Access to Visitation

Access to Visitation Grant Program

The Judicial Council is charged with administering and distributing California's share of the federal Child Access and Visitation Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Support Enforcement.

These grants, established under section 391 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub.L. 104–193, 110 Stat. 2258)—title III, section 469B of the Social Security Act—enable states to establish and administer programs that support and facilitate noncustodial parents' access to and visitation with their children.

The use of the funds in California is limited by state statute to three types of programs:

  • Supervised visitation and exchange services;
  • Education about protecting children during family disruption; and
  • Group counseling services for parents and children.

Standard 5.20 and Family Code Section 3200.5 Trainings

The Standard 5.20 training (Uniform Standards of Practice for Providers of Supervised Visitation) is a [a] three-day, in-person training for new and existing professional providers of supervised visitation and exchange services. Attendees will be required to complete prerequisites, prior to the training date.

Effective August 2023, the training was been divided into two separate parts:

  • Part 1 - Learning Standard 5.20—the Legal Duties and Responsibilities of the Professional Provider; and
  • Part 2 - Implementation of Best Practice Considerations for Program Policies and Procedures.

Training Module: Understanding Supervised Visitation and Supervised Exchange Services in the State of California©
This is an introductory course with practical information for parents, the courts, providers of supervised visitation and exchange services, and other multidisciplinary professionals regarding the role and duties of [a] provider of supervised visitation and exchange services in the state of California. The E-learning Module is divided into Five parts: Overview of supervised visitation and exchange services; discussion of the role of the provider—both professional and nonprofessional providers; outlines legal duties and obligations of a provider; and includes an FAQ, and resources for parents and providers. Complete Parts 1, 2, 4, and pass Part 4 Quiz—you must pass with a score of 80% or higher to earn .75 hours of education credit.

Learning Objectives – Participants will be able to:

  • Define the various terms for supervised visitation and exchange processes;
  • Identify key requirements for both nonprofessional and professional providers; and
  • Learn best practices for the operation of supervised visitation and exchange services for family law cases.

     

Supervised Visitation

Learn about supervised visitation, when a judge orders that a neutral third person be present during a parent’s time with his or her children.

Additional Information:

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Background

Program Administration

The Judicial Council is charged with administering the federal Child Access and Visitation Grant Program. The grant program also receives guidance from the Judicial Council’s Executive and Planning Committee and the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee, the state Legislature, and the federal Administration for Children and Families. The Center for Families, Children & the Courts (CFCC) has primary responsibility for administering and managing the grant program.

Eligibility

Under California’s Access to Visitation Grant Program, grant funding is awarded to the family law division of the superior courts through a statewide request-for-proposals grant application process. Applicants are strongly encouraged to involve multiple courts and counties in their proposed programs and to designate one court as the lead or administering court. While the superior courts may contract with local community-based nonprofit agencies to provide the direct services on behalf of the court, contract agreements are made only with the designated superior court. Grant funds may be used to expand or augment existing programs but funds may not be used to supplant existing funding for those programs.

Program Monitoring

States are required to monitor, evaluate, and report on programs funded through the grant—on an annual basis—in accordance with regulations prescribed the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (45 C.F.R. 303.109). California’s Access to Visitation Grant Program monitoring of grantee programs draws on multiple sources and methods, with feedback from the courts, clients, community stakeholders, and service providers at the local, regional, and state levels. Methods also include site visits, questionnaires, focus group and roundtable meetings, and data collection and document analysis. Many of the grantees use client feedback surveys and questionnaires to assess their own service delivery. Additionally, grant recipients are required to submit monthly statistical data reports and quarterly progress summary reports.

Access to Visitation Grant Program Grantee Contract - Exhibit E Forms
 FORM  TITLE

 Attachment 1

  Acceptance and Sign-off Form (PDF), revised 4/2010
 Attachment 2  Time Sheet (Excel)
 Attachment 3  Payroll Summary (Excel)
 Attachment 4  Invoice (Excel)
 Attachment 5  Matching Form (Excel), revised 10/2007
 Attachment 6  Bi-annual Summary Progress Report, revised FY 2026–27
 Attachment 7  Initial Entry Form, revised 12/2009
 Attachment 8  Session Summary Information: Parent Education and Group Counseling, revised 11/2003
 Attachment 9  Log Form: Parent Education and Group Counseling, revised 11/2003
 Attachment 10  Log Form: Supervised Visitation and Exchange Services (Pickup-Drop-off), revised 12/2009
 Attachment 11  Parent Outcome Survey, revised 10/2004
 Attachment 12  Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-free Workplace Requirements (PDF), revised 10/2007
 Attachment 13  Assurances - Non-Construction Programs
 Attachment 14  Compliance Statement for Uniform Standards of Practice for Providers of Supervised Visitation, revised FY 2026–27
 Attachment 15  Request for Contract Budget Revision (Excel) and Sample Letter for Budget Revision Request, revised 3/2022
 Attachment 16 Budget Form, revised FY 2026–27
 Attachment 17  Program Income Questionnaire, revised FY 2026–27
 Attachment 18  Expenditures Line Item Summary, revised 3/2011
 Attachment 19  Travel Expense Claim (TEC) 
 Attachment 20  Leave Earn Report
Attachment 21 Proof of Subcontractor, revised 1/2023
Attachment 22  Activity Log
Attachment 23  JCC Travel and Expense Guidelines, new FY 2026–27
Publications and Reports

Legislative Reports

California's Access to Visitation Grant Program (Federal Fiscal Years 2022–23 and 2023–24) (March 2024)

California’s Access to Visitation Grant Program (Federal Fiscal Years 2020–21 and 2021–22) (March 2022)

California’s Access to Visitation Grant Program (Federal Fiscal Years 2018–19 and 2019–20)(March 2020)

California’s Access to Visitation Grant Program (Federal Fiscal Years 2016–17 and 2017–18) (March 2018)

California’s Access to Visitation Grant Program (Federal Fiscal Years 2014–2016): 2016 Report to the Legislature (March 2016)

California’s Access to Visitation Grant Program (Fiscal Years 2012–2013 and 2013–2014) (March 2014)

California’s Access to Visitation Grant Program for Fiscal Years 2010–2011 and 2011–2012  (March 2012)

California's Access to Visitation Grant Program (Fiscal Year 2009-2010) (March 2010)

Ten Years of Access to Visitation Grant Program Services (Fiscal Years 1997-2007) (March 2008)

California's Access to Visitation Program: Fiscal Year 2005-2006(July 2007)

California's Access to Visitation Grant Program: Fiscal Years 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 (March 2006)

California's Access to Visitation Grant Program: Fiscal Years 2003-2004 and 2004-2005(March 2005)

California's Access to Visitation Grant Program: Fiscal Year 2002-2003 and 2003-2004(March 2004)

A Report to the California Legislature: California's Access to Visitation Grant Program for Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Nonresidential Parents Fiscal Year 2001-2002 and 2002-2003(February 28, 2003)

California's Access to Visitation Grant Program for Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Nonresidential Parents-The First Five Years: Report to the Legislature 
(March 2002)

Research & Publication

Supervised Visitation - An Annotated Bibliography

A Guide for the Non-Professional Provider of Supervised Visitation (English)  (Spanish)

Supervised Visitation and You(English)

Supervised Visitation and You (Spanish)

Supervised Visitation Services in California

Standard 5.20 and Family Code Section 3200.5

Standard 5.20

In 1998, the Judicial Council adopted standards for supervised visitation providers. Family Code section 3200 defines the term “provider” as including any individual or supervised visitation center that monitors visitation. Supervised visitation contact is contact between a noncustodial party and one or more children in the presence of a neutral third person.

All supervised visitation and exchange programs funded by California’s Access to Visitation Grant Program must comply with all requirements of the Uniform Standards of Practice for Providers of Supervised Visitation as set forth in Standard 5.20 of the California Standards of Judicial Administration.

Family Code section 3200.5

Effective January 1, 2013,Assembly Bill 1674(Stats. 2012, ch. 692) added Section 3200.5 to the Family Code, relating to qualifications and training for supervised visitation providers. Family Code section 3200.5(a) requires that any standards for supervised visitation providers adopted by the Judicial Council to conform to the new provisions of  the bill (i.e., Standard 5.20 of the California Standards of Judicial Administration). In 1997,Family Code section 3200 required the Judicial Council to develop standards for supervised visitation providers. The Judicial Council adopted, effective January 1, 1998, the Uniform Standards of Practice for Providers of Supervised Visitation as section 26.2 of the California Standards of Judicial Administration. Section 26.2 was changed (superseded), effective January 1, 2007, and became Standard 5.20. Family Code section 3200.5 codified, in part, some of the existing provisions under Standard 5.20 of the California Standards of Judicial Administration.

Additional Resources