SCREENING IN… NOT OUT!SCREENING IN… NOT OUT!Re-thinking The Screening Process Re-thinking The Screening Process

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• Listen loudlyListen loudly

• Respect the learning of Respect the learning of othersothers

• Everyone has something Everyone has something to contributeto contribute

• Take responsibility for Take responsibility for your own needsyour own needs

• Breaks will be providedBreaks will be provided

• Questions are welcomeQuestions are welcome

• Conversation about the Conversation about the topic is encouragedtopic is encouraged

Agenda

Agenda

Are You Ready? Are You Ready?

Determining the RiskDetermining the Risk

Screening ContinuumScreening Continuum

10 Safe Steps to Screening10 Safe Steps to Screening

Wrap UpWrap Up

Are

You R

eady?

Are

You R

eady?Conducting an Organizational

Readiness Assessment

Engagin

gEngagin

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ople

People

Screening is aboutthe investment in the

relationship that your organization has with people – paid and unpaid!

Dete

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ing

Dete

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the R

isk

the R

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Level of Risk is dependent upon:

• The client or individual participating

• The person (staff or volunteer) administering the activity

• The level of supervision available

• The setting of the activity

• The type of activity

Duty

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Care

Duty

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Care

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Care

Sta

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Care

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tion o

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ust

Est

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Est

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Boundari

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Boundari

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Developing a Screening Developing a Screening ContinuumContinuum

A female volunteer reading buddy assists a female 10 year old child with her reading. The activity takes place in the public library. The supervisor is always present.

Conduct

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Conduct

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Ass

ess

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Ass

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Now

Consi

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Now

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This

…This

…

A male volunteer A male volunteer reading buddy assists a reading buddy assists a female 10 year old with female 10 year old with a disability with her a disability with her reading. The activity reading. The activity takes place in the back takes place in the back corner room of the corner room of the public library. The public library. The supervisor checks in supervisor checks in periodically. The periodically. The volunteer attended volunteer attended most of the training. most of the training.

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In small groups, review the In small groups, review the scenarioscenario

Consider the following Consider the following questions:questions:

•How do you handle this How do you handle this situation?situation?

•How is this a screening issue?How is this a screening issue?

•What are the boundary issues?What are the boundary issues?

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10 S

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Scr

eenin

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gWhatWhat MUSTMUST we do?we do?

What What SHOULDSHOULD we do?we do?

What What CANCAN we we do?do?

10 Safe Steps to 10 Safe Steps to ScreeningScreening

1. Determine 1. Determine the Riskthe Risk

2. Write a clear 2. Write a clear position Descriptionposition Description

3. Establish a 3. Establish a recruitment processrecruitment process

4. Use an 4. Use an application formapplication form

5. Conduct 5. Conduct InterviewsInterviews

6. Follow-up with 6. Follow-up with ReferencesReferences

7. Request a Police Record 7. Request a Police Record Check/and other checks Check/and other checks where relevantwhere relevant

THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK

PROGRAM

THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM

What?• Three year pilot program, announced April 8,

2009

• Provides funding to cover costs of obtaining police information checks for volunteers in eligible circumstances

• Application process where organizations apply for a Volunteer Organization Authorization Number (VOAN), which will be used on PIC forms

THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM

How to Apply…

To participate in the VPIC Program, your organization must fill out and submit an online application at:

http://VOAN.volunteeralberta.ab.ca

Volunteer Alberta will assess the application and determine eligibility.

THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM

What makes me eligible?• The organization must perform a community

service in Alberta;• The organization must be a registered

nonprofit organization under the Alberta Societies Act, the Alberta Business Corporations Act, Part 9 of the Alberta Companies Act, or a Special Act of the Alberta Legislature; and

• The services provided by the organization involves volunteers in eligible circumstances.

THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM

What are ‘eligible circumstances’?

…those who volunteer with individuals who are at greater risk of being harmed than the general population because of:

• age (those under age 18, and those 65 years of age and older); or

• disability (including a physical or mental disability, or a mental illness);

and the individuals the volunteer engages with are:

• in a position of dependence on others; or• in the care of persons in a position of authority or trust

relative to them.

THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM

In addition…

In order to be eligible for a VOAN, your organization must be located in a community that currently charges for police information checks for volunteers.

Volunteer Alberta has no say about which communities do and do not charge for volunteer

police information checks.

THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM

Example 1

Jesse wishes to volunteer as a “Big Brother” with Big Brothers Big Sisters. In this capacity, Jesse would be spending time with a child who is under 18 years of age. Jesse would also be in a position of authority or trust relative to the child.

Jesse therefore would be volunteering in eligible circumstances. Big Brothers Big Sisters can use its VOAN to obtain a PIC for Jesse free of charge.

THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM

Example 2

Sandra is a retired accountant who wishes to volunteer her time with Meals on Wheels, providing help with the organization’s finances.

Although Meals on Wheels may wish to obtain a PIC for Sandra, Sandra would not be volunteering in eligible circumstances.

THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM

VOAN

If approved, your organization will receive official documentation, including a Volunteer Organization Authorization Number, or VOAN.

The VOAN is a confidential identifier that is unique to each organization.

THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM

Question

Q: I am the Executive Director of a provincial organization. Can I apply for a VOAN on behalf of each local subsidiary of my organization?

A: No. A VOAN is a unique identifier that is to be used by each local organization and cannot be distributed by a provincial level organization to its local chapters. Local sections of a provincial or national organization must each apply on their own behalf. 

THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM

Question

Q: Will this program increase the time it takes to obtain a PIC?

A: No. As part of the pilot program, police agencies will establish a target of processing PICs for eligible volunteers (accompanied by a VOAN) within 7 working days of the request.

FingerprintingAn RCMP policy enhancement (July 2010)

searches volunteers against a convicted and pardoned sex offenders on the RCMP Canadian Police Information Center but search queries only useDate-of-Birth’ and ‘Gender’ as determinants.

THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM

Solution?

LiveScan

THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM

8. Conduct an Orientation and 8. Conduct an Orientation and Training SessionTraining Session

9. Supervise 9. Supervise and Evaluateand Evaluate

10. Follow up with 10. Follow up with program participantsprogram participants

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Case 1: Youth Group/Altar Server Coordinator’s Case  

The Knights of Columbus have a tradition of thanking Altar Servers. They organize an afternoon of socializing with lunch and tickets to a hockey game downtown. They provide lunch at the church and carpool the kids downtown to the game and back home again.

Case 2: Pastoral Care Coordinator’s Case:

 Parish pastoral care volunteers visit frail clients in their own home. Usually a spouse, home care nurse or other person is present, but not always.

What are the risks for each scenario?

Low, medium or high?

What screening requirements would you recommend?

What could be changed to reduce the risk?

Wrap UpWrap Up

Final Thoughts Final Thoughts QuestionsQuestions

EvaluationsEvaluations

Contact Us!Contact Us!

780-482-3300 780-482-3300 ororToll Free1-866-915-6336Toll Free1-866-915-6336

www.volunteeralberta.ab.cawww.volunteeralberta.ab.ca