How to become a supervised visitation provider in Tennessee

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

What Tennessee law says about supervised visitation

If a parent physically or emotionally abused the child, the court may require supervised visitation, but generally may not order DCS to supervise. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-301)

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 Tennessee

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

Access and Visitation Grant Recipients (TDHS) Regional list of grantees, some offering supervised visitation.
Tennessee courts generally cannot order the Department of Children's Services to supervise visitation unless DCS is a party.
Tennessee's access and visitation grantees include juvenile courts and nonprofits, some offering supervised visitation.

Reporting child abuse in Tennessee

Any person who knows of harm that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect must report. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-1-403)

Know how to make a report in Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Tennessee generally lets a person record a conversation they take part in (one party consent). (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-601(b)(5))

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 Tennessee

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

Tennessee Access and Visitation Program (TN Department of Human Services, Child Support) Helps parents with parenting plans, mediation and coparenting.

Steps to start providing supervised visits in Tennessee

Read the Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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.