Resources
Risk Management
Screening
Does your screening process reflect the value your organization places on volunteers? Do all your volunteers require a Police Information Check (PIC)?
Screening is a process of ensuring safe and effective volunteer involvement to further the mission of your nonprofit/voluntary organization. It is about ensuring an organizational culture where volunteers are welcomed and valued. Through a planned approach to program management and screening processes, organizations create an environment that attracts and retains the right people in the right roles.
Screening can identify individuals who, based on the potential role with your organization, might cause harm to children, youth or vulnerable persons; but it is also more than this. Screening matches the right person, based on their skills, experience, interest and motivation, to the right role within your organization. It is a “process” that involves more than just PIC’s; it requires consistent communication, implementation and continues throughout the duration of the individual’s volunteer experience.
Online Screening Resource
Take a look at the Volunteer Screening Process to access tools and study best case practices for a comprehensive screening process!
Volunteer Alberta recently lead sessions across Alberta on Screening Volunteers In… not Out.
Participants discovered how to build a screening process that makes volunteers feel welcomed and valued. Participants engaged in conversations exploring the kind of culture they were creating for their volunteers. Tools provided helped volunteer managers re-think their approach to screening and discuss the importance of creating an environment that attracts and retains volunteers.
Resources
Online Screening Resource: Volunteer Screening Process
Best Practice Guidelines for Screening Volunteers: Finding the Right Match
Safe Enough
Code of Conduct
Sample Policies
Volunteer Recruitment and Screening
Article from Ontario: Police background checks of volunteers soaring - may provide a false sense of security, critic says
Other Risk Management Resources
Volunteer Police Information Check Program
This three-year pilot program, provides funding to cover the costs of obtaining police information checks (PICs) for volunteers in eligible circumstances.
The program will reduce administrative costs in the sector, enabling organizations to direct these savings to funding their core missions and delivering front-line services.
Volunteer Alberta is the Administrator of the Volunteer Police Information Check Program. Funding for the program is provided by Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, through the Safe Communities Secretariat.
To participate in the Volunteer Police Information Check Program, your organization must fill out and submit an online application, at VOAN.volunteeralberta.ab.ca
Check the website to see if your organization is eligible.
Interested in arranging for a training session for your community? Please call 780.482.3300 for details.
If you are unable to attend a session, please take a look at the Volunteer Police Information Check Program powerpoint.