Description

Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) Ottawa is a community-based reintegration program, based on restorative justice principles – articulated by its twin mottoes: No More Victims and No One is Disposable – for people who have been incarcerated for committing sexual offences and are returning to the community. ‘Core Members’ participate in the program voluntarily and are committed to leading an offence-free life.

A ‘circle’ of two to three trained and screened volunteers (age 20+) are assigned to a Core Member and meet regularly as a group and 1on1 (for a minimum period of one year, which is renewable), helping the Core Member with reintegration issues, and challenging problematic thoughts and behaviours that may lead to relapsing.

If you’re interested in being a part of this initiative, join our spring training! The sessions will take place by Zoom and dates TBD. Following these sessions, we will conduct volunteer screening (interview and references checked), and successful applicants will be required to obtain a Police Check (cost minimized for CoSA volunteers). Approved volunteers will then proceed to a final session and will be assigned to a circle when an opportunity arises, at which time the one-year term begins.

Attending the training does not obligate participants to become a circle volunteer – all are welcome to learn about the wonder of CoSA!