One of our main mandates is to strengthen the community in Ottawa. That means offering counselling services to everybody who lives here, but it also means encouraging people within the community to get involved. With the whole community working together to provide support for each other, there’s no saying what we can’t achieve.
We often have opportunities for volunteering with Ottawa Family Services. Along with volunteering at our events, we have ongoing opportunities with our Supervised Access Program and our Family & Schools Together program. If you’re interested in volunteering with Family Services Ottawa in the future, please fill out an application at volunteer.familyservicesottawa.org.
The Supervised Access program would not exist without the commitment and time given by volunteers from the community at large. Volunteers are carefully screened and trained. The volunteers stay close to hear comments, and will intervene if inappropriate comments are being made or questions are being asked that are making the child feel uncomfortable.
Time commitment
2 to 4 hours every two weeks
Visits take place on Wednesday evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays
Tasks
Help ensure children’s safety and comfort
Observe visits, listen to the conversations, and intervene if required
Write notes about what was observed
Skills Required
Patience and compassion
Ability to maintain a neutral point of view
Ability to respect confidentiality
If you are interested in volunteering with the Supervised Access Program, please complete your application at volunteer.familyservicesottawa.org
E-mail: sposthuma@familyservicesottawa.org
Phone: (613)725-3601
Fax: (613)725-5651
Mail: FSFO SAP Program c/o Sarah Posthuma, 312 Parkdale Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4X5
F&ST brings families together at school for an evening of communicating, connecting, and fun. The program helps children succeed at school and at home, and it helps parents connect with each other and their communities.
Time Commitment: 3-4 hour a week, from 4:15 to 8:00, on 8 consecutive evenings.
We strongly believe in the power of discourse to produce ideas that improve the lives of people within the community. That’s why from time to time we invite community members and leaders to meet informally to discuss changes, strategies for action, new initiatives, and other reflections on the state of the family. These roundtable discussions form the basis of a “think tank” which can help create joint projects that make sense for the whole community.
Another great way to get involved is to join an Ottawa Family Services committee. It’s a great way to share your ideas with us and help get them implemented. For more information contact us at intake@familyservicesottawa.org.
