How to become a supervised visitation provider in West Virginia

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

What West Virginia law says about supervised visitation

Judges may order families only to licensed monitored parenting and exchange programs, and may set fees based on ability to pay. (W. Va. Code § 48-26-1001)

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 West Virginia

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

Licensure of monitored parenting and exchange programs (W. Va. Code § 48-26-402) A two stage license application; standard licenses last up to three years.
Monitored parenting and exchange defined (W. Va. Code § 48-26-212) Defines these programs as licensed services by nonprofit organizations.
West Virginia requires monitored parenting and exchange programs to be licensed through a state board review.
West Virginia judges may order families only to licensed monitored parenting programs.
Licensed programs may accept families without a court order if the adults agree.

Reporting child abuse in West Virginia

Listed professionals must report within 24 hours. Anyone else may report. (W. Va. Code § 49-2-803)

Know how to make a report in West Virginia 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 West Virginia

West Virginia generally lets a person record a conversation they take part in (one party consent). (W. Va. Code § 62-1D-3(e))

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 West Virginia

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

West Virginia Access and Visitation grant (Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia) Funds supervised visitation and neutral exchange.

Steps to start providing supervised visits in West Virginia

Read the West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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.