Ontario's voluntary sector makes an important contribution to the quality of life in this province. Screening helps create a safer environment for volunteering that benefits us all. Screening is about safety. Screening may include reference checks, job orientation, training, supervision and monitoring, as well as police record checks. The OSI will help volunteer groups adopt broad, ongoing screening practices that may include police record checks where appropriate.
Community organizations are responsible for the actions of their employees and their volunteers.
This responsibility increases when people in positions of trust work with children, seniors or vulnerable adults. Groups that carefully screen their employees and volunteers enhance the safety of those in their care. The Consortium also shares its screening experience and responds to common challenges. To effectively champion screening and deliver the OSI within their sectors, they have each developed a precise strategy to address the specific needs of their membership. The leadership of the Consortium, along with the grassroots approach of the Ontario Screening Initiative, support the development of screening policies, practices and resources that build on existing expertise to successfully address the screening issues faced by community groups in Ontario.