Volunteer Application Form

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Peel CAS! Before you proceed with the application, please review our Volunteer Requirements and Code of Ethics. All volunteers are also required to read and understand our AODA Handbook. Please read this document before proceeding with your application. Some questions in this application form relate to those guidelines.

You will need contact information for two references who have known you for at least two years and are not family members.

The Peel Children’s Aid Society recognizes that a safe and healthy work environment for our staff, students, volunteers and children, youth and families is essential for the work that we do. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Agency also has a duty to take every reasonable precaution for the safety of others in the workplace. Our staff are mandated by legislation to protect children, youth and families, and this often places them in direct contact with others (including in their homes), many of who are more vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus due to their social position. For these reasons, Peel CAS has implemented a COVID-19 Immunization Policy, which will complement other workplace health and safety measures (including PPE, hand hygiene and social distancing) to provide a high level of protection against COVID-19 and related variants. Under this policy, all volunteers are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and must provide proof of vaccination upon approval.

1 Contact information
2 Education and Experience
3 Availability
4 References
5 AODA Assessment
6 Integrated Accessibility Standards
7 Confidentiality Agreement

Contact Information

Last name*

First name*

Middle initial

Gender:

Male
Female
Other

Address*

City*

Postal code

Nearest Major Intersection

How did you hear about us?

How long have you lived in Peel Region?

Cell phone number

Home phone number

Email address

Emergency contact name

Relationship

Emergency contact phone number

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Education and Experience

Employer

Do you have a driver's licence?

Education level:

University
College
High school
Other... This choice will expand a text box

Occupation

If yes, do you have access to a car?

Please list past or current volunteer experience

Describe your relevant experience

Please list your interests, hobbies, and other activities

Why do you want to volunteer with Peel CAS?

List any languages you speak, other than English

Please note whether your knowledge of the language is spoken, written, or both.

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Availability

Which roles are you most interested in? Please rank your first, second and third choices in order of preference.

First choice

Second choice

Third choice

What age group would you prefer to work with?

Child
Youth
No preference

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References

Please list the names and complete addresses of two people whom you have known for at least two years. Please provide names of individuals who have knowledge of your interactions with children. Please do not list family members as references.

First Reference

Name

Phone number

Relationship to volunteer

Email address

How long has this reference known you?

Second Reference

Name

Phone number

Relationship to volunteer

Email address

How long has this reference known you?

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AODA Assessment

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is a law passed with the goal of creating standards to improve accessibility across the province. Under the AODA, a set of standards have been developed to move organizations in Ontario forward in accessibility. The standards will set requirements in a number of key areas and will be reviewed at least every five years and new requirements will be added.

The Customer Service standard was the first standard developed under AODA. All organizations that provide services to the public, which includes the Peel Children’s Aid Society, must comply with a series of requirements. One requirement is to train our staff, volunteers, and any other people who interact with the public on our behalf, on a number of topics outlined in the customer service standard.

Before you complete this section, please ensure that you have read the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Handbook (link to pdf above). The following questions are to confirm your understanding of the principles and practices outlined in the handbook. You are required to achieve a minimum grade of 7 out of 10. If you do not pass the assessment, you will need to retake it before you will be eligible to volunteer with Peel CAS.

The first of the five standards under the AODA is:

Customer Service Standard
Transportation
Employment
Built Environment

The goal of the Act is to make Ontario accessible by:

2012
2020
2025
2015

When speaking to a person with a hearing loss, you should speak directly to:

The support person
The person with the hearing loss
Someone who knows sign language
None of the above

Which key principle is a part of the legislation?

Dignity
Independence
Equal Opportunity
All of the above

The following is true about service animals:

You should never touch service animals
Service animals are not pets
It is the client’s responsibility to care and supervise their service animal
All of the above

The following is an example of an assistive device for persons with hearing loss:

Hearing aid
Teletypewriter
Magnifier
Both hearing aid and teletypewriter

True or False, a disability can be sometimes obvious and sometimes not obvious?

True
False

The disabilities covered by the Act include:

Vision Loss
Speech or Language Impairments
Learning Disabilities
All of the above

People with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities may use the following as an assistive device:

Communication board
Digital audio player
White cane
All of the above

A support animal that retrieves and prompts a person to take medicine is a:

Guide dog
Psychiatric service dog
Hearing ear dog
Seizure dog

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Integrated Accessibility Standards

Peel Children’s Aid Society is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible and inclusive community for our employees, volunteers, foster parents and clients. To do this, we must recognize and acknowledge the diverse needs of this group, including the needs of persons with disabilities.

On July 1, 2011, the Integrated Accessibility Standards (IAS), Ontario Regulation 191/11 under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, was enacted into law. Under section 7 of the IAS, Peel CAS is required to train all of its employees, volunteers, foster parents and third-party contractors on the Regulation and the Ontario Human Rights Code, as it relates to persons with disabilities.

Please read the following, then click the checkbox below to acknowledge that you have read this information.

1. General Requirements

Establishment of Policies, Procedures, and Best Practices

This document provides direction and guidance to staff, volunteers and foster parents on how Peel CAS will comply with the IAS and its various requirements. It can be found on the Accessibility for Ontarian Act page of the About Us section on Peel CAS’ website.

Accessibility Plans

Peel Children’s Aid Society's Multi-Year Plan provides an overview of the actions staff, volunteers, foster parents and third party contractors will undertake to meet all of Peel CAS’ compliance obligations. You can review our Accessibility principles on our website.

Procuring or Acquiring Accessible Goods, Services, or Facilities

To ensure that we are receiving accessible goods and services from third-party contractors, accessibility criteria has been incorporated into the general terms and conditions that accompany any Request for Proposal (RFP) bid or tender developed by Peel CAS.

Training

In order to train all employees, volunteers, foster parents and third-party contractors on the IAS and the Ontario Human Rights Code, Peel CAS is providing this information for you to view.

2. Information and Communications

Feedback

Receiving feedback on the accessibility of Peel CAS’ services, and facilities is an effective way to ensure we are meeting the needs of employees, volunteers, foster parents and clients with disabilities. The public can submit their feedback in person, by phone, by email, or in writing.

Accessible Formats

Peel CAS is only required to provide its documents in an accessible format upon request. The Request Form for Accessible Formats needs to be filled out whenever a request is received.

Communication Supports

An American Sign Language interpreter is an example of a communication support. Upon receiving a request, Peel CAS is obligated to provide communication supports for any of its programs, events, or services. Peel CAS’ Communications Department is responsible for arranging communication supports.

Accessible Websites and Web Content

By January 1, 2014, all new websites, or sites undergoing a significant refresh, and any content being posted to these sites, must comply with Level A of the Worldwide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

What Can You Do?

As a volunteer, upon request, you can inform your colleagues and the clients you support about the availability of services, such as American Sign Language interpreters, and accessible formats. Encourage them to submit feedback and requests via the appropriate forms to Peel CAS. If you have any questions, please contact the Volunteer Programs Department, Volunteer Coordinator, Carol-Ann Fox at 905-363-6131, ext. 1423 or email her at cfox@peelcas.org.

Did You Know?

An accessible format could include large print, Braille, audio, plain language, or electronic formats such as an accessible PDF or Word document. The Accessibility Feedback and Request for Accessible Formats forms can be found on the Accessibility for Ontarian Act page of the About Us section of Peel CAS’ website.

As a Volunteer, You Can:

Request to have an individualized accommodation and/or emergency response plan developed, or an accessible format or communication support for any information provided to volunteers. Speak to the Volunteer Coordinator for more information on how to make a request.

3. Ontario Human Rights Code

Our Legal Obligation

Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, Peel Children’s Aid has a legal obligation to accommodate any person with a disability, regardless of whether they are an employee, volunteer, foster parent or client. It is important to provide accessible formats, communication supports, or workplace accommodations in a timely and efficient manner upon request.

Please check the box below to acknowledge that you have read the Integrated Accessibility Standards above.

Yes, I have read the Integrated Accessibility Standards.

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Acknowledgement and Signature

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

The information I have provided is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

In applying to the Volunteer Program and as part of the screening process, I agree that Peel CAS will contact the references provided and I agree to undergo a police vulnerable sector check. Upon approval, I agree to provide two pieces of photo identification. I acknowledge that a child welfare check will also be conducted prior to beginning my volunteer service. I also agree to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

Signature*

Date

Peel CAS Volunteer Programs Department reserves the right of final decision on the suitability of a volunteer candidate. A volunteer may be withdrawn from a program or removed from a case at the discretion of Peel CAS.

Please note: All information remains confidential and will not be disclosed to third parties without your consent.

Peel Children's Aid Society

25 Capston Drive
Mississauga, ON L5W 0H3