee that service will be provided to you. The application form is not a legal document and it does not replace the need for a Family Court Order for custody and access.
Provide a copy of your Court Order, Minutes of Settlement, Endorsement or Mediation Agreement with the application form.
If you do not have a Court Order, a Mutual Agreement signed by both parents/guardians may be provided with the application form. Parents/guardians are encouraged to get legal advice before signing a Mutual Agreement. If your Court Order changes, a new copy must be provided to the centre as soon as possible.
Send completed application forms to the Supervised Access Program.
You can send the form using the following methods:
- Email the application form to sposthuma@familyservicesottawa.org;
- Mail or drop off the form to Family Services à la famille Ottawa, 312 Parkdale Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4X5;
- Fax the form to (613) 725-5651, attn: Program Coordinator.
- Once both application forms have been received, the program coordinator will call each parent/guardian to schedule a separate intake interview.
During the intake interview, the program coordinator will review your application with you, explain the program guidelines and procedures to you, and collect relevant information about your family history. You will also be asked to sign consents for obtaining and releasing information. The intake usually takes about an hour.
Bring any additional documents that you have to your intake interview.
Additional documents may include:
- Children’s Aid Society documents;
- Past or present restraining orders, probation and/or bail conditions;
- Proof of income in order to determine the fees that you will have to pay;
- Any other documents that you feel might be relevant.
After your intake interview, you will be offered the next available time slot that works for your schedule.
Please note that visits are offered to waiting families in chronological order. The time you will have to wait for an opening depends on the number of families requesting our services and on your family’s ability to be flexible about visit days and times. There is often a waiting list. There may be a wait of weeks to several months.
The custodial party will bring the child(ren) to an orientation visit at the Supervised Access Centre prior to visits starting.
The orientation is an opportunity for the child(ren) to learn more about our program and have their questions answered.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will I wait to start visits?
The program needs to receive the completed application forms from both parents in order to begin the intake process.
Once completed application forms have been received from both parents, an intake interview will be arranged. When there is a wait list you will not be contacted right away for the intake – there may be a wait of weeks to several months. After the intake interviews, visits can start as soon as there is an opening on the day and time that works for your family. The waiting time depends on the number of families waiting for service, and on your family’s ability to be flexible about visit days and times.
When are visits possible?
A 2 hour visit every second week can be scheduled for Wednesday evening, Saturday during the day or Sunday during the day.
When are exchanges possible?
Weekend exchanges can be arranged from Friday evening to either Saturday or Sunday afternoon, or from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon; one day exchanges can be arranged on Saturdays and alternate Sundays.
How much supervision is offered?
There is one trained volunteer to supervise each visit. Up to 5 families may visit for each two hour period. At all times, two experienced staff are on site to provide support and advice.
When would visits be terminated?
The program coordinator or on-site staff may terminate a visit if they observe abuse of a child during a visit, if a child becomes upset to the point where it is no longer in the best interests of the child to continue the visit, if there is repeated late arrival or missed visits, or there is harassment of either parent at the point of exchange. As the Program staff are not mandated to assess the parent-child relationship, we cannot recommend alternative arrangements. It is therefore up to the parent, their lawyers, or the the Court to propose alternatives to continued supervised access or exchange.
For further information about the Supervised Access Program call 613-725-3601 ext. 175 or email sposthuma@familyservicesottawa.org
Volunteer Opportunities
If you are interested in volunteering with the Supervised Access Program, please complete your application at volunteer.familyservicesottawa.org
For more information, contact the Volunteer Coordinator:
E-mail: volunteers@familyservicesottawa.org
Phone: (613) 725-3601, ext. 123
Fax: (613) 725-5651
