Voices for Ethical Exchange Spaces
Open Door Watch is Aware
- Emotional and Psychological Harm: Children being retraumatized or placed in uncomfortable situations during court-ordered exchanges.
- Silencing of Concerns: Families facing retaliation, alienation, or loss of credibility in court after voicing legitimate concerns about their child’s wellbeing.
Open Door Watch is Advocating
Right now in Tennessee—and many other states—there are no formal standards for who can operate a child exchange or supervised visitation center. That means:
- No license is required.
- No background in child psychology, trauma, or family systems is needed.
- No inspections, no oversight, and no accountability to any state board or licensing agency.
In some cases, the only requirement is owning a building and declaring it a center. This opens the door for people with no relevant experience to supervise.
Open Door Watch is Documenting
- Unqualified Oversight: Individuals running exchange or visitation centers with little to no formal training or credentials.
- Inappropriate Contact: Adults in positions of authority violating personal boundaries by touching or interacting with children against their wishes.
- Courtroom Influence Without Accountability: Center staff who are not psychologists or trained professionals making biased statements or reports that influence family court decisions.