Assessing Child Visitation

Resources on using visits to assess the quality of the parent-child relationship and the family's progress.

A Framework for Family Visiting for Children in Long-Term Foster Care
Mapp
Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 83(2), 2002
View Abstract
Reviews literature on family visiting and makes suggestions for successful family visiting, including the importance of regular assessment.

In Whose Arms?: Using Relational Therapy in Supervised Family Visitation With Very Young Children in Foster Care
Lee & Stacks
Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 15(4), 2004
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Describes the Families in Transition (FIT) program, which uses family visitation sessions as an opportunity for relational assessment and interventions toward the goal of reunification.

Parent-Child Visits as an Opportunity for Change (PDF - 354 KB)
Prevention Report, Spring 1999
Describes how to make supported visits a powerful child welfare tool by using visits to help parents improve their ability to meet their children's needs. A list of principles that can be used by individuals involved in supporting visits to assess and strengthen outcomes is included.

Toolbox No. 1: Using Visitation to Support Permanency
Wright (2001)
In Toolboxes for Permanency
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Identifies considerations for visitation and describes best practices, principles that should form the framework for the visitation plan, and how to modify the plan based on the family's progress. Also provides innovative programs, sample forms, and guidelines.

Visiting: The Heart of Reunification
Hess & Proch (1993)
In Together Again: Family Reunification in Foster Care
View Abstract
Emphasizes the importance of parental visits during the reunification process and provides guidelines for developing visiting plans, preparing for visits, modifying visit plans, and documenting visits.

	Related Information Gateway Topics Out-of-home care: Parent-child visits

Updated on March 19, 2010