Manatee Parenting Time

5190 26th Street West, Unit A, Bradenton, Florida 34207

(941) 201-9352

Manatee Parenting Time Supervised Visitation & Parent Education

Providing opportunities for safe & meaningful parent-child contact.

About our services

Supervised Visitation

Parent-child contact takes place in a structured environment in the presence of a trained supervisor or monitor.

Los servicios limitados están disponibles en español.

Parent Coaching

Parent Coaching assists a parent in developing or improving their parenting skills in an individualized format specific to their child's age and stage of development, and the parents' situation.

When parent coaching is provided during supervised visitation, it is referred to as 'facilitated', 'educational' or 'supported' visitation.

Supervised Exchange

Sometimes families only need a trained and neutral supervisor or monitor during exchanges of the child. Supervised Exchanges are also provided by Manatee Parenting Time.

Starting the process...

Please print and complete the Intake Packet and return via email or bring it with you to your Intake appointment. Additional information you'll need to bring can be found below on the "What to bring with you checklist".

EACH PARENT IS REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INTAKE PRIOR TO SERVICES BEGINNING. THERE IS A $75.00 CHARGE FOR THIS INTAKE FOR EACH PARENT. PLEASE BE PREPARED TO PAY THIS FEE PRIOR TO SCHEDULING YOUR INTAKE. THE SUPERVISOR CANNOT 'DECIDE' WHO SHOULD PAY OR NOT. TYPICALLY, THE FEE IS COLLECTED FROM THE INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATING IN THE INTAKE.

Please do not print the paperwork double-sided.

Frequently asked questions

Where do the visits take place?

Will the supervisor tell the Judge that I should have unsupervised visits?

Manatee Parenting Time has a visiting room where most visits take place. Some visits take place out in the community if the Order for Visitation allows it and the supervisor feels it is appropriate.

The visiting room has many toys and books appropriate for various ages. There is a DVD player as well. You may bring a specific DVD movie the child wishes to see, but it must be cleared in advance by the supervisor.

Will the supervisor tell the Judge that I should have unsupervised visits?

No. The supervisor can only speak to the appropriateness of your behavior and the 'appearance' of the interaction between you and your child(ren) in their presence. We will notify the Court should your behavior become unmanageable or inappropriate to the point it potentially represents a threat of harm to the child, staff, other parent or yourself.

Will the supervisor help me track down the other parent?

Will the supervisor tell the Judge that I should have unsupervised visits?

Will the supervisor help me track down the other parent?

We will make reasonable attempts to contact the other parent to enlist their cooperation. Manatee Parenting Time Supervised Visitation & Exchange lacks the ability to investigate a parents whereabouts.

Does the Court pay for the visits?

What if the other parent refuses to cooperate?

Will the supervisor help me track down the other parent?

The Court does not pay the visiting fee. Typically, the visiting parent pays these fees but sometimes the Court will require both parents pay the fees.

Can the supervisor help me get my kids back?

What if the other parent refuses to cooperate?

Only to the extent that we can assist you in following the Order to participate in supervised visitation. Only a Court can decide if or when you get your children back.

What if the other parent refuses to cooperate?

We will notify the Court or DCF (Department of Children & Families) of the other parents' refusal to cooperate with the process.

Can I bring my cellphone or laptop?

Is there anything I can't talk about during the visit?

Can I bring someone with me to the visit?

You will not be allowed to bring cellphones, tablets, recorders or laptops into the visitation. Over time, as your level of compliance is proven sufficient, some of these rules may be waived to allow the Supervisor to take photos on your cell phone.

Can I bring someone with me to the visit?

Is there anything I can't talk about during the visit?

Can I bring someone with me to the visit?

No, unless the Court Order specifies that you can. The visits are for you and your child, however, there may be times when the primary residential parent (custodial parent) my authorize the supervisor to allow it if the supervisor feels it is acceptable.

Is there anything I can't talk about during the visit?

Yes. You cannot speak of the court case, the divorce/separation, the other parent's activities, boyfriends/girlfriends. All language must be appropriate for the child, non-offensive, non-threatening and oriented to the child's likes, age and developmental stage.

If you get 'stuck' and don't know what to talk about, the supervisor is there to assist you by suggesting topics or games/activities.

Can I take pictures?

Can I bring food or sodas?

Is there anything I can't talk about during the visit?

Initially you will not be allowed to take photos of your child. Should that rule be waived at a later time, the supervisor will take the photo for you.

Can I bring gifts?

Can I bring food or sodas?

It is preferred that gifts not be brought to the child at visitation except for gift-giving occasions such as birthdays, graduations, Valentine's Day, etc. When gifts are brought, the supervisor must be informed first and the gifts MUST be in the original packaging, unopened. It must also be age appropriate.

Additionally, the gifts will be given to the residential parent for presentation to the child at a time of their choosing unless permission is given to allow the child to open gifts during the visitation.

Can I bring food or sodas?

Yes. There is access to a refrigerator and microwave. There are also several pizza chains that deliver to our address. The food must be appropriate to the child's nutritional needs.

Please do not bring any food or beverages with red food coloring, excessive sugar, caffeine or chocolate.