FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. What is supervised parenting time?

  • When parents separate, visits with children may be a problem. Sometimes, difficulties arise at the time of the exchange of the child between parents or between a parent and a relative, such as a grandparent. Other times there may be concerns about the visits themselves. Our supervised parenting time program, called Centre York Centre, provides a setting where visits and exchanges can take place under the supervision of trained staff and volunteers. Upon request, we also provide the court and lawyers with copies of our observation reports.

Q. What is a visiting party?

  • The visiting party is usually the child’s other parent, who does not reside with the child. Custody of a child may be determined by a court order or as agreed by parents in a separation agreement.

Q. What is a supervised visit? What is a supervised exchange?

  • In a supervised visit, the visiting party visits with his or her child(ren) at the Centre York Centre. The visit is supervised by the Centre’s staff. There is no contact between parties.

    In a supervised exchange, the parent who the child(ren) resides with, brings the child to the Centre York Centre. The visiting parent picks the child up and they have an unsupervised visit away from the Centre. Then the visiting parent brings the child back to the centre, where the child is returned to his or her parent whom they reside with. There is no contact between parties.

Q. What are the objectives of Centre York Centre?

  • Supervised Parenting Time Centres provide a safe and non-threatening, CHILD-FOCUSED, neutral environment for visits and exchanges between children and visiting parents and/or other persons such as grandparents, where there is a concern for the safety of the child and/or the adults using the centre.

  • The Centre York Centre provides an environment that is non-stigmatizing and accessible – where families feel welcome regardless of their religion, ethnic or socio-economic background, gender, race, ability, sexual orientation or reason for referral;

  • Providing a safe drop-off/pick-up point where children may be transferred between the parent the child(ren) reside with or other approved person, and the visiting party for visits or exchanges;

  • Helping ease the tensions of parenting time arrangements for children and for both the parent the child resides with and the visiting parent, eliminating direct contact, reducing opportunities for children to be subjected to conflict at the time of a visit/exchange;

  • Ensuring the safety of all persons involved in the program, including staff and volunteers;

  • Facilitating families to carry out their parenting time requirements as stipulated by court orders or by written agreement of the parties subject to the availability of the Parenting Time Centre;

  • Directly supervising and monitoring all interactions between parents and children and intervening when the safety, health or welfare of the child or other participants is at risk;

  • Being an IMPARTIAL observer and not an agent of either party, to assure that visitation is facilitated without risk to the health, safety or welfare of any child or any adult participant;

  • Ensuring that both parties are following the Centre’s policies and procedure guidelines, which are provided to clients during the intake process;

  • Providing, on request, factual documentation on the interaction between participants and children during supervised visits or exchanges to legal counsel and/or the parties.

Q. Who provides funding for the program?

  • Centre York Centre is a non-profit organization that is funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. The Centre York Centre is operated by a volunteer Board of Directors.

Q. Who supervises visits/exchanges?

  • Visits and exchanges are supervised by Supervising Workers. In addition to specific training for our program, Supervising Workers have a relevant educational background such as a diploma in social services or early childhood education, or a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, sociology, crime and deviance, social work or human resources.

Q. What are the requirements for using Centre York Centre?

  • Families can use Centre York Centre if they have a Court Order, Minutes of Settlement, Mediation Agreement, Mutual Agreement between both parties or Endorsement for supervised visits and exchanges. Referrals are accepted from lawyers, mediators and the Courts. Voluntary arrangements are also accepted.

Q. How long can families use Centre York Centre?

  • Parties can use our program for as long as they require our services or until the child turns 18 years of age.

Q. Does Centre York Centre ever refuse, cancel or terminate service?

Yes, Centre York Centre reserves the right to refuse, cancel or terminate service where the safety of participants and staff cannot be reasonably ensured. Examples include but not limited to:

  • A violation of the service agreement;

  • Parties decide to withdraw from our program for their own reasons;

  • The non-custodial party misses three consecutive visits without any notice;

  • The non-custodial party arrives under the influence of alcohol/drugs;

  • A Child Welfare Agency becomes involved in the case;

  • There is an on-going criminal matter.

  • Refusing access to the Centre for 10 days to those who report a positive COVID-19 test. 24 hours isolation for those experiencing cold/flu symptoms, and 48 hours isolation for those experiencing gastro flu symptoms including fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Adults 18 and over must still wear masks.


*The above COVID-19 policies will remain in effect until April 27, 2022*

Q. What gives Centre York Centre, Supervised Parenting Time Program authority to decline a case?

  • Section 34 (2) of the Children's Law Reform Act provides that when a court directs a person, a children’s aid society or other body to supervise access, it is subject to that person's or body's consent.

Q. What if I am a new-comer to Canada and cannot speak English/French?

  • Our program will make arrangements for a translator to attend each visit. Costs will be discussed and reviewed with both parties and their lawyers.

Q. What if the parent residing with the child moves into another Court District?

  • The party can easily request a transfer to another Supervised Parenting Time Centre. Please note that a transfer is subject to available space.

Q. Does Centre York Centre make custody and Parenting Time recommendations?

  • No. Centre York Centre provides a place for visits and exchanges to occur. Factual observations provided by the Centre York Centre may, however, provide information to guide an assessor in making recommendations to the court or may assist the court in making orders that are in the best interest of the child.

Q. Does Centre York Centre provide services other than supervised visits and exchanges?

  • No. The staff and volunteers at Centre York Centre do not provide services such as counselling, mediation, therapy, or parent education.

Q. Does Centre York Centre provide off-site or one-on-one visits?

  • No. Visits and exchanges are limited to on-site, group settings.

Q. Does Centre York Centre provide service to children who are in the care of a Child Welfare Agency?

  • No. Centre York Centre supervises visits and exchanges in custody and parenting time matters. Child welfare (protection) cases are governed by the Child and Family Services Act and are typically supervised by the Children's Aid Society (CAS).

Q. Where are the supervised access centres located in Ontario?

  • The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services provides funding to supervised access centres and satellites across the province as part of the Supervised Parenting Time Program. For further information regarding the location of Centres please refer to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services’ website.