Co-Parenting
How does it work?
Parents or other primary caretakers of children who are going through divorce or separation meet together for 8-10 sessions. The Co-parenting sessions allow these two parties to come together to develop understanding, strategies and tools to improve communication, manage custody and visitation issues, and minimize the negative effects of the divorce on their children. Sessions may be scheduled weekly or every other week. Morning, afternoon and evening sessions are available in either Spanish
or English. Both parents must attend, and the co-parenting session cannot occur if only one parent is present.
Who is eligible for this service?
Parents or primary caretakers who want to develop or improve their “co-parent” relationship with their former partner in order to effectively parent their child(ren) through the divorce and ongoing. Some participants may be court- ordered and others are voluntary.
How to access this service?
Apply in person at 815 W. Oak St. in Visalia. Applicants must complete an application for services and provide the agency with proof of income in order to set the fee for service. Upon receipt of the application an appointment will be scheduled with the Case Manager who will answer all remaining questions and assist the parties to get started.
What information needs to be provided?
Any applicable court orders and proof of income to determine fee for service.
Are there other program requirements?
Parents must attend a mandatory orientation before beginning the co-parenting class. Orientation is held on Wednesday evenings and parents are encouraged to attend on separate dates, so that they are free to ask any questions about the program individually, or apart from other parent. A flyer about orientation is provided to all parents once they complete an application. Once parents begin their classes, they are required to complete homework assigned by the therapist.
What will it cost?
Cost of the orientation is $ 20.00. Cost of the classes are $90.00 per session, however community resources and grants are available to assist those who meet the eligibility requirements. Proof of income is used to determine eligibility.
Divorce focused Parenting Classes
How to access this service?
This parenting class is open-entry, meaning individuals may start at any time. Participants do not need to attend a formal orientation; however, it is recommended that they show up approximately fifteen minutes before the beginning of their first class to meet individually with the instructor and fill out a basic information sheet. Call 741-7310 for class time and location.
What information needs to be provided?
Any Court orders if applicable. Participants are also asked to complete a basic information form.
Are there other program requirements?
All participants who complete the entire 10 weeks of curriculum will receive a completion certificate. This may be presented to the court or another referring agency as proof of attendance.
What will it cost?
This parenting class is free of charge.
Family Re-unification
Who is eligible for this service?
Parents who have been separated from their children for various reasons are eligible to receive family reunification services, sometimes called therapeutic reunification. In most cases this is a court-ordered service to assist families in establishing or re-building a healthy relationship with their child(ren).
How to access this service?
Both custodial and non-custodial parties apply in person at 815 W. Oak St. in Visalia. Upon receipt of the application, an appointment will be scheduled with the Case Manager who will answer all remaining questions and assist the parties to get started.
What information needs to be provided?
Any applicable court orders and proof of income to establish fee for service.
Are there other program requirements?
Both parents are required to meet individually with the assigned therapist for an initial interview. When these interviews are completed the therapist will hold an initial meeting with the child(ren). In most cases, the therapist will schedule additional individual counseling sessions with the visiting parent and the child individually before bringing them together for their first visit. This is to ensure both parties are prepared to establish a healthy relationship.
What will it cost?
The fee for service is $90.00 per hour. However, community resources and grants are available to those who meet income eligibility. Proof of income is required to determine income eligibility.
Court Ordered Assessments
Who is eligible for this service?
Any adult or child with an applicable court order for an assessment is eligible.
How to access this service?
Apply in person at 815 W. Oak St. in Visalia, or call 741-7310 for more information. Upon receipt of the application, an appointment will be scheduled with the Case Manager who will answer all remaining questions and assist the parties to get started.
What information needs to be provided?
Applicable court orders and proof of income to determine fee for service
What will it cost?
Fees for court assessments are tied directly to the type of assessment needed, and the income level of the individual. Parental assessments range from $100.00-$500.00 for package A (basic) and $200.00-$800.00 for package B (extensive). Drug/Alcohol assessments, Domestic Violence assessments and Children’s assessments all range from $100.00-$400.00. Fees are determined when the individual provides proof of income.
Individual, Child or Family Therapy
Who is eligible for this service?
Any individual, child or family struggling with the challenges of divorce or separation may apply for counseling services to help them cope with these issues.
How to access this service?
Apply in person at 815 W. Oak St. in Visalia. Individuals will be asked to complete an application for services, and provide proof on income to determine the fee for service. Upon receipt of the application an appointment will be scheduled with the Case Manager who will answer all remaining questions and assist the parties to get started.
What will it cost?
Fees for individual, child or family therapy are determined by the client’s income.
Kids and Family Group
Family Services occasionally offers a kids and family group for divorcing and separating families. Any groups starting will be posted on the events calendar.
Supervised Visitation
Who is eligible for this service?
Parents needing a safe and neutral location in which to visit with their child(ren), or for their child(ren) to visit with their non-custodial parent are eligible.
How to access this service?
Apply in person at 815 W. Oak St. in Visalia.
What information needs to be provided?
Any applicable court order or referral letter.
Are there other program requirements?
All applicants will be given an intake appointment after completing their application. Visitation will not begin until both custodial and non-custodial parties have completed their applications, and completed an intake and attended an orientation.
What will it cost?
Cost of the intake is a flat rate of $20.00. The fee for the visits ranges from $20.00-$40.00 per hour depending on the individuals income. Some individuals may be eligible for a waived or reduced fee if they meet eligibility requirements and if the program has grant monies available at that time. |
