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Ontario Screening Initiative

Volunteer Canada has worked in the area of volunteer screening since 1994 when it was selected by the federal government to lead the National Education Campaign on Screening (NECS). Since then, a number of provincial governments have developed their own programs to complement federal screening campaigns. The Government of Ontario (through the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration) was the first province to commit to such an initiative.

The Ontario Screening Initiative (OSI) was an innovative and intensive three-year pilot project designed to change organizational attitudes and behaviours regarding screening. Between 1999 and 2002, the project, founded on a voluntary sector-government partnership, helped organizations adopt screening practices and policies to protect children and other vulnerable groups that their programs serve.
 
A second phase of the Initiative broadened the program's reach by engaging Ontario's diverse communities, and worked with screening partners to expand the program's grassroots impact.
 
OSI Objectives:
    1. to raise awareness on screening;
    2. to create leadership on screening within consortium members' organizational structures;
    3. to provide training and support to community-based branches or organizational affiliates of the provincial consortium partners; and
    4. to increase access to resources, materials and tools (i.e. Internet, public libraries).
 
The legacy of the OSI is the adoption of volunteer screening as a standard operating procedure by an increasing number of Ontario charities and nonprofit agencies.
 
Achievements:
The Ontario Screening Initiative promoted the importance and benefit of screening individuals in position of trust, and helped Ontario Screening Consortium leaders work with their members to develop and implement effective and precise screening strategies.
 
OSI has benefited:
    •    over 500,000 Ontario families who support their communities through their places of worship;
    •    more that 5,000 Ontario residents who lead sport programs and activities;
    •    10,000 recreation practitioners and recreation volunteers;
    •    360 organizations serving vulnerable adults;
    •    550 municipalities and townships throughout the province, including rural communities.
 
 
Tools, Materials & Resources
 
Screening posters and booklets:
OSI Call Centre sheets - Call Centre provided over the phone information and fax back option to callers with information on Safe Steps, a ten step process designed to identify any person, volunteer or staff, who could harm children or vulnerable people
 
Created a congregational brochure introducing the Ontario Screening Initiative to Ontario's faith communities
Playing it Safe: Safe Steps Volunteer Screening Program
Rural Supplement - Volunteer Screening Workbook - click here to purchase http://www.volunteer.ca/marketplace - click here to download.
 
Directors' Liability: A Discussion Paper on Legal Liability, Risk Management and the Role of Directors in Non-Profit Organizations
 
Annotated bibliography created by the Ministry of Citizenship of suggested readings related to screening
 
The legacy of the Ontario Screening Initiative is the adoption of volunteer screening as standard operating procedure for an increasing number of Ontario charities and non-profit organizations. This initiative has made an important contribution to the quality of life of the people in Ontario - a safer environment for volunteering and a way for our communities to prosper socially and economically through the many contributions of volunteers and voluntary organizations.