An assessment of services for custodial parents during supervised visitation

Abstract

Supervised visitation programs provide court-mandated services in cases with purported risks to (a) child(ren), or during custody or visitation disputes. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a need to provide support services for the custodial and/or foster parent during supervised visitation sessions. The researcher conducted a mixed methods study with a cross-sectional comparative design, using an internet-based simultaneous quantitative and qualitative needs assessment. Participants included custodial/foster parents, and visitation centers staff. Results indicated that custodial/foster parents share experiences of emotional stress, fear for their child(ren)’s safety during visitations, lack of coherence, and changes in the family dynamic. Resources of formal kinship; spouse/partner support; and information, logistical, mental health, and therapeutic support could help custodial/foster parents.

Keywords:

• Addiction
• divorce
• double ABCX model
• family
• neglect
• parent
• reconciliation
• stressors

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank all of the individuals who were a part of her experience, process and success – her professors and dissertation committee, members of the Supervised Visitation Network, all study participants (both professional and parents), peer supervision group, and her family of origin.

Disclosure statement

This article was part of the author’s dissertation research. Author declares no conflicts to report.

Ethical standards and informed consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation [institutional and national] and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all participants for being included in the study.