Program Spotlight: Supervised Visitation

The Supervised Visitation Program (SVP) one of a dozen community-based services offered by the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development in Brattleboro, VT.

SVP provides a way for non-custodial parents to spend time with their children in a safe environment under the supervision of a neutral professional. Most often, clients have been referred to us by a family court, as an option to fulfill court-ordered supervised visitation. SVP helps preserve a child’s relationship with both parents, helping them adjust positively to family dissolution.

Children can anticipate visits with their non-custodial parent and enjoy them in a safe, comfortable environment without having to be put in the middle of their parents’ conflict. SVP benefits custodial parents who are in conflict with the other parent, by freeing them of the fearful or unwanted experience of making arrangements for visitation.

All communication is done by the professional visit supervisor and there does not have to be contact before, during, or after the visits. The custodial parent can relax and know that their child is safe. Most non-custodial parents are eager to reconnect with their child and SVP offers an avenue that is mutually beneficial for all members of the dissolved family to navigate a difficult stage of their relationships.

  • Don is able to turn the supervised visit space into a perfect place for infants to explore in a developmentally safe space or teens to meet with their parents and play age-appropriate games. Children benefit from learning from both parental role models. This can help children understand different ways of interacting, solving problems, and navigating the world.  

    Residential Parents know their children will be safe and cared for during their supervised visit time. Nothing can ease the minds of parents more than children coming out of a visit, happily sharing all the fun they had.

     The impact of this program is generational.
    Lisa Atwater
    Family Support Team Lead

The SVP program served families from 25 towns across 7 states last year. At this time, 19 families are accessing the program and there is currently a waitlist.

The program is funded by Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services and Vermont Department for Child and Families – Family Services Division, as well as individual donors and private foundations.

More information about Supervised Visitation at Winston Prouty