Moss Program
The Red Spruce Moss Program is a supported and guided family time program (described often as supervised visits) grounded in relationships, and healing. It offers a safe, structured, and culturally rooted space where parents and children can reconnect, practice being together in a good way, and work toward safe reunification when it is possible. Each session is shaped by clear goals, trauma-informed practice, and gentle coaching so that families are not only observed, but truly supported in growing their skills, confidence, and connection.
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We chose the name Moss with intention. In the forest, moss grows quietly along the ground, softening hard places, holding moisture, and creating a soft bed where new life can take root. It thrives even in shaded and difficult spaces, slowly restoring the land. In the same way, the Red Spruce Moss Program aims to soften some of the hardest parts of the child welfare journey. Through support, predictable routines, and meaningful activities that honour family, we create a gentler place for families to stand while they rebuild trust and grow new ways of being together.
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Our Moss visits follow a 3-hour timeline designed to support both children and parents. We begin with a 30-minute check-in where the Moss worker and parent explore how the parent is feeling that day, review any updates or needs, and choose a few simple goals for the visit. This is followed by about 2 hours of supported family time, where the parent and child spend time together in planned activities while the worker offers quiet, in-the-moment coaching, encouragement, and help with regulation if needed. We close with a brief debrief (up to 30 minutes), focusing on what went well, what felt hard, and what the parent wants to keep practicing. A behavior-focused visit summary is then completed to reflect the child’s experience and the parent’s growth over time, which linked to the overall safety and reunification plan.
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The Red Spruce Moss Program is different from regular supervised visits because it is designed as a coaching and healing space, not just a monitoring service. Moss workers support parents in real time with gentle guidance, grounding, and feedback while they spend time with their children, using simple visit goals to focus on safety, connection, and skill-building. The approach is trauma-informed, non-shaming, and culturally rooted, with reports that highlight the child’s experience and the parent’s growth, rather than just recording what happened.