Crisis assistance is provided by carefully selected and trained community volunteers. The volunteer staff are on call to all police, fire, and emergency services in Ottawa 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Service Delivery

1. On-call service

2. Telephone service (phone follow up)

1. On-call service: Volunteers will provide crisis intervention and practical assistance to victims of crime and tragic circumstances. Calls are referred by the Police and other service providers. The Police Officer on duty will get consent from a victim to contact victim services. The referring agency will page VASOC when services are needed. The Team Leader will receive the page and determine whether or not it is within VASOC's mandate. If it fits within VASOC's mandate, two VASOC volunteers that are on-call will respond to the scene to provide emotional and practical assistance and referrals to appropriate agencies.

2. Phone follow-up service: Volunteers will provide emotional and practical support to victims of crime and tragic circumstance over the phone. Referrals are made by the Victim Crisis Unit of the Ottawa Police Services. This service takes place at the VASOC office.