CPA Ontario

The CPA Ontario Coordinator will manage all referrals for peer support. Anyone may refer to the program. Referrals will be accepted in writing, by phone or by drop-in to the CPA Ontario office. All referrals are documented on the referral form, which may be completed by the referring person, or the Peer Support Coordinator.

The Coordinator ensures that the participant is aware of the referral, if made by a third party. For participants that are in acute care hospitals, the Coordinator ensures that the trauma team is given the name of the volunteer who will contact the patient and that the provision of peer support does not interfere with any medical treatment, or hospital schedules.

The Peer Support Coordinator maintains a registry of volunteers that indicates the characteristics that are relevant to their suitability as a match with a new participant, including:

• Age

• Ethnicity

• Sex

• Language Spoken

• Family status (marital, children)

• Special interests, hobbies

• Level of injury

• Employment status

• Cause of injury

• Days/hours of availability

• Area willing to travel

All volunteers are asked to identify issues that they are and are not comfortable discussing with participants.