How to become a supervised visitation provider in Florida

Florida has published rules or programs that shape who supervises visits and how. This guide covers what Florida law says, the standards that apply, your reporting duties, and where families and referrals come from.

What Florida law says about supervised visitation

Defines supervised visitation programs and exchange monitoring and creates the Clearinghouse on Supervised Visitation at Florida State University. (Fla. Stat. ch. 753)

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

Standards and requirements for providers in Florida

These published sources set or describe requirements for supervised visitation in Florida:

Fla. Stat. § 753.03 (program standards) Requires uniform standards for supervised visitation programs, including staff qualifications, training and screening.
List of Florida Supervised Visitation Programs (FSU Clearinghouse) The statewide referral directory by judicial circuit. It does not regulate or endorse programs.
Clearinghouse on Supervised Visitation Statewide training materials and standards resources.
Florida's Clearinghouse on Supervised Visitation at FSU keeps a statewide directory of supervised visitation programs.
Florida law requires program standards that cover staff qualifications, training and background screening.
Florida defines exchange monitoring as supervising a child's handoff between parents at the start and end of visits.

Reporting child abuse in Florida

Everyone must report to the central abuse hotline. Listed professionals must also give their names. (Fla. Stat. § 39.201)

Know how to make a report in Florida 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 Florida

Florida generally requires everyone's consent to record a private conversation. (Fla. Stat. § 934.03)

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 Florida

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

Florida Access and Visitation Program (Department of Children and Families) The state contact for Florida's federally funded access and visitation grant.
Miami-Dade Family Court guide Courthouses, self help, court programs and forms.

Steps to start providing supervised visits in Florida

Read the Florida standards listed above and meet any training or screening they require.
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 Florida 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 Florida 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.