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No discussion of the Canadian Mental Health Association Cochrane
Timiskaming Branch would be complete unless it acknowledges
the importance of volunteers in our organization. Our volunteers
operate under the same philosophy and mandate as our staff,
and provide support to all aspects of Branch activity. Volunteers
receive training and support through a coordinator and gain
experience in a wide variety or areas, resulting in the development
of new skills and relationships.
Our volunteers come from all walks of life, and include members
of the community at large, as well as consumers and survivors
who are looking for opportunities to contribute and grow.
At any one time, there are about 100 volunteer workers participating
in the program, of which about 40% are consumers of the CMHA
services. This program has a significant therapeutic value
and the agency benefits as well.
Our volunteer coordinator provides volunteer screening and
a criminal reference check, to provide for the security of
all participants in the program, and then conducts a pre-implementation
interview to help place volunteers effectively in the organization.
Volunteers work in many areas, including sitting on our Board
of Directors and Advisory Committees; providing fund-raising
services; helping to improve the quality of life of our consumers
and survivors by providing companionship and service; and
helping with the administrative work of the Branch office.
There is a lot of turnover among consumers in our volunteer
program, but this is a good thing, as consumers who gain confidence
and new skills through volunteer work find employment in the
mainstream community.
Our volunteer coordinator works in partnership with our community
support workers, the Assertive Community Treatment, (ACT)
Team, and the women's shelter to find and place volunteers.
We also place a lot of students who wish to pursue careers
in mental health or policing, and are creating new initiatives
for volunteers in community education.
Our investment in our volunteer services program has been
rewarded with a wealth of human experience and caring, and
our volunteers have been rewarded with personal satisfaction,
personal growth and the development of lifelong friendships.
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