Children that have been abused are 66% are more likely to develop problems with drugs or alcohol.

Source: The Texas Association for the Protection of Children

Services

 

Kid-focused, Trustworthy, Reliable Supervision Services

At Unity Visitation Center, Inc, we know how important it is to you that your child(ren) maintain a positive, healthy, consistent, and growing relationship with each parent - even in the face of difficult family transition where safety and security are paramount. Traditional supervised visitation services were created for that reason. Unfortunately, some are sterile and stifling simply because of their limiting environment. Imagine for a moment that you can provide the same level of safety and offer your child the ability to have those visits at a local theme park with mom, at the batting cages with dad, or their favorite restaurant with their grandparents.

We work with all levels of court-approved stipulations while maximizing the most of the visit for your child without sacrificing safety or quality time.

  • An intake interview is scheduled with each parent. A staff member will meet, discuss the case in detail, go over all completed paperwork, fees, guidelines, and make an upcoming visitation schedule for the parents that follows the court orders.

    Intake interviews are conducted with BOTH parents separately and should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

  • Supervised visitation refers to contact between a non-custodial parent and one or more children in the presence of a third person responsible for observing the interactions and ensuring the safety of those involved. "Monitored Visitation", "Supervised Child Access", and "Supervised Child Contact" are other terms with the same meaning.

    Supervised visitation is a generic term that describes parent/child contact overseen by a neutral third party. It is also a term for contact between a non-custodial parent and one or more children in the presence of a neutral third person, in which the only focus is the protection and safety of the child and adult participants. You or another party may have requested supervised visitation as a necessary step for:

    • When one parent is verbally or physically abusive but still has visitation rights

    • Concerns over one parent taking the child against court orders

    • Providing safety around a parent with a mental illness, drug abuse, alcohol problems, etc.

    Our providers maintain an unbiased, objective, and balanced environment. When providing the service, we won’t take a position between the parents while providing the service. Providing service in a neutral manner is intended to ensure respect for all individuals in their capacity as parents AND to protect children who are attempting to remain in contact with their parents.

    The child’s health and safety always comes first. Being neutral does not mean providers disregard behaviors such as abuse or violence of any kind. We reserve the right to terminate the visit at any time if we feel it is in the best interest of the child or if the monitor’s safety is threatened. In the event that this occurs, the full amount of the visit will be due immediately.

    Supervised visitation provider is defined as any professional provider under Family Code section 3200.5. The term “visitation monitor” or “child(ren) access monitor” is considered synonymous with “supervised visitation provider.” Supervised Visitation is the provision of a secure, neutral location in which visitation between families can occur that is monitored and thoroughly documented.

  • Holiday visitation is supervised visitation that occurs on the dates below and the weekends before and after:

    • New Year's Day

    • Martin Luther King Day

    • Washington's Birthday

    • Spring Break for Killeen and Frisco ISDs

    • Memorial Day

    • Juneteenth Independence Day

    • Independence Day

    • Labor Day

    • Columbus/Indigenous Peoples' Day

    • Veterans Day

    • Thanksgiving Day

    • Christmas Eve

    • Christmas Day

    • New Year’s Eve

    We know that it is important for you to connect with your children in order to maintain a bond during the holidays. While our staff is on vacation, we will work with our clients and be as flexible as possible to ensure that the parent-child relationship remains healthy and intact. Please book ahead as soon as possible to guarantee availability.

  • Virtual Visitation is the provision where all parties are connected through technology and the monitor is present on the video conference call. This is an excellent alternative for nights, weekends, holidays, and when travel is prohibitive.

    Technology can help to bridge many gaps, including those between a child and a non-custodial parent. Although nothing is as good as seeing a child in-person, virtual visitation offers the next best thing and is recognized and utilized by many states for both non-custodial parents and grandparents.

  • Neutral exchange is the provision of a secure, neutral location at which parties can drop off and pick up their children for visitation. Many times, it’s better to avoid any contact between the custodial parent or guardian and the non-custodial parent. In these situations, we supervise the transfer of a child from one entity to another, acting as the neutral drop-off/pick-up person at the start of the contact. Then, we make sure that the child is safely exchanged.

    Many couples choose to use our services because it is less stressful for them and their child(ren). It does not need to be mandatory.

  • Parent education will help reduce the domestic conflict cases where the disputes about conservatorship and visitation - not necessarily involving abuse - have presented the greatest need. They are the key to reducing conflict before it leads to abuse.

    We offer family, individual, teen, and teen group courses. Please ask about which one is available at the location near you.

  • A written record of each contact and visit will include the following:

    • Time

    • Date

    • Location

    • All parent-child contact

    • Mood of the parent

    • Mood of the child(ren)

    • Activity performed

    • Visiting parent’s physical state

    • Visiting parent’s mental state

    • Visiting child(ren)’s physical state

    • Visiting child(ren)’s mental state

    • Reminder(s) the monitor makes to redirect the non-custodial parent’s behavior

    • If visit had to be terminated

    • Details of termination of visit (if applicable)

    • Conclusion of the visit

    • Dropoff/pickup details by both parties

  • If either parent would like the monitor to appear in court to give testimony of their observations, we offer those services by subpoena. We request that the client gives the monitor adequate notice in order to prepare.

  • What are considered appropriate locations for visitation and custody exchanges?

    • Our Killeen office

    • Bowling alley

    • Commercial amusement attractions

    • CPS office

    • Cultural exhibits

    • Entertainment-themed pizza and arcade centers

    • Festivals

    • Fishing

    • Ice skating

    • Indoor trampoline centers

    • Malls

    • Museums

    • Outdoor parks

    • Recreational centers

    • Restaurants

    • Rodeo

    • Roller skating

    • Science centers

    • Sports games

    • Sporting events

    • State fair

    • Zoos

    When selecting a location, please keep in mind that you will be responsible for the provider’s parking, meal, and admittance. For example, if you decide to go to the State Fair, you will be liable for their meal, parking and/or transportation, and ticket.

    Non-Acceptable Locations:

    • Places without restrooms

    • Private boating expeditions

    • Private residence

    • Walmart or other big box stores

    • Water parks