Recruitment and Screening 

People who indicate an interest in becoming crisis support volunteers will be screened by VCARS - Lanark 

County before being accepted for training. Preferred character qualities include: 

• dependability  

• maturity (18 years or older)

• resourcefulness

• stability in fulfilling commitments

• ability to take direction

• good judgment

• calmness in dealing with crisis

• ability to put the needs of others first

• non-judgmental in dealing with a variety of people and situations

• ability to maintain confidentiality

• empathy

• knowledge of different languages and cultures is considered an asset

• a value base that is compatible with VCARS - Lanark County

Individuals are recruited from the community and it is expected that they will successfully meet each of the 

following requirements prior to being accepted for volunteer training:

• Complete volunteer application form
• Have access to an automobile
• Possess a clear driving record and valid driver’s license 
• Attend an interview by a panel or committee 
• Consent to a release of information enabling police to perform                                                                 criminal records checks and vulnerable sector screening to                                                                       obtain clearance

• Provide three references – one family and two from other sources (employment, volunteer, or friend) 
• Candidate should have nothing before the courts
• Candidate should not have been victimized in the last year

If these requirements are successfully met, the screening committee will select individuals to be accepted into 

the crisis support volunteer training program, reminding the volunteer candidate of the following:  

• The evaluation of individual volunteer skills and suitability to crisis support work is an ongoing process throughout training and after graduation.

• Acceptance into training is not a guarantee of graduation. The candidate must meet all of the expectations and criteria of a VCARS crisis support volunteer mandated training standard for VCARS - Lanark County Crisis Support Volunteers. 

•  Succesful completion of a three month probationary period and responding to at least one call. 

• Volunteer follows all policies and procedures as outlined in the VCARS - Lanark County Policies and Procedures Manual (to be posted).