How to become a supervised visitation provider in Colorado

Colorado 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 Colorado law says, your reporting duties, and where families and referrals come from.

What Colorado law says about supervised visitation

Parenting time follows the child's best interests with safety first; where abuse, neglect or domestic violence is found, the court may order supervised parenting time. (C.R.S. § 14-10-124)

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 Colorado

Colorado's AV grant can pay for monitored and supervised visitation and neutral exchanges for referred families.
Colorado law authorizes a parenting time enforcement program that can include supervised parenting time and neutral exchange locations.

Reporting child abuse in Colorado

Listed professionals must report. Anyone else may report. (C.R.S. § 19-3-304)

Know how to make a report in Colorado 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 Colorado

Colorado generally lets a person record a conversation they take part in (one party consent). (C.R.S. §§ 18-9-303, 18-9-304)

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 Colorado

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 Colorado's program contracts with local providers, it can be a source of referrals or funded work.

Access and Visitation (AV) Program (Office of Dispute Resolution, State Court Administrator's Office) Local districts use grant funds for mediation, parenting plans, education, and monitored or supervised visitation with neutral exchange for referred parents.
Form a Parenting Plan (Colorado Judicial Branch) Court self help for starting or answering a custody (parental responsibilities) case.

Steps to start providing supervised visits in Colorado

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 Colorado 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 Colorado 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.