This is a remote volunteer position supporting the Guelph-Wellington Community. All shifts and training are completed remotely, therefore, residence in Guelph-Wellington is not a requirement for this position.

Responsibilities:

• Complete inbound and outbound calls with service users residing in the county
• Complete safety/wellness checks, provide medication reminders, and engage in social conversations with vulnerable populations
• Assist with crisis intervention, when presented
• Utilize a strengths-based, solution-focused approach
• Provide external resources and referrals to service users 
• Complete case documentation of all interactions with service users

Kids Help Phone’s texting service is the only free, 24/7 bilingual text line for people in Canada. The service is delivered by trained, volunteer crisis responders who work remotely. 

We are recruiting overnight and or bilingual crisis responders who will answer texts from young people looking for support in both English AND French.

The volunteer position will be remote, meaning that you can participate from anywhere in Canada as long you have a strong, reliable internet connection!  

Our volunteers need to be enthusiastic about helping people!

You can be a professional, student, teacher, retiree, or anybody else with a willingness to learn how to support people over text.  

The role of a crisis responder is to bring texters from a “hot” moment to a cool calm one, and to help them come up with a plan to stay healthy and safe.

Crisis responders are trained to do this using active listening and collaborative problem-solving.

Volunteer duties vary depending on the placement and will be discussed prior to an interview.

Current opportunities:

• Good Food Box – the second Wednesday of the month, unloading the produce truck, sorting and packing food boxes, volunteer delivery drivers, variety of shifts available – Barrie 

• Cooking Classes with the Urban Pantry program – Barrie 

• Assembling Harm Reduction Kits – in need of 2-4 volunteers for this role, once a month on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 9 am - 1 pm – Barrie 

• Client and Family Advisory Committee members - open to clients or family member/caregiver in the past 3 years

• One-on-one client support

  • Currently opportunities in Barrie, Collingwood

• Healthy Relationship Group – Co-facilitator in Barrie
  • 1.5 hours per week (possible evenings)

• Reception support in Midland

  • Mon-Wed 10 am to 3 pm (various shifts)

• Recreational groups in Collingwood

  • Tuesdays at 11 am

  • Thursdays at 2 pm

The Gilbert Centre's volunteer program is on hold until further notice.

Volunteers would be required to provide support to individuals on a helpline or chat service who have experienced sexual trauma, violence and or assault. A 30 hour training course and interview is to be completed before starting on the helpline and chat service. 

All Patient Family Caregiver Advisors are members of the Barrie and Area OHT's Patient Family Caregiver Advisory Council (PFAC). Members of PFAC will be expected to apply your learning, collective experience, and insights to:

• Provide advice on how to achieve patient-centred health care within the local health system;
• Provide system-level guidance and recommendations to support the successful planning and implementation of strategic priorities;
• Act as a resource to and/or work in collaboration with working groups and committees for the BAOHT and beyond;
• Promote initiatives to increase and sustain meaningful PFAC engagement in the future.