Rules & RegulationsThese rules must be signed by both the custodial parent/guardian and the non-custodial parent/visiting adult in order to utilize the services from Rooted Families. These rules apply to both the custodial parent and the noncustodial parent and/or visiting parent. All parties should be prepared to discuss the enforcement of these rules with Rooted Families at any given time.
Arrival and Departure
1. The custodial parent must arrive to the pick up/drop off location AT LEAST 15 minutes before the visitation is scheduled to begin. It is imperative that you are prompt for arrival and departure.
2. The visiting parent must arrive to the visiting location AT MOST 10 minutes before the visitation begins. It is imperative that you are prompt for arrival and departure.
3. If you are going to be late for a visit or need to cancel a visit for any reason, you must contact your assigned facilitator or the provider or leave a message on the answering machine.
4. If the custodial parent or the noncustodial parent is 15 minutes late, a $25 add charge will be applied to your fees. If the custodial parent or the noncustodial parent is 30 minutes late without putting the facilitator or the provider on notice, your visit will be canceled with no further notice.
5. Cancellations made with less than 24-hour notice or “no-shows” will result in payment for the scheduled visit time.
6. If you cancel or fail to show for any three visits, it may result in termination of services from Rooted Families. Staff will review future use of Rooted Families.
7. All necessary forms and releases must be signed before visitation can take place.
8. During the visit, facilitators will prepare observation notes about occurrences during the visit. Observation notes are factual and do not contain opinions or recommendations about parent/child contact.
9. Any fees required must be paid prior to the visit. Also, Rooted Families must have a signed payment agreement before Rooted Families can provide you with any services.
10. No loitering or confrontation of children or former partners will take place at the pick-up/drop off or visitation location. You are to leave the location immediately following the visit. If you refuse to leave the premises, the proper authorities, such as police department, Courts and the Department of Social Services will be notified.
11. Visiting adults MUST be properly clothed at all times. This means no low cut or revealing clothing, miniskirts, tee-shirts with inappropriate pictures or wording, or any other article of clothing deemed inappropriate by Visitation Specialist. Improperly dressed clients will not be allowed to visit with their child (ren).
Appropriate Behavior
12. There will be no consumption of alcohol or drugs on the premises or prior to the visit. If a staff member detects or suspects the use of alcohol or drugs, the scheduled visit will not take place. Notification will be sent to the Court and/or Department of Children and Families.
13. Possession of any weapon, including mace and pepper gas, will terminate the visit. If the visit is terminated due to the possession of any weapon, including mace and/or pepper gas, no reinstatement will be allowed.
14. All gifts must be unwrapped. All gifts will leave the Center with the child. Unless approved by supervisor or unless otherwised specified.
15. Custodial parents may not determine if child(ren) receives and keep gifts and/or clothing. Children can receive gifts and clothing unless otherwise ordered by the Court. If you, as custodial parent, refuse to allow your child(ren) to receive and/or take the items home, this information will be included in the observation report which may be submitted to the Court, DCF and/or referring agency.
16. There will be no exchange of any material that has not been approved by the provider and/or facilitator. For example: no note or card passing, no candy or money is to be given out.
17. No cameras, no video cameras, and no tape recorders are allowed at the visit. If any photographs are to be taken, they must be pre-approved by provider and agreed upon by the custodial parent.
18. Visiting parents may bring food to the visits with them. This includes but is not limited to beverages (juices or non-caffeinated soda) and/or snacks.
19. A Rooted Families facilitator will be present at all times, and will accompany the child to the bathroom if needed.
20. There will be no provoking, fighting with, swearing at, or physically disciplining the child(ren). If this behavior occurs, the visits will end and you will be asked to leave immediately. All proper authorities will be notified.
21. No derogatory remarks about the custodial parent, foster parent, and/or guardian will be allowed. Questioning or talking about the child(ren)’s custodial family members, school, residence, their friends, court cases, counseling, etc. will result in immediate intervention by the facilitator unless it is part of instructions of visitation on the court order.
22. Derogatory comments made about non-custodial and/or visiting parents will not be allowed.
23. Any harassment, threats, intimidation, assault, attempted assault, reckless endangerment, engagement in conduct which is offensive or disorderly towards an individual, adult or child at the visitation or pickup/drop off location will result in immediate termination of the visit. Notification of the proper authorities, police department, the courts and the Department of Children and Families will follow immediately thereafter. Any additional inappropriate behavior will be documented and reported to the proper authorities.
24. Court cases may not be discussed at the visit with the child(ren) and/or facilitators.
25. Promises and/or talk of future visits will not be allowed.
26. There will be no discussion by visiting or noncustodial parents about the past visitations, your family members, your counseling or friends during the visit unless it has been permitted by Court order.
27. The facilitators may pass medical information regarding the children in writing to the non-custodial and/or visiting parent. Any other communication between parents must be done through the Department of Children and Families, respective attorney, or the Courts.
28. No foreign language will be spoken at the visits, with the exception that your assigned facilitator is fluent in that particular language.
29. No whispering or low tone talking will be allowed.
30. Physical contact will only be initiated by the child and deemed appropriate by the facilitator.
31. The facilitator will not make any exceptions to the rules and regulations. Specific requests must be made through the provider and/or her assistant prior to visitation only.
32. There will be no smoking during the visits.
33. Any form of child abuse will be reported the Department of Children and Families and the custodial parent. In addition, a review will be held to determine if your case will be terminated from Rooted Families services.
Termination of a Visit
34. It is up to the provider/facilitator to terminate visits if any of the rules are not followed. The provider will determine if the services will be terminated indefinitely.
35. Case will be terminated if three or more consecutive cancellations/late arrivals (regardless of canceling party), attendance becomes inconsistent with three no-shows (do not have to be consecutive).
36. There is no visitation cancellation policy except due to a child’s illness. Any visitation canceled by a custodial or non-custodial parent will be at the expense of the party who cancels. Payment for the canceled visit must be made at the beginning of the next scheduled visit. If payment is not made the visit will be canceled and the case taken off the schedule until payment is made in full. The center cannot excuse visitations and will not be responsible for any possible contempt.
37. Rooted Families reserves the right to suspend or terminate services at any time.
Scheduling Changes
38. Schedule changes may arise. Provider may briefly assist communication between parents, but if the scheduling issue is not resolved it is the parent’s responsibility to seek resolution through the Court or mediation.
39. All fees are subject to change without prior notice.
Litigation Issues
40. To provide services in a neutral and non-confrontation environment, Rooted Families will not be involved in Court litigation. If Rooted Families or any of its facilitators are subpoenaed to appear at any hearing of appointments, the client hereby agrees to secure a $150 fee spent at any or all court hearings.
Arrival and Departure
1. The custodial parent must arrive to the pick up/drop off location AT LEAST 15 minutes before the visitation is scheduled to begin. It is imperative that you are prompt for arrival and departure.
2. The visiting parent must arrive to the visiting location AT MOST 10 minutes before the visitation begins. It is imperative that you are prompt for arrival and departure.
3. If you are going to be late for a visit or need to cancel a visit for any reason, you must contact your assigned facilitator or the provider or leave a message on the answering machine.
4. If the custodial parent or the noncustodial parent is 15 minutes late, a $25 add charge will be applied to your fees. If the custodial parent or the noncustodial parent is 30 minutes late without putting the facilitator or the provider on notice, your visit will be canceled with no further notice.
5. Cancellations made with less than 24-hour notice or “no-shows” will result in payment for the scheduled visit time.
6. If you cancel or fail to show for any three visits, it may result in termination of services from Rooted Families. Staff will review future use of Rooted Families.
7. All necessary forms and releases must be signed before visitation can take place.
8. During the visit, facilitators will prepare observation notes about occurrences during the visit. Observation notes are factual and do not contain opinions or recommendations about parent/child contact.
9. Any fees required must be paid prior to the visit. Also, Rooted Families must have a signed payment agreement before Rooted Families can provide you with any services.
10. No loitering or confrontation of children or former partners will take place at the pick-up/drop off or visitation location. You are to leave the location immediately following the visit. If you refuse to leave the premises, the proper authorities, such as police department, Courts and the Department of Social Services will be notified.
11. Visiting adults MUST be properly clothed at all times. This means no low cut or revealing clothing, miniskirts, tee-shirts with inappropriate pictures or wording, or any other article of clothing deemed inappropriate by Visitation Specialist. Improperly dressed clients will not be allowed to visit with their child (ren).
Appropriate Behavior
12. There will be no consumption of alcohol or drugs on the premises or prior to the visit. If a staff member detects or suspects the use of alcohol or drugs, the scheduled visit will not take place. Notification will be sent to the Court and/or Department of Children and Families.
13. Possession of any weapon, including mace and pepper gas, will terminate the visit. If the visit is terminated due to the possession of any weapon, including mace and/or pepper gas, no reinstatement will be allowed.
14. All gifts must be unwrapped. All gifts will leave the Center with the child. Unless approved by supervisor or unless otherwised specified.
15. Custodial parents may not determine if child(ren) receives and keep gifts and/or clothing. Children can receive gifts and clothing unless otherwise ordered by the Court. If you, as custodial parent, refuse to allow your child(ren) to receive and/or take the items home, this information will be included in the observation report which may be submitted to the Court, DCF and/or referring agency.
16. There will be no exchange of any material that has not been approved by the provider and/or facilitator. For example: no note or card passing, no candy or money is to be given out.
17. No cameras, no video cameras, and no tape recorders are allowed at the visit. If any photographs are to be taken, they must be pre-approved by provider and agreed upon by the custodial parent.
18. Visiting parents may bring food to the visits with them. This includes but is not limited to beverages (juices or non-caffeinated soda) and/or snacks.
19. A Rooted Families facilitator will be present at all times, and will accompany the child to the bathroom if needed.
20. There will be no provoking, fighting with, swearing at, or physically disciplining the child(ren). If this behavior occurs, the visits will end and you will be asked to leave immediately. All proper authorities will be notified.
21. No derogatory remarks about the custodial parent, foster parent, and/or guardian will be allowed. Questioning or talking about the child(ren)’s custodial family members, school, residence, their friends, court cases, counseling, etc. will result in immediate intervention by the facilitator unless it is part of instructions of visitation on the court order.
22. Derogatory comments made about non-custodial and/or visiting parents will not be allowed.
23. Any harassment, threats, intimidation, assault, attempted assault, reckless endangerment, engagement in conduct which is offensive or disorderly towards an individual, adult or child at the visitation or pickup/drop off location will result in immediate termination of the visit. Notification of the proper authorities, police department, the courts and the Department of Children and Families will follow immediately thereafter. Any additional inappropriate behavior will be documented and reported to the proper authorities.
24. Court cases may not be discussed at the visit with the child(ren) and/or facilitators.
25. Promises and/or talk of future visits will not be allowed.
26. There will be no discussion by visiting or noncustodial parents about the past visitations, your family members, your counseling or friends during the visit unless it has been permitted by Court order.
27. The facilitators may pass medical information regarding the children in writing to the non-custodial and/or visiting parent. Any other communication between parents must be done through the Department of Children and Families, respective attorney, or the Courts.
28. No foreign language will be spoken at the visits, with the exception that your assigned facilitator is fluent in that particular language.
29. No whispering or low tone talking will be allowed.
30. Physical contact will only be initiated by the child and deemed appropriate by the facilitator.
31. The facilitator will not make any exceptions to the rules and regulations. Specific requests must be made through the provider and/or her assistant prior to visitation only.
32. There will be no smoking during the visits.
33. Any form of child abuse will be reported the Department of Children and Families and the custodial parent. In addition, a review will be held to determine if your case will be terminated from Rooted Families services.
Termination of a Visit
34. It is up to the provider/facilitator to terminate visits if any of the rules are not followed. The provider will determine if the services will be terminated indefinitely.
35. Case will be terminated if three or more consecutive cancellations/late arrivals (regardless of canceling party), attendance becomes inconsistent with three no-shows (do not have to be consecutive).
36. There is no visitation cancellation policy except due to a child’s illness. Any visitation canceled by a custodial or non-custodial parent will be at the expense of the party who cancels. Payment for the canceled visit must be made at the beginning of the next scheduled visit. If payment is not made the visit will be canceled and the case taken off the schedule until payment is made in full. The center cannot excuse visitations and will not be responsible for any possible contempt.
37. Rooted Families reserves the right to suspend or terminate services at any time.
Scheduling Changes
38. Schedule changes may arise. Provider may briefly assist communication between parents, but if the scheduling issue is not resolved it is the parent’s responsibility to seek resolution through the Court or mediation.
39. All fees are subject to change without prior notice.
Litigation Issues
40. To provide services in a neutral and non-confrontation environment, Rooted Families will not be involved in Court litigation. If Rooted Families or any of its facilitators are subpoenaed to appear at any hearing of appointments, the client hereby agrees to secure a $150 fee spent at any or all court hearings.