Help make your community safer by participating in CoSA Ottawa’s fall volunteer training. Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) Ottawa works with people who have been incarcerated of sexual offences and seek CoSA’s help, voluntarily, to develop a meaningful and safe life in our community. Trained and screened volunteers and a ‘core member’ form a ‘circle’, meeting regularly to fulfill this goal, striving for No More Victims.

Volunteer Training - Fall 2023

We are running our fall training program, over five sessions by Zoom, on (mostly) Wednesdays, Oct 18 to Nov 23, 6-8pm, with a final session offered to approved volunteers. Admittance is free and open to anyone interested in learning about CoSA – attending the training does not obligate participants to become a volunteer. Participants must be a minimum age of 21 years old. A certificate will be issued to participants who complete all training sessions.

To learn more and to register, click here, or contact slove@cosa-ottawa.ca. Please share this training info widely – ‘it takes a village’!!

All sessions, except the final one, are held virtually, 6 to 8 PM.

Please fill out the Application form (in the button below) if you are interested in registering for the volunteer training program.

Volunteer Application Form

Fundamentals of Circles of Support and Accountability

Wednesday, October 18

Presenters: CoSA-Ottawa staff

• History of and research on CoSA, Circle functioning, confidentiality and limits of confidentiality
• Circle Members’ Expectations and Responsibilities; Boundaries; Reporting requirements
• Video on CoSA

Offending Behaviour and Treatment Approach

Wednesday, October 25

Presenter: Dr. Geris Serran, Psychologist, Correctional Services of Canada

Legal Controls

Wednesday, November 15

Presenter: Det. Ron McCarthy, Ottawa Police Service (High Risk Unit)

Victims’ Perspective

Wednesday, November 8

Presenter: Donna Watson-Elliott, Manager Victims’ Services, Ottawa Police Service

Assessments and Treatment at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre

Thursday, November 23

Presenter: Heather Tarnai-Feely, Social Worker, The Royal, Sexual Behaviours Clinic

Download Training Agenda PDF

Following the Basic Training (sessions #1-5), we will conduct volunteer screening (interview with two staff and a Board member; references checked). Successful applicants will be required to obtain a Police Check (cost minimized to CoSA volunteers). Approved volunteers will then proceed to the final session.

Final Session

Practical Applications of CoSA (with active and new, approved volunteers)
Wednesday, November 29
Facilitated by CoSA-Ottawa Staff
• A core member will share their story
• Discussion and Q&A with experienced volunteers and staff (common challenges, what works, working intentionally with a core member, etc.)

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