• Develop a stable one on one relationship with a child/youth.
• Broaden the child’s scope of interests.
• Participate in regular outings/activities to facilitate the child’s involvement in the community.
• Model positive and appropriate interaction skills, problem solving and behaviour.
• May assist in life skills development.
• Maintain regular contact with the child/youth’s social worker.
• Immediately report to the Society staff any urgent matter of concern.
• In conjunction with the social worker, develop and carry out a positive, planned termination of the relationship.
• Volunteers must understand and commit to maintaining confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Maturity, dependability, flexibility, stability.
• Interest in and understanding of children and youth.
• Must be accepting of differences such as lifestyle, culture and values.
• Desire to make a long-term commitment.
• Understanding of and ability to provide positive modeling in a mentoring role.
• Previous experience with children/youth an asset.
• Car is an asset.
• Patience.
• Ability to plan age-appropriate events that are enjoyable, educational and recreational.

Time Requirement
Special friends are normally involved with the child/youth for a minimum of one year. Volunteer Special Friends see the child or youth anywhere from once a week to once a month, engaging them in various community outings and activities.

Opportunities to become a Special Friend are available at our Scarborough, Toronto East and West, Etobicoke, North Branch and Child and Youth Services.

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Tutor: Volunteer tutors provide assistance to children and youth who are experiencing academic difficulties. It is the role of a tutor to assist the child/youth in experiencing success in learning. Tutoring is normally conducted in the child’s residence or a nearby library.


Assignment Activities

Time Requirement
1-4 hours a week, usually during the school year/semester.

Opportunities to become a Tutor are available at our Scarborough, Toronto East and West, Etobicoke, North Branch and Child and Youth Services.

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Life Book Volunteer: For children in care, life books are permanent personal records which give them a sense of identity. Volunteers research CCAS documentation and where appropriate speak to the child/youth’s family and other significant persons in their life to obtain information for their life history as well as collect memorabilia, such as photos, letters and cards.


Assignment Activities

Time Requirement
Negotiable: Must be available during office hours Monday - Friday 9AM - 5PM.

Opportunities to become a Life Book Volunteer are available through our Child and Youth Services.

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Parent Aide: Some parents can benefit from a relationship with a volunteer who provides emotional support and helps them to strengthen their self-confidence. A volunteer may also teach life skills, provide parental relief and help connect parents, with support from CCAS staff, to services and resources in their community. A volunteer can enhance a parent’s coping abilities, by providing emotional support, concrete assistance and guidance.


Assignment Activities

• Provide support and companionship to a parent through regular contact.
• Enhance a parent’s self-confidence through a supportive one on one relationship.
• Model appropriate behaviour, coping and parenting skills.
• May provide child care relief and organize age appropriate play activities.
• May provide life skills coaching, assisting parents with such things as budgeting, household management, and support with concrete tasks such as job search skills and assistance in finding suitable housing.
• May accompany parent on various appointments in a supportive capacity.
• May assist families, with the support of CCAS staff, in accessing services and resources in their community.
• May assist with advocacy with or on behalf of the parent/Society.

Qualifications

• Ability to relate well to children and adults.
• Knowledge of or interest in learning about child development.
• Good communication and advocacy skills.
• Flexibility and acceptance of differences, such as life style, culture and values.
• Parenting experience, familiarity with community resources and use of a car are assets.
  

Time Requirement
Normally 2-4 hours a week. Bi-monthly and other arrangements can be negotiated depending on the needs of the client.

Opportunities to become a Parent Aide are available at our Scarborough, Toronto East, and West, Etobicoke and North Branch.

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Administrative Support: Volunteers provide administrative support to various departments of the Society. This support may include filing and organizing information, inputting data, compiling statistics, preparing mailings and providing telephone reception.


Assignment Activities

• Filing
• Telephone reception
• Researching, editing and organizing information
• Data input
• Mailing preparation
• Collecting and updating material
• Compiling statistics
  
  

Qualifications

• Good organization and communication skills
• Some experience in office routine
• Ability to work with others and follow direction
• Ability to use initiative and work independently
• Computer skills
• Must be dependable and responsible
  
  

Time Requirement
Minimum 3 hours per week.

Opportunities to become a an Administrative Support volunteer are available at our Scarborough, Toronto East and West, Etobicoke, North Branch, Child and Youth Services and Centralized Services.

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Driver: Volunteers use their own vehicles to provide transportation services for children and youth.  This enables them to have family visits, to attend professional appointments and/or group activities. These children may be living with their families or in a foster home. Mileage and parking expenses are reimbursed.


Assignment Activities

• Drive children to and from appointments or visits as scheduled
• Ensure child is picked up on time from scheduled pick up and drop off points and left in the care of a responsible adult at place of appointment/drop off
• Report to designated CCAS staff
• Ability to relate well to children and adults
  
  

Qualifications

• Valid Ontario Driver’s Licence
• $1 million in public liability insurance
• Patience/skill with children
• Good driving record
• Reliability and punctuality
• Car in good working order
• Accepting of differences such as lifestyle, culture and values
• Ability to use and follow a map to locate specified designations
  
  

Time Requirement
Based on personal commitment, however time availability needs to be consistent.
Options: days, evenings and weekends.
1 year minimum.

Opportunities to become a Driver are available at Centralized Services.

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Child Access Program: Child Access Program Volunteers assist CCAS staff in facilitating contact between children in the care of the Society and their birth families. The volunteer will spend one on one time with the children, creating a welcoming and safe environment. The program operates Saturdays, during the day.


Assignment Activities

• Greet children and parents when they arrive at CCAS office for their visit
• Provide assistance to parents and children at the beginning and completion of their visit
• Provide positive mentoring and support to parents and children
• Assist during the visit as specified by the supervising CCAS worker
• Provide childcare, create a welcoming environment for the child, engage them in appropriate activities should their visits be cancelled or delayed
• Report any problems during the visit to the supervising CCAS worker
• Suggest age appropriate activities as required
• Complete observation notes, utilizing a designed format, with the assistance of the Society Supervisor
  
  

Qualifications

• Experience and interest in working with families and children
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Willingness to learn the CCAS mandate and legislative authority
• Maturity, consistency and comfort in dealing with change and potentially demanding situations
• Must be accepting of differences such as lifestyle, culture and values
• Excellent observation skills
• Good written skills
  
  

Time Requirement
The program operates on Saturdays. Volunteers can choose to work morning or afternoon shifts.

Opportunities to become a Child Access Program Volunteer are available at our Scarborough, Toronto West, Etobicoke, North Branch and Child and Youth Services. .

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Team Assistant: Team Assistant Volunteers assist the team of front line workers and support staff as they carry out their work with clients and the community.


Assignment Activities

• Provide companionship and support to children in the office while they await meetings, family visits etc.
• Assist staff at conferences/meetings by greeting family members, setting up meeting room
• Assist staff in obtaining information and phone numbers of community services and resources
• Under the guidance of a social worker, assist families in locating appropriate housing
• May carry out emergency driving assignments
• Provide support to workers or clients in completing forms/applications/resumes
• Other appropriate duties as they may arise.
• May assist in supporting staff with other tasks appropriate to the skills of the volunteer.
  
  

Qualifications

• Previous Children’s Aid volunteer experience preferred.
• Valid Ontario Driver's Licence.
• Ability to work with a variety of government services an asset
• Non-judgemental attitude
• Flexible
• Ability to use initiative and work independently
• Willingness to follow direction and work as part of a team
• Good organizational skills.
• Good communication and telephone skills.
• Post-Secondary Education preferred.
  

Time Requirement

Minimum of one half day a week.

Opportunities to become a Child Access Volunteer are available at our Scarborough, Toronto East and West, North Branch and Child and Youth Services and Centralized Services.

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Life Skills Coach: Life Skills Coaches help enhance the skills of a youth in foster care in order to prepare for independence.

Assignment Activities

• With support from the caseworker assist youth in connecting with appropriate community resources
• Assist youth with job search and resume writing
• Assist independent living youth in finding appropriate housing
• Assist youth in developing budgeting skills
• Assist youth in learning to shop for groceries and cook nutritiou meals, within a budget.
• Assist special needs youth in learning transit and pedestrian skills
• Assist pregnant youth in care with prenatal support, as determined by the caseworker
• Assist young mothers in our care in basic parenting skills, as determined by the caseworker.
  

Qualifications

• Good interpersonal, communication and advocacy skills
• Ability to relate well to youth
• Patience
• Flexibility
• Acceptance of differences such as lifestyle, culture and values
• Creativity
• Access to a car is an asset
• Ability to work well on a team
• Ability to work well independently
• Post-Secondary education preferred.
  

Time Requirement
Time requirements are negotiated. Depending on the assignment, it may range from once a week to twice a month, and could be very short term or a longer term assignment, depending on the needs of the youth and the time availability of the volunteer.

Opportunities to become a Life Skills Coach are available at our Child and Youth Services.

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Social History Researcher: Social History Researchers read through a client’s file information and complete a written summary, following a designated format.


Assignment Activities

• Read through Society documentation in order to gather detailed material
• Use a PC and Microsoft Word to organize the data within a prescribed format
• May require volunteer to contact family members, where appropriate
• Work with caseworker on revisions of text
  
  

Qualifications

• Excellent English language skills
• Excellent reading and writing skills
• Computer Skills
• Knowledge of Sociology or Psychology is an asset
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to attend to detail and accurately record findings
• Understanding of and commitment to maintaining confidentiality
• Maturity and ability to deal with emotionally distressing material
• Ability to appreciate differences in lifestyle, values and culture
• Post-Secondary education preferred
• Ability to work well on a team and follow directions from staff
• Ability to take initiative and work independently
  
  

Time Requirement

Minimum one half day a week during office hours Mon. to Fri. 9am to 5pm.

Opportunities to become a Social History Researcher are available at our Scarborough, Toronto East and West, Etobicoke, North Branch and Child and Youth Services.

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Public Relations Volunteer: Assist our Public Relations Department with various events, fundraising activities, mail outs and other administrative tasks.

Assignment Activities

• Filing and organizing information
• Assisting with mailings
• Updating address lists
• Assisting in organizing events and greeting and directing participants
• Assisting in fundraising activities
• Collecting and updating material
• Inputting data into computer
• Other duties as agreed upon in the Volunteer Agreement
  
  

Qualifications

• Excellent English skills
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Ability to use initiative and work independently or on a team
• Must be dependable and responsible
• Excellent telephone skills
• Must be creative and sociable
  
  

Time Requirement
Negotiable. Can be weekly, monthly or for short time specific events.

Opportunities to become a Public Relations Volunteer are available through Centralized Services.

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Adoption Social History Preparation: To assist with the preparation of non-identifying social histories for individuals who have been adopted through our Society.


Assignment Activities

• Research Microfiched files in order to gather specific detailed material
• Use a PC and Microsoft Word to organize the data within a prescribed format
• Assist staff with other administrative tasks appropriate to the skill of the volunteer.
  

Qualifications

• Post-Secondary education preferred
• Excellent writing skills
• Some knowledge of adoption is an asset
• Computer skills
• Ability to attend to detail and accurately record findings
• Understanding of and commitment to maintaining confidentiality
• Maturity and ability to deal with emotionally distressing material
• Ability to appreciate differences such as lifestyle, values and culture.
  
  
  

Time Requirement