volunteer police information check program information
DESCRIPTION
Volunteer Alberta's information session about the new Volunteer Police Information Check Program. http://voan.volunteeralberta.ab.caTRANSCRIPT
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April 2009
THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK
PROGRAM Information Session
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
Agenda
1. Introduction
2. Screening
3. Volunteer Police Information Check Program
4. Questions & Wrap Up
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
Screening
Screening is about ensuring a “right fit” for the volunteer and your organization.
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
Screening
Screening is an ongoing process designed to identify any person – whether paid or unpaid, staff or volunteer – who might harm children, youth or other vulnerable persons or who may cause harm to the organization.
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
Screening
10 Safe Steps to Screening
1. Determine the risk
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
Screening
Determine the RiskFOR EACH VOLUNTEER ROLE IN YOUR ORGANIZATION
• 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
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
Screening
10 Safe Steps to Screening
1. Determine the risk2. Write a clear position description3. Establish a formal recruitment process
4. Use an application form5. Conduct interviews6. Follow up with references7. Request a PIC or other relevant checks
8. Conduct orientation and training sessions9. Supervise and Evaluate10. Follow up with program participants
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
Screening
Ongoing Screening Activities
• Probation Period• Buddy System• Random Checks• Telephone Check-in• Observation• Feedback• Client / Family Check-in• Support Sessions
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
Screening
Screening is about an investment in the relationship that your organization has with
people – paid and unpaid.
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION
CHECK PROGRAM
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
Who?
• Premier Ed Stelmach and the Government of Alberta has launched the Volunteer Police Information Check Program
• Funding is provided by Alberta Culture & Community Spirit, through the Safe Communities Secretariat.
• Volunteer Alberta is the Administrator of the program.
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
Why?
• Significant amount of money spent by Alberta nonprofit/voluntary sector organizations and individual volunteers to obtain PICs.
• These administrative costs divert operational funding away from the core services of organizations.
• These costs serve as a barrier to recruiting volunteers.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
Example 3
Claresholm Animal Hospital would like to apply for a VOAN in order to get free police information checks for their volunteers.
However, Claresholm RCMP currently does not charge for PICs for volunteers; thus the Claresholm Animal Hospital would not be eligible for a VOAN.
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
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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.
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
What if I am not approved?
If your organization’s application is not approved, your organization can appeal the decision.
Appeal options will be discussed at that time.
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
This program does NOT…
• Apply to every nonprofit/voluntary organization in the province
• Change the way the sector currently applies for PICs
• Impact any existing arrangements that nonprofit/voluntary sector organizations may have with their local police agencies regarding PICs for volunteers.
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
Question 1
Q: Do individual volunteers need a VOAN?
A: • No, VOAN is assigned to a nonprofit/voluntary sector
organization. The VOAN can be used only by the organization to which it is assigned.
• The organization must use this VOAN when requesting PICs for volunteers in eligible circumstances
• To ensure accountability, the VOAN must be presented alongside the organization’s name at the time a PIC request is made to a police agency.
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
Question 2
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.
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
Question 3
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.
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THE VOLUNTEER POLICE INFORMATION CHECK PROGRAM
Question 4
Q: What exactly does this mean for my volunteers?
A: If an organization is eligible and receives a VOAN, that VOAN will be given to the volunteer to record on their PIC request form.