Opinion ID: 2498669
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Denial of unsupervised visitation

Text: Paula argues that under AS 47.10.080(p), OCS was required to provide her with the reasons for denying her visitation with the children and inform her of her right to request a hearing on that decision. OCS and the GAL respond that Paula was not denied visitation but rather was denied unsupervised visits. OCS maintains that it took immediate steps to enable continued visitation, but Paula failed to follow through with supervised visits, despite the availability of volunteer supervisors from Gulkana. OCS asserts that it was Paula's complete lack of engagement and her own conduct [that] caused the termination of visitation, so the notice requirement was not triggered. Alaska Statute 47.10.080(p) requires OCS to provide reasonable visitation to family members, and, where visitation is denied, the department shall inform the ... family member of a reason for the denial and of the... family member's right to request a review hearing. The master did not make specific findings regarding the visitation, presumably because the hearing was to address OCS's placement denial. However, the master understood that Paula was permitted to have supervised visits and noted that Paula had failed to pursue visitation supervised by the Gulkana volunteers. Paula does not dispute that supervised visits were offered and even admits to the difficulties in trying to schedule the visits. Because Paula was not denied reasonable visitation, there was no requirement to provide notice under AS 47.10.080(p).