How to become a supervised visitation provider in Arkansas

Arkansas law lets courts order supervised visitation, but there is no statewide license for providers. The court order in each case decides who may supervise. This guide covers what Arkansas law says, your reporting duties, and where families and referrals come from.

What Arkansas law says about supervised visitation

A court may not give custody or unsupervised visitation to a registered sex offender without a specific finding that the offender poses no danger to the child. (Ark. Code Ann. § 9-13-101)

Read your court order closely in every case. It can name who may supervise, set conditions, and say who pays.

Key facts for providers in Arkansas

Arkansas presumes unsupervised visitation with a registered sex offender is not in a child's best interest.
In Arkansas, any adult who sees a child being abused must report it.
Arkansas's federally funded access and visitation program offers mediation, not supervised visitation.

Reporting child abuse in Arkansas

Dozens of listed professions must report, plus any adult who sees a child being abused, sexually abused or sexually exploited. (Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-402)

Know how to make a report in Arkansas before your first visit, and explain your reporting duty to both parents at intake. Stopping a visit to keep a child safe always comes first.

Recording visits in Arkansas

Arkansas generally lets a person record a conversation they take part in (one party consent). (Ark. Code Ann. § 5-60-120)

Many providers don't record visits at all. If you do, get written consent from both parents at intake, and follow the court order.

Where families and referrals come from in Arkansas

Most families look for a provider right after a judge orders supervised visits. Family law attorneys, mediators, court self help centers and state funded programs are the people they ask first.

Every state receives a federal Access and Visitation grant for services like supervised visitation, neutral exchanges and parenting plans. Where Arkansas's program contracts with local providers, it can be a source of referrals or funded work.

Arkansas Access and Visitation Mediation Program (Administrative Office of the Courts) A statewide, federally funded program offering custody, visitation and support mediation on a sliding fee scale. It does not provide supervised visitation.

Steps to start providing supervised visits in Arkansas

Check your county family court's website and self help center for local rules or provider lists.
Complete training in child safety, domestic violence awareness, neutral observation, report writing and ending a visit safely. The Supervised Visitation Network publishes practice standards many providers follow.
Get a background screening and liability insurance. Families, attorneys and some courts expect both even where Arkansas law doesn't require them.
Set your rates, service area, visit locations and cancellation policy, and write a services agreement and intake form. Have a Arkansas attorney review them.
Introduce yourself to local family law attorneys, mediators and the court's self help center, and ask how to join any provider list.
List your services where families search, so they can see your rates and book you online.

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Sources

General information only, not legal advice. Laws change, and this information may be incomplete, out of date or wrong. Confirm it with a licensed attorney in your state before you rely on it.