Separation and Custody

SEPARATION AND CUSTODY

TOPP KIDS understands the diverse needs of families and strives to ensure that the needs of the children come first. Their safety, well- being, and mental health are key to building strong childhood and family foundations. We try to work closely with all family members to ensure that shared parenting is equal by communicating issues or concerns with all parents. We recognize the important roles that both parents/guardians play in the development of their children.

TOPP KIDS Educators are not to engage in or placed in a situation where they are seen to be “taking sides” in disputes amongst parents/guardians. Instances where Educators are asked to supply documentation or there are communication issues between parents/guardians, Educators are to refer the matter to the Program Coordinator. This is considered confidential information between TOPP KIDS and adults.

For the safety of TOPP KIDS children, we have the following policies in place:

• Separation, divorce, step parenting is respected.
• In the case of separation when one parent wants the program to withhold their child from the other natural parent, the parent should seek legal counsel as TOPP KIDS will not withhold a child from a natural parent without a court custody agreement on file.
• Information obtained from one household will not be shared with the other household without consent unless it directly impacts the safety or well-being of your child. All personal information is protected under our Confidentiality Policy.
• In the case where one parent has legal custody, the educators will release the child only to the people authorized by the parent. A copy of the custody agreement must be provided to the Registrations and Accounts Manager (registrations@toppkids.com) at time of registration and whenever a court agreement is updated.
• In the case of a court order shared access agreement, TOPP KIDS requires a copy of that court document. TOPP KIDS recommends a monthly schedule of who is picking up the child on what days. We would suggest both parents sign it. TOPP KIDS will provide that opportunity to help minimize conflict.
• If a parent shows up to pick up the child and it is not their scheduled time the appropriate parent will be contacted. TOPP KIDS will abide by the terms within a legal court document.
• Educators are to call 911 if a parent becomes hostile/aggressive.

Because our programs take child safety very seriously, your child will only be released to the person/s listed on the registration form unless otherwise advised in writing.

It is policy for TOPP KIDS’ educators to ask for photo identification of all adults on site that the Educators do not know.

Upon receipt of a Court custody agreement, the Program Coordinator will ensure that all Educators are aware of the document which will be kept in the child/ren’s file.

TOPP KIDS will not:

• Supply documentation relating to a child for the purpose of influencing courts to consider one parent/guardian over the other as the custodial parent/guardian.
• Engage in communication, written or verbal, about one parent/guardian to the other
• Communicate information to one parent/guardian on behalf of the other. It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to ensure that an adequate communication flow exists amongst them.

TOPP KIDS will:

• Keep a copy of all custody/access documentation at the program site in Childs file.
• Supply each custodial parent/guardian with information about the program and their child’s involvement. The signature of either parent/guardian for the purposes of registration, outings and field trips, attendance records, and behaviour/incident documentation will be considered acceptable.