Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Program
Frequently Asked Questions for Service Providers
- What service is provided?
Sabrina’s Place provides supervised visitation and safe exchanges for families who have experienced domestic violence, dating violence, child abuse, sexual assault and/or stalking. The objective of Sabrina’s Place is to increase safety for adult and child victims of domestic violence while decreasing opportunities for further abuse before, during, and after services. One hour, weekly visits are offered at a maximum amount of $20 per hour and exchange services are offered at a maximum amount of $10 per exchange. The visiting parent is responsible for payment and fees are based upon income. Domestic violence victims have access to fee waivers. Additional fees may be included if interpretation services are needed.
- Why only one hour?
In a natural home environment, one hour may seem short, but at Sabrina’s Place, parents and children are spending a focused hour with each other. For young children, even an hour can be a developmental stretch. Additionally, due to the nature of our service criteria (history of domestic violence), children may have witnessed violence or frightening situations and they may be afraid or uncomfortable during visits.
- What is the intake process?
Before services can begin, an in-depth interview with each parent and a separate child orientation must be completed. The length of time required to complete the process is dependent upon scheduling. Please note that the entire intake process generally takes approximately two weeks and can take longer. Sabrina’s Place will not pressure either party into services and does not complete intakes with custodial parents until the visiting parent has initiated the intake process.
- Can I schedule on behalf of my client?
No. Although we welcome and encourage your referrals to our program, all scheduling must be managed by clients directly. Sabrina’s Place will not discuss scheduling with anyone other than the parents named on the order. Additionally, in order to maximize safety for all clients using the center, we respectfully request that specific dates and times of client intakes are kept confidential.
- What are Sabrina’s Place’s rules and how can I help my client follow them?
Visit and exchange guidelines and expectations are included in the Sabrina’s Place Participant Agreement and are thoroughly reviewed and signed during the intake process. Clients are given a copy of the signed agreement and Sabrina’s Place Parent Manual. Clients with additional questions are encouraged to direct them to staff.
- When do services take place?
Sabrina’s Place is open Wednesday-Friday 4-8 PM, Saturday 10 AM-2 PM, and Sunday 2-6 PM. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee a particular day or time to any client regardless of what might be written in a court order. During the intake process, each party is asked for information about their availability. After the intake process is complete, available time slots are offered.
- What do you document?
Sabrina’s Place notifies the court and each party directly when a family has been accepted or rejected for services or when services have been suspended or terminated. Generally, Sabrina’s Place does not release any other documents directly to the court.
Visit observation notes and a log of case consults are maintained in a family case file for each family. Observation notes are minimal. Because the primary focus of Sabrina’s Place is on the safety of adults and children in and around the center and before, during, and after services, we do not document the content of the visit. A visit without interventions does not indicate the quality of the visit nor does it make any statement as to the quality of parenting. A noted intervention or written comment indicates a violation of agreed upon visit guidelines and/or a safety concern.
- What documents do you release? How can I obtain a copy of the documentation?
A client seeking a copy of their family case file can do so by completing a Request to Access Case Records form.
- Does Sabrina’s Place complete parenting evaluations?
The only services provided by Sabrina’s Place are on site supervised visits and exchanges. Because visitation occurs in a supervised, artificial environment, parenting evaluations or recommendations regarding custody and/or visitation are not provided at any time.
- Who can observe visits?
Due to the sensitive nature of our cases, all center access is by appointment only. Sabrina’s Place does not permit anyone connected to a case to observe visits.
Please feel free to call TSVSEP at 540-767-6230 with any further questions.