Monday, July 15, 2002
Ohio court orders ‘virtual visitation" between dad and his children
A story published today by the Milford Daily News reports that an Ohio judge has ordered a "virtual visitation" via computer hookup between a Canton father and his three children once they move to New York with their mother. The father said he will appeal the ruling for the twice-weekly video conferences that are in addition to two weekend visits a month.
With a similar custody arrangement granted by a Massachusetts judge last August, the reality of a legal trend that has kids sandwiching their parents' faces between computer games and instant messaging may be just around the corner.
Is it a viable solution to the contact and communication crunch that tugs at families of divorce?
Franklin's Karen Ericson, divorced for more than three years from the father of her two children, says it depends on the children involved.
"Forget mom or dad, the child's best interest is always the thread I hold onto," said Ericson, who shares custody of her 12-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter with her ex-husband, who lives in the same town.
"The bottom line is to allow any and all contact with both parents, but be cautious in selecting what's best for the individual child," Ericson said.
Dr. Beverly Scannell, a family counselor in Milford with 30-plus years experience as a therapist, agrees.
"The goal is to keep both parents in proximity to the kids. The more we think outside the box to attend to the needs of the children, the better," said Scannell, who advocated virtual visitation as a supplement to - not a replacement for - physical visitation in most cases.
Ideas to help children better adjust to divorce should be tried and reassessed, Scannell said.
Michelle Raymond, an attorney specializing in divorce and family mediation with the Franklin firm of Gillmore, Rees, Carlson, and Cataldo, is not so sure virtual visitation is a bad thing.
"When a parent moves out of state, it's hard on the parent staying behind. With virtual visitation, it's not the same quality as physical contact but it allows more time and access between the child and the absent parent. I wouldn't consider it a bad thing. I can see the added benefit of supplementing the actual physical visitation and lessening the effects of the removal for the children and the distanced parent," she said.
