NCJ Number
63220
Date Published
1977
Length
73 pages
Annotation
MAJOR PROBLEMS IN DEVELOPING VOLUNTEER RESOURCES AND POTENTIAL, AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES ARE DISCUSSED FOR CANADA.
Abstract
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DETERRENTS TO VOLUNTEERISM INVOLVE THE EXCLUSION OF LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND MINORITIES WITH LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES. NEGATIVE ATTITUDES INCLUDE THE VIEW THAT THE VOLUNTEER ENTERPRISE LARGELY EXPLOITS WOMEN AND RELEGATES PARTICIPANTS TO A DEMEANING WORK STATUS. LABOR RELATIONS PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT VOLUNTEERS REDUCE THE JOBS AVAILABLE FOR PARAPROFESSIONALS AND OTHER HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS. THERE IS ALSO A LACK OF RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPING VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS IN RURAL AND NORTHERN COMMUNITIES; FINANCIAL RESTRAINTS ON VOLUNTEER CENTERS, WHICH ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RECRUITING, SCREENING, AND TRAINING VOLUNTEERS; AND THE ASSUMPTION BY PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS OF SERVICES FORMERLY CONDUCTED BY VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF VOLUNTEER POTENTIAL INVOLVES IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, INCREASED FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS, THE PROMOTION OF VOLUNTEERISM, AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A NATIONAL POLICY. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PURSUING THESE OBJECTIVES AND OVERCOMING MANY OF THE EXISTING OBSTACLES TO THE EXPANSION OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTED. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF A REPORT ON THE STATE OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS IN CANADA AND BACKGROUND MATERIAL FOR DEVELOPING A NATIONAL POLICY ON VOLUNTEERISM. (RCB)