Parenting time services are provided to families with an open ongoing case with Fairfield County Protective Services.  Services are for children in the agency’s custody, who reside outside of their parent’s home. Each family is assigned a Parent Support Service Coordinator that is responsible for planning phone calls, letters, or other forms of communication between parents and children. This service gives opportunities for parents to attend doctor’s appointments and school events along with face-to-face time between parents and their children.

The purpose of parenting time is to maintain the parent/child bond after removal has occurred.  Continued parent/child contact decreases anxiety for the family and provides an opportunity for parents to demonstrate positive parenting skills in a safe and comfortable setting. 

Parenting time can be at the parent’s home, a public setting or at the agency.  The location is determined by the courts and/or by the Family Services Team.  Parent Support Service Coordinators work with parents and the Family Service Team to ensure parenting time takes place in the most comfortable setting for the child while assuring safety. 

If there are no barriers or safety issues, parenting time can occur in the parent's home.  If this is not possible, parenting time in the community can take place at a park, a mall, a restaurant, or other public settings or at Fairfield County Protective Services in one of our three private rooms.  Parenting time is documented and becomes part of the family’s permanent case record.

Parenting time is coordinated by consulting with parents, caregivers, and the Family Service Team.  The Parent Support Service Coordinator must take into consideration the following factors:

• Court Orders
• Safety
• Weather conditions
• Availability of transportation
• Proximity and location of children’s placement and parenting time location
• Children’s school, appointments, court, and counseling schedule
• Parent’s work, court, appointments, and counseling schedule

Fairfield County Protective Services offers each family a minimum of three hours per week parenting time. To better serve the needs of our families, our Parent Support Service Team provide evening and weekend hours when necessary. Families are also offered opportunities for phone contact and other forms of communication when circumstances allow. 

If you are unable to attend parenting time for any reason, contact your Parent Support Service Coordinator as soon as possible. Oftentimes transporters leave to pick up children hours before the start of parenting time. If parenting time is cancelled prior to the transporter picking the children up for parenting time, this decreases trauma for the children.  It is the Parent Support Service Coordinator responsibility to inform caregivers, transporters, and the Family Services team of cancelled parenting time.

In Inclement weather, Fairfield County Protective Services maintains the discretion to cancel parenting time and transports due to road conditions.  If there is a Level 3 snow emergency in Fairfield County or in the county the child resides, there will be no transportation or parenting times. In a Level 3 snow emergency Fairfield County Protective Services will be closed.  If there is a Level 1 or Level 2 snow emergency in Fairfield County or in the county the child resides, parenting time may be cancelled due to hazardous road conditions; however, this will be determined on a case-by-case basis.  In the event Fairfield County closes during normal operating hours the Parent Support Service Coordinator is responsible for contacting parents, caregivers, transporters, and the Family Service team.

In the event you are unable to reach Parent Support Services staff, please call the main number for Fairfield County Protective Services at 740-652-7887.                

• Come prepared with a good night’s sleep and a great attitude.
•  Bring any toys, games, or food items you and your child might enjoy during the visit. Consider visit location and the ability to make, purchase or prepare foods.
•  Bring an item from home that your children and you can discuss or enjoy. Examples might include books you can read with or to your child, photos, or perhaps an item the child previously made for you.
• Plan activities with your child that you would like to do each visit. Discuss any special needs with your Parent Support Service Coordinator.
• Consider the weather and bring appropriate clothing if the visit is planned for outdoors.
• Arrive at the visit location on time.