St. Johns - CoSA

Circles of Support and Accountability
CoSA-Ottawa
A Reintegration Program that Works

No More Victims No One is Disposable

Operated by Community Volunteers
Supported by the staff and congregation of the Church of St John the Evangelist, Ottawa
Sponsored by the Correctional Service of Canada, Chaplaincy Services
Supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation

Please visit our new website at
www.cosa-ottawa.ca.

WHAT IS CIRCLES OF SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILTY?

Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) is a community-based reintegration program designed to support people newly released from prison who have been convicted of sex offences, admit to committing these offences, and request CoSA's help to prevent further offending. CoSA-Ottawa is one of currently 18 Canadian cities operating CoSA programs, representing approximately 150 to 200 Circles that aim to:

Prevent further victimization through accountability; and

Assist former offenders become increasingly responsible and productive individuals through support.

CoSA works with former offenders, who we refer to as Core Members, who have been held in prison to the end of their sentence and typically have little or no community support and are considered a high-risk to re-offend. Core Members participate voluntarily, and must therefore commit to leading a positive, crime-free life.

The Core Member and three to five community volunteers comprise the Circle. They meet individually and as a group on a regular basis to:

Challenge the Core Member's behaviours and attitudes that may be associated with his offending cycle;

Support the Core Member's community reintegration by facilitating his practical needs (i.e. access to medical services, social assistance, seeking employment/affordable housing, etc.) and by providing a consistent network of emotional support; and

Develop constructive and pro-social strategies and solutions to everyday problems and concerns as well as celebrate successes.

VOLUNTEER TRAINING PROGRAM

INFORMATION SESSION
1. Orientation to Circles of Support and Accountability
(same session offered on two different days)

Saturday, April 30th, 2:00pm-3:00pm OR
Thursday May 5th, 6:00pm-7:00pm
Presenters: CoSA-Ottawa Staff

The history of CoSA

Goals and Principles

Circle composition functioning

Volunteer opportunities, roles and expectations

Research demonstrating how and why CoSA works

Following the Orientation to CoSA session, participants will be invited to sign up for Basic training. At any point during the training, prospective volunteers can choose to continue or to exit training.

BASIC TRAINING
2 The Fundamentals of Circles of Support and Accountability
Saturday, May 7th, 10:00am-3:00pm
Presenters: Andrew McWhinnie, CoSA National Coordinator and CoSA-Ottawa staff

The 'life of a circle'

Volunteer code of conduct and group dynamics

Boundaries and self-care

Tracking and reporting

Mock circle/role playing

Testimony by and discussion with a Core Member

Following the Fundamentals of CoSA session, participants will be invited to begin the volunteer screening process. After an interview with three members of the Steering Committee, references will be checked and successful applicants will be asked to complete a Police Check (cost covered by CoSA; may take up to 12 weeks for processing).

3. Legal Controls for Sex Offenders
Thursday May 26th 6:00pm-8:00pm
Presenters:
Cst. Mitch Houle, Ottawa Police Service (High Risk Releases)
Nadine Amelotte, Parole Officer, Ottawa Parole Office
Community Supervision

Police Controls (810 Orders, Public Notification, Sex Offender Registry)

4. Understanding Human Sexuality and Sexual Deviance AND Sex Offender Assessment and Treatment
Saturday, May 28, 10:00am-3:00pm
Presenters:
Dr. Geris Serran, Director of the Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP) Bath Inst., Rockwood Psychological Services, Kingston, ON
Heather Tarnai-Feely, Social Worker, Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre (ROMHC)
Lisa Murphy, Phallometric Lab, ROMHC

Introduction to sex offences

Healthy sexuality and sexual deviance

Institutional and community treatment programs

Assessments of sex offenders

5. Victim Perspectives
Thursday, June 2, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Presenter:
Rick Goodwin, The Men's Project

6. (Re)-Integration
Thursday, June 16, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Presenter:
Crisis Counsellor from John Howard Society of Ottawa

The Effects of Institutionalization

Relapse Prevention

7. Meet and Greet (Active volunteers and new recruits)
Thursday, June 23, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Facilitators: CoSA-Ottawa staff

Mingle (light buffet served)

Discussion about CoSA/QandA (common challenges, what works, etc)

Please contact our Office Manager,
Karen Langford
to register or if you have any questions.

Please visit our new website atwww.cosa-ottawa.ca.

WHAT IS CIRCLES OF SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILTY?

For more detailed information,please visit our new website atwww.cosa-ottawa.ca.

Please visit our new website at
www.cosa-ottawa.ca.

For more detailed information,
please visit our new website at
www.cosa-ottawa.ca.