WHY – I choose to work as a professional visitation monitor because when I was a child, I had family challenges that went unnoticed and undetected by anyone on the outside – friends, teachers, pastors, etc. So no one knew that I didn’t have two healthy parents to raise me, or that I didn’t even have one healthy mother to raise me. I want today’s children who are born into challenging parental circumstances, to have someone who is advocating for THEM.
That two people had a change of attitude or mindset about each other after their child was born, was in no way the child’s fault. As parents get “lost” in their negative feelings about one another, there is often no one to prioritize advocating in the child’s best interest. The child gets caught up in the negative energy that they can sense (even if they don’t know what it all means), and they begin to lose the opportunity to innocently and freely develop into their own person in a completely healthy and supportive way that they should be able to.
HOW – I approach each case and individual parent with respect, despite the circumstances. The adults in any case may have made mistakes in their lives – many are even using poor judgment at the moment – but they are not bad people. All parents involved in child custody cases have the right to be treated with understanding, compassion, and respect, even if it is sometimes offered with professional firmness.
Member of the California Association of Supervised Visitation Service Providers
In August 2015, I became a member of the California Association of Supervised Visitation Service Providers.
In November, 2013, I completed an intense course of education on California Family Code Section 3200.5 and the 5.20 Standards, which include new laws that took effect on January 1, 2013.
I received a two year education in a unique psychological paradigm known as The Three Principles. My instructors and facilitators were therapists, psychologists, Dr. Roger Mills, one of the pioneers in the development, testing and application of principle-based thinking, and of course the unforgettable philosophy author, Sydney Banks.
I am consistently participating in continuing education to keep up-to-date on skills and information necessary for me to professionally offer my services, frequently through the Judicial Council of California.
I work with two professional visitation monitor associates in the East Bay, and with Mary Zito, a professional visitation monitor who has also been professionally trained on Family Code Section 3200.5 protocols. Mary works in the North Bay, covering San Francisco, Marin, and Napa/Sonoma County. Between all of us, we can assure more clients that the dates/times of their court-ordered supervised visitations can be met in the areas that work best for them.
Professional Experience and Continuing Education
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Completed Course: Personality Disordered Parents & Alienated Children
Offered by The Conflict Institute – Instructor: Bill Eddy November 2022
Completed Course: The Intersection Between Mental Health and Supervised Visitation
Offered by Judicial Council of CA and CASVSP 7 hours October 2021
Mandated Report Training (4-hour course) July 2020
ARCpoint Training September 2018
Drugs, Alcohol, and DNA Testing
Mediate Your Life Professional Development — Mar. 2014
Part of Total Immersion Program – 30 hrs.
California Family Code Section 3200.5 — Nov. 2013
Training: Understanding Uniform Standards of Practice for Professional Supervised Visitation (Training by CASVSP/Judicial Council of California)
- Safety & security procedures
- Legal responsibilities/obligations of a professional provider
- Safety considerations – sexual/domestic violence cases
- Confidentiality
- Maintenance and disclosure of records
- Temporary suspension/termination of visits
Beyond The Obvious: Threat Assessment in Domestic Cases — Apr 2013
A Multi-Disciplinary Training – Lt. Mark Wynn, Presenter (7 hrs)
Supervised Visitation Network Training — Jan 2013
Standards for Supervised Visitation Practice (16 hrs.)
- Working with Law Enforcement
- Intake Interview Process
- Documentation
- Intervention
- Understanding Code of Ethics
- Working With the Courts
- Child Welfare Supervised Visitations
- Parents With Special Needs
CASA Program Certification — Jun 2011
32 hours of training on the Juvenile Court Process, the Role of Attorneys, Cultural Diversity, Child Placement, Mandated Reporting, Educational Advocacy, Understanding Families, Role of Family Services. Worked 18 months on one case until the case was successfully concluded and the family was no longer in the Family Court Services System.
