CAMS - COMMUNITY ADULT MENTORING AND SUPPORT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Does the approach of September make you think of "New Beginnings"? Would you be willing to take part in someone else's fresh start? The CAMS (COMMUNITY ADULT MENTORING AND SUPPORT) programme provides you this opportunity. This programme, developed by the Victoria Parole Office in partnership with St. John the Divine, matches volunteer mentors with people newly released from prison. The Parole Office is now recruiting mature volunteers for the third CAMS training session. Volunteer mentors work with people newly released from federal prison. These people are generally new to Victoria, have high needs, have no family or friends, and are under the supervision of a parole officer. Mentors complement the work of the parole officers, assisting newly released offenders in their efforts at reintegration. If you are willing to offer moral support and guidance to someone who is trying to fit back into society, please call Honora Johannesen, at the Victoria Parole Office, at 363-0105 or e-mail to: johannesenhm@csc-scc.gc.ca. Training workshops begin October 1, 2002 and last for ten weeks.   CAMS - COMMUNITY ADULT MENTORING AND SUPPORT How Cams Works CAMS volunteer mentors work one to one with recently released federal offenders. Their goal is to complement the work of parole officers and halfway house personnel by supporting and befriending the offenders in a variety of activities: Meet regularly Assist in making and achieving realistic and responsible long-term plans Celebrate accomplishments Establish a “covenant relationship”. The covenant is a written document that spells out both the offender's and mentor's expectations. It must be adhered to if the relationship is to succeed. CAMS volunteers are drawn from Faith based communities, including St. John's Victoria Parole Volunteer register Lay community interested in Mentoring Mature college and university students University and college alumni Members of twelve step programmes Requirements for Applicants Applicants must be mature adults, with healthy boundaries and a balance in lifestyle and viewpoint. They must also be stable and known residents in their community. Specific requirements are: 19 years or older Eligible for Enhanced Reliability Screening and Criminal Records Check; screening includes formal application, interview, reference check, security screening Understand and agree to confidentiality Provide at least two references which are checked; one must be a professional reference, Driver's license, not a requirement, but recommended Training and Supervision Mandatory 10 week training session Supervision by Co-ordinator of Volunteer Time Commitment Length of commitment is one year Training normally requires two hours per week Mentoring requires 2-4 hours per week Meetings / appointments are set ahead of time according to the offender / volunteer convenience. Locations Victoria Parole Office, 323-816 Government Street, Victoria, William Head Institution Personal Benefits Excellent training is provided by volunteers from the community and from the Correctional Service of Canada: parole officers, psychologists, chaplains and other professionals who contribute their experience and give the would-be mentors new insights.

Honora Johannesen, Volunteer Co-ordinator for CAMS, is quick to credit the important role that St. John's plays in the CAMS initiative. "We couldn't do this without St. John the Divine. They provide liaison with other communities, advertising to attract volunteers, and the space to train them." A St. John's volunteer reminds us of how important a group like CAMS is." "How quick many of the public are to judge the strange, the eccentric...". "Their attitude towards offenders is much the same as it was towards the disabled 30 years ago." For this volunteer, "...mentoring has been immensely interesting and rewarding - a real learning experience." For another volunteer, there was an instantaneous benefit: "I'm a big hockey fan. On our first meeting, he (the offender) came in wearing a Vancouver Canucks jersey. We started talking hockey right away"

For more information about CAMS, visit the Correctional Services link. Correctional Services of Canada