Helping Families Thrive By Creating Safe Spaces
A Supervised Visitation & Monitored Exchange Program At The Buggy Bunch Family Center
Our Supervised Visitation Programs
Visits in which one trained facilitator is assigned to a single family during a scheduled visit.
Supervision of a child’s movement between the residential and nonresidential parent immediately before and after unsupervised visitation..
Supervision of several families at one time.
Program Overview
Thriving Families’ interim start will begin with:
- One day/night per week for a 1.5-hour period, hosting up to 5 families per period
- One staff supervisor and one backup/support staff
- One deputy or police officer presence to oversee security
After interim start and once full funding has been secured:
- Multiple days/sessions offered per week for a 1-2 hour period, hosting up to 5 families per session
- Ancillary services added as needed
- One staff supervisor, one facilitator, and one support staff
- One deputy or police officer present to oversee security
Future
Programs
Programs, parenting classes and other services offered in addition to the primary service, which is supervised visitation or monitored exchanges.
Mental health professionals provide therapy/counseling to the family during the visit, or in addition to. This can only take place under specific circumstances and by a qualified professional.
Program Description
Thriving Families offers a chance for reunification of child(ren) and their parent and/or other family members under the circumstances of divorce or the absence of the parent due either to choice or otherwise. Thriving Families was developed so that children can have a safe, secure place to rebuild broken bonds when supervised visitation has been court-ordered.
The Buggy Bunch has implemented a system with the Thriving Families program where a supervised visit or exchange is provided with proper security by a paid law enforcement officer. In addition to security, TBB provides trained facilitators who observe through sight and voice and in a secure atmosphere during the supervision period.
Referrals for the program usually come from the 19th Circuit Judicial Court System. The visitation between the non-residential parent and the child lasts for 1.5 hours and is either weekly or biweekly. The Learning LOFT is provided at The Buggy Bunch Family Center for non-residential parents and children. Contact between the residential parent (RP) and the non-residential parent (NRP) is not permitted. This is accomplished by staggering time for drop off and pick up of the child and overseen by the security officer. Thriving Families also offers a court-ordered Monitored Exchange Service that allows parents to make safe exchanges for their children. Benefits include: shared parenting time, reduced stress for parents and children, security, and a neutral third party.
Our Goals
• Law Enforcement Presence – Guarantee the funding for and education of officers regarding the security expectations of Thriving Families, including but not limited to: Wanding procedure for nonresidential parents, Bag Search, Surveying Perimeter, Communication between Director and Deputy.
• Staff will be educated and trained on all safety measures and case details for proper documentation.
• NRP and RP will adhere to all policies and procedures, including drop-off and pick-up procedures.
• Provide the Learning LOFT which facilitates a fun, engaging atmosphere
• Maintain a safe, clean and sanitized environment
• Redirection techniques for relationship building
• Provide educational materials and additional resource support
• Educate staff and community partners
• Communicate and collaborate with community partnering agencies
• Implement reporting procedures for data sharing
• Advocating to funders about current needs
• “Family First” Approach
• Open communication with the 19th Circuit Judicial Court System, DCF and GAL communities
• Join community outreach and collaborative efforts within the communities we serve
• Always assuming best practices, working closely with the Supervised Visitation Network and the Florida State Clearinghouse on Supervised Visitation
