Positive Parenting Plus (PP+) - The NYSPCC's Supervised Visitation Program
The Positive Parenting Plus (PP+) Program focuses on providing specialized and intensive therapeutic supervised visitation services to New York City’s most vulnerable children: abused and neglected children in foster care and children involved in high-risk custody and visitation cases in family court proceedings. Supervised visitation services are designed to help parents who cannot have unsupervised access to their children due to a history of child physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse or mental illness. Rather than eliminating contact between a non-custodial parent and child, supervised visitation provides a one-on-one supportive setting where the relationship can continue while pending legal issues are addressed by the child protective and court systems.
The NYSPCC has been providing supervised visitation to New York City families since 1992. Its services allow visiting parents to spend time with their children in the presence of a Master's-level clinician. Families receive support from skilled clinicians to strengthen or repair their relationship with their children. Supervised visitation is intended to be a temporary remedy with most parents moving toward less restrictive or unsupervised visits with their child whenever possible. When that happens, PP+ provides a neutral place for the safe transfer of children during unsupervised visits when there are restrictions placed on the contact between parents.
Our supervised visitation services are enhanced by therapeutic intervention. The PP+ program includes parenting skills workshops, individual parent “coaching” sessions for visiting parents during supervised visits with their children and, when needed, mental health counseling to children who have witnessed domestic violence. All families involved in supervised visitation receive these enhanced services. A program with this level of intensive supervised visitation services is unique in New York City.
The NYSPCC is also committed to eliminating language and financial barriers to parent-child contact. The NYSPCC’s PP+ is also the only visitation program in New York City that provides bilingual (English/Spanish) services seven days a week and evening services in order to accommodate working parents and school-age children. The NYSPCC's program services are provided free of charge. In 2007, our supervised visitation services helped 181 families involving 274 at-risk children. A total of 848 supervised visits were provided for our families and the staff prepared 267 reports for the court regarding parent-child interaction. Eleven full cycle parenting skills workshops were held for visiting parents. Other visiting parents also received their Certificate of Completion for cycles started in 2006 and ending in 2007. A total of 134 parenting sessions took place in 2007.
In February 2008, The NYSPCC published The NYSPCC Professionals’ Handbook – Supervised Visitation Services for High-Risk Families as a best practice publication. It is one of the few resources available nationwide for professionals who wish to enhance their current supervised visitation programs, or for organizations interested in starting a supervised visitation program. It is also a helpful resource for judges, referees, foster care agencies and others who refer families for supervised visitation services. This publication promotes best practice and facilitates program replication.
Supervised Transfers
The NYSPCC also provides a neutral setting for the safe transfer of children during unsupervised visits when restrictions are placed on the contact between parents. Clinicians check-in with the parents and child during both the drop-off and pick-up to ensure optimal results for all involved. In 2007, 672 supervised transfers took place.
Location and Hours of Operation
Supervised visitation services are available during the following hours:
The NYSPCC's Main Office
161 William Street
9th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Monday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
To request supervised visitation or supervised transfer services, or to receive additional information, please contact:
Helen Woodbury, LCSW
To purchase a copy of The NYSPCC Professionals’ Handbook – Supervised Visitation Services for High-Risk Families, please print out and complete the handbook order form.
Director of Supervised Visitation Services
212-233-5500 x208
hwoodbury@nyspcc.org