Definitions
These definitions apply to the terms used throughout these Guidelines:
Domestic Violence Protective Order
Any order entered pursuant to G. L. c. 209A, G. L. c. 208, G. L. c. 209, or G. L. c. 209C limiting contact between two parents and/or a parent and a child.
Non-professional Parenting Time Supervisor
The non-professional parenting time supervisor includes a friend, relative, or other suitable third-party who does not regularly provide supervised parenting time services and shall not be paid.
Professional Capacity
Working with children in a professional capacity means that the professional parenting time supervisor candidate has been paid to work with children (e.g., teacher, nurse with pediatric experience, youth worker, social worker, and day care worker).
Professional Parenting Time Supervisor
Any person who is paid for providing supervised parenting time services, is experienced in and trained to provide professional supervised parenting time services, and meets the qualifications described in these Guidelines. The professional parenting time supervisor is not a mediator, therapist, or counselor between/among the parties and children. The professional parenting time supervisor acts as an arm of the Probate and Family Court.
Supervisor
Supervisor is a general term that covers all parenting time supervisors whether professional or non-professional.
Supervised Transfer
Supervised transfer (also called supervised exchange or exchange monitoring) is the exchange of a child at the start and end of a parenting time event that is carried out under the supervision of a suitable third party. Supervision is usually limited to the exchanges, with the remainder of the non-custodial parent-child contact occurring unsupervised.
Supervised Parenting Time
Supervised parenting time is parent-child contact overseen by a supervisor where the child is within eyesight and earshot distance of the supervisor at all times. Supervised parenting time also includes the supervised transfer of the child(ren) for parenting time events.
Supervised Parenting Time Log
A record to be kept by any professional parenting time supervisor that records primary facts regarding each scheduled supervised parenting time event. A non-professional supervisor shall be required to record the facts of each visit on the log form if directed by the Court.