By Amy Lindholm, Friend of the Court Bureau Management Analyst
We have all begun to adapt to a “new normal” since the
coronavirus pandemic unfolded in Michigan in March of 2020. We wear masks when
leaving our homes to protect each other. Restaurants have created new outdoor
distanced seating arrangements. Many of us only see our work colleagues through
video chats, and our family members and pets have become our new “coworkers.”
For many families - especially those with high conflict, long distances between
households, or family members who are ill - parenting time has also changed
significantly.
This article will provide some tips and resources for “virtual” agency-supervised parenting time in friend of the court cases. For guidance regarding supervised visitation in foster care cases, please refer to the most recent Communication Issuance from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Children’s Services Agency.
Going Virtual with Supervised Parenting Time
First, it’s important to keep in mind that child
development experts agree that in-person parent-child contact is the best
method of developing a nurturing, positive relationship. If it is possible,
safe, and provided for by court order, in-person supervised sessions should
continue. However, as we have seen throughout the coronavirus pandemic,
real-life situations are complex with unexpected variables, and sometimes in-person
contact cannot be safely or easily provided. When necessary to keep families
and staff safe, or when specified by court order, agencies should implement
alternative electronic communication to facilitate supervised parenting time
and maintain court-ordered parent-child contact. Alternatives might include
phone calls, Zoom videoconferencing, or other similar videoconferencing technology.
The frequency, duration, and type of parent-child
contact should be tailored to the case circumstances in consultation with and by
agreement among supervised visitation agency staff and the parties. Agency
staff should consider the parties’ access to technology and reliable internet
service when considering virtual parenting time sessions.
Supervised parenting time agencies should contact the
courts for which they provide services to make them aware of any such changes
to court ordered parenting time for friend of the court cases due to public
health and safety issues.
Considerations for Video Parenting Time
Agency supervisors of parenting time have some new factors to consider to keep everyone safe during video parenting time and still offer a productive session for the parent-child relationship.
Supervisors should consider their lack of control over participants’ environments and be prepared to mute and unmute parties or move the parties between private rooms and the main session. Supervisors should also develop a list of points to cover when orienting parties to this new supervised parenting time format, including ground rules that address where participants will participate from (within their own home) and who will or will not be present in the camera view and in the room (visible or not) during sessions. Before virtual parenting time begins for any family, provide an orientation. Review with each party how the sessions will operate, provide safety guidance, and determine the space in the home where the sessions will occur. This can help to avoid any identifying characteristics in the video frame for those families where safety is a concern. Supervisors may want to request that the child and the parent not move around the home during the session to ensure that the environment is controlled. Supervisors may also instruct that any persons not involved in the parenting time stay off the screen during the session and encourage the participants to wear headphones during the call to limit background noise.
Supervisors may email a link to the parties to join the parenting time session, which prevents either party from gaining the other party’s contact information. Supervisors might consider first sending the link to the parent or caregiver who is with the child to allow time to get the child set up on the call, and so that the supervisor can make sure the child feels comfortable and prepared for the parenting time. When everything is ready to go, then the supervisor can send the link to the other parent.
Standard parenting time sessions may be too long for younger children to handle online. The child should be able to indicate when the child is ready to end the call. When it is time to end the call, the supervisor should “End the Meeting for All,” which prevents any conversation to continue unsupervised.
Supervisors can observe and document the parenting time as normal. Supervisors should always be visible, but on mute unless they need to address something. If either party needs to speak to the supervisor directly, or if the supervisor needs to provide a redirection, the "On hold" function can be used to allow for a private conversation.
Zoom Settings and Tips
The following guidance is specific to the Zoom application, but similar precautions should be attempted if using other videoconferencing platforms.
Within the paid version of the Zoom application, supervisors are able to be the "host" of the session and adjust the Zoom account “Settings” to prevent a number of safety issues during the parenting time:
q Generate a password for the meeting to
prevent “Zoom bombing” (unwanted disruptions from Internet trolls or hackers);
q Enable the waiting room or put participants on hold one at a time as they join so that the host may confirm the identity of everyone joining the meeting. (Note – the “Put on hold” functionality will not be available if the waiting room is enabled).
Once the Zoom meeting is started but before admitting all participants:
q Turn off “Screen Sharing” for participants;
q Turn off the “Chat” function or limit the
participants to chat only with the host;
q Turn on the control for the
"host" – parenting time supervisor - to put either party on hold
during the session (“Allow host to put attendee on hold”). This allows the
supervisor to temporarily remove either the child or the parent from the call
to have a private conversation;
q Put parties on “hold” before another participant joins by phone. When calling in by phone, the phone number will appear as the default “Participant name” until the host renames it. The supervisor can “Rename” the caller in the participant window (e.g. to “Mr. Smith”) so that the phone number is not visible, and then take the other party off hold.
Supervisors should be familiar with the technology before the meeting begins and may want to test different settings and options with colleagues before supervising an online session.
Additional Guidance
The Office of Dispute Resolution has also developed a thorough document regarding Using Zoom to Conduct Online Mediation which may be helpful to parenting time supervisors. It includes detailed Zoom guidance with step-by-step screenshots.
Please contact Michelle Hilliker (HillikerM@courts.mi.gov) with any questions about supervised visitation center operations relevant to the Access and Visitation Grant.
As editor of The Pundit newsletter, Amy encourages readers to contact her with feedback, article ideas, and article submissions at any time.