Supervised access refers to court-ordered or agreed-upon parenting time between a child and a non-custodial parent that occurs in the presence of a neutral third party. This arrangement is intended to ensure the safety and well-being of the child while maintaining their relationship with the parent.

Supervised access may take place at a designated visitation center, in parents' home, or out in the community, in the presence of a professional supervisor. These visits usually happen when there are concerns about safety, or if the parent and child haven’t seen each other for a while and need to rebuild their relationship slowly. The person supervising is there to make sure the child feels safe and comfortable during the visit, and sometimes they may take notes or write a report about how the visit went.

The goal of supervised access is to support the development of a positive parent-child relationship in a structured, secure environment while addressing any risks or concerns.

This type of access is typically ordered in situations where there are concerns related to:

• The child’s physical or emotional safety
  
  
• A history or risk of family violence, abuse, or neglect
  
  
• Substance abuse or mental health concerns
  
  
• Reintroduction after a prolonged absence
  
  

The main goal is to give the parent and child a chance to spend time together in a safe, supportive way—while working toward more independent time in the future, if things go well.