Questions & Answers
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Are There Prerequisites to Become a Provider of Supervised Visitation Services?
This varies by State and sometimes by County. Some state or local ordinances have age, CPR/First Aid and/or background clearance requirements. Additionally, each local Court is allowed to regulate how Supervised Visitation services are delivered. Please review the local requirements for your State and County to find out if you meet the minimum prerequisites to become a Supervised Visitation professional in your area.

Will My Local Court Accept This Course As Proper Training?
Our feedback has been extremely positive. We have learned that the material in our Supervised Visitation Provider training course is considered to be the most complete, thorough and helpful for Providers and Owners of Supervised Visitation agencies.  In addition, the author and instructor of this course has a positive reputation for actually providing these services in her local Court's jurisdiction.

If you are concerned that this Supervised Visitation Training Certificate will not be sufficient for your local Court, please contact your local Family Law Mediator(s), Custody Evaluator(s), Court Clerk, Judges' secretaries, family law Attorneys and/or other contact source to discuss the merits of this training course. You can copy the link to this page for their reference or use the flyer located on the Court system page.

​These individuals may also contact the Author and Instructor, Melinda Haynes, MA, LMFT, directly at 530-518-1406 or via email at [email protected]. Please keep in mind that Melinda is currently an active Provider and Therapist, so she may not be able to get back to you immediately. She makes her best effort to return calls and emails within 24 hours.

NOTE: State and local laws change. Check with your County and/or State for new laws that may impact training requirements in your area!
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Does This Course Meet the California Standard 5.20 and Family Code 3200.5 Training Requirement?
It depends. This very thorough course provides training in all areas of California Supervised Visitation law for Providers.  As of January 2021, updates to CA law demand 12 hours of classroom schooling as part of the overall training. Many Providers use college transcripts from previous education in the studies of child development, psychology, substance use, criminal justice, domestic violence, CASA, or other related field.

If you already have 12 classroom hours of coursework under your belt, our training will work.  Our course has been called the "best and most thorough" by many students who have taken other SV training courses.

If you will be providing Supervised Visitation services in California, you can find the laws regulating the profession here: http://www.courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index.cfm?title=standards&linkid=standard5_20

Is There a Need for Supervised Visitation Professionals?
The field of Supervised Visitation is growing. Many families struggle with substance use, domestic violence, parenting, and/ or mental health concerns. In these cases, one or both Parents may be Ordered to Supervised Visitation.

Oftentimes, Parents will initially recruit a friend or family member to supervised the visits. This arrangement is usually riddled with problems related to relationship strain, biased reporting and monitors who do not understand how to properly document a visit. Most times, the Parents and/or the Judge will decide that casual (called "nonprofessional") supervision does not work. That is when families begin their search for a Professional Provider of Supervised Visitation Services.

Try to find a Supervised Visitation Monitor in your area. Do a Google search or contact some family law attorneys in your area. If your city or county is saturated with Providers, don't sign up for this course. Put your energy into another career. But, if you find there is a need, you might find a great new business or side gig for yourself.

In addition to family law cases, Supervised Visitation Providers are often needed in the foster care system. Many Counties provide contracts to Provider agencies that allow Parents access to their children who have been taken into custody.

Can I Start My Business From Home?
Yes! Many Providers offer community-based Supervised Visitation services. They provide visits in the community and do their paperwork and phone calls at home. This reduces start-up expenses and monthly overhead. Providers offer services at local parks, libraries, restaurants, arcades and other family-related locations.

The caveat is that not all cases are appropriate for such venues. Each case is different. In high-risk cases, the Court Order will specify the level of security needed. For example, a Judge may order that a Parent only visit in a facility where an armed guard is available for intervention, if necessary. Obviously, those types of cases cannot be taken by a Provider who does not offer more secure, office or facility-based services.
Most Supervised Visitation Orders are not of the the extreme, high-risk variety. Most cases do allow for community visits.

Will Supervised Visitation Services Blend with My Current Business?
Many people have started successful full-time business as a Provider. Some chose to add the service on to something they are already doing. Therapists, Social Workers, Life Coaches, Legal Document Assistants, Day Care Providers, Bouncers, and Security Professionals are a few that come to mind.

Will Supervised Visitation Services Work as a Second Career After Retirement?
Yes! Some second-career professionals who have entered into the Supervised Visitation field include Retired Police Officers, Teachers and Nurses. Many people who have retired from the fields mentioned above (in the blending current occupations heading) have also found success in making Supervised Visitation their second career.

Do You Offer Training for Employees of My Supervised Visitation Company?
We are currently developing a training course that is designed specifically for Supervised Visitation employees. This course will have all of the Supervised Visitation Provider training without the Business Owner details. Course release date is June 1, 2019, Check the school's main page for updates!

What if I Only Want to be a Non-Professional Provider for a Friend or Family Member?
We recommend you choose the Employee option.  This course will provide you with all of the necessary training to be a neutral third party who ensures a safe visit for the child during non-custodial parenting time.  You will receive a Certificate upon successful completion of the Course to submit to the Court and/or Parents or Guardians.

Why Use Family & Children's for Your Supervised Visitation Training?
Your Instructor:
- is a trauma-informed licensed mental health professional (CA LMFT 102308) with 17+ experience working with children and families
- qualified & named as an Expert Witness on Supervised Visitation during trial
- has certifications for leading Domestic Violence and Anger Management classes
- has experience working with families as they recover and reunite after Court ordered detainment and/or separation
- has experience providing therapeutic visits (not available in California)
- has a Bachelor's degree in Sociology
- has a Master's degree in Psychology
- is Director and Clinical Supervisor at Family & Children's Counseling Services, Inc. in Northern California
- was originally trained in accordance with CPS / custody (foster care), then later trained in California Standard 5.20 by the Judicial Council of California, meeting National Standards of Supervised Visitation Training
- is an active Professional Provider referred by Courts in several Northern California Counties

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