The Probation Officers Association of Ontario has a membership base of Probation and Parole Officers and Probation Officers in Ontario. The Association represents the interest of it’s members, as well as the profession as a whole, by advocating with government and the community on current issues of interest. POAO is well represented on various Ministry committees and public education events. As well, POAO offers professional training opportunities to members and individuals in the corrections and youth field by sponsoring a yearly Symposium.
Membership is on a voluntary basis. There are two types of members, full and associate. Full members are Probation and Parole Officers working with adult clients from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services or Probation Officers working with youth clients (under age 18) from the Ministry of Child and Youth Services. Although they both provide similar functions they work under difference legislation and as noted above represent different Ministries. Associate members are not given voting rights but otherwise share the benefit of full members. This group tends to include but is not limited to managers, retired Probation and Parole Officers or Probation Officers, or related community agencies. Active participation is greatly encouraged but not mandatory for membership.
Membership is on a yearly basis and applications are received until June 30th of that year. All applications need the approval of the Provincial Executive Board. The fees are set by the organization and are subject to change each year.
Member Recruitment Drive
In an effort to generate new members in the Association, at the 2003 POAO Annual General Meeting in Niagara Falls, a motion was carried by the membership stating that POAO members who "recruit" brand new members to the Association will receive a $25.00 rebate (or credit) for each new member they recruit (to a maximum of four (4) or $100 per year. The rebate (or credit) would be applied to the recruiter's membership fees in the following year.
For example, an existing member who recruits four new members to join the Association for the 2008 membership year, would receive a $100 credit toward their 2009 membership.
Please keep in mind that if you are referring a new member to join POAO. The recruiter's name must appear on the new member's application. A membership application form is available below.
Get a membership application (PDF format) by clicking here:
From the Membership Desk; Why join POAO?
From the “Recipes on Probation” Cook book – an initiative from the Southwest Branch POAO. There is a note in the front thanking the Branch and it includes a quote; The quote is taken from an article that appeared in the Monitor and was prepared by members of the Southwest Branch and the following was an excerpt from Susan Masters (Member of the Year 2006) who writes:
If we consider ourselves committed members of our Profession then we have a responsibility to work toward the betterment of that Profession. In general, it is through Professional organizations that any discipline enhances and develops their skills, knowledge base, and relationship with governing bodies and research facilities. It is not so much about what we get from our membership but more importantly what our individual commitment and involvement does for our profession at large. Through POAO we have a voice, a voice in how we develop our profession through training and skill development, and a voice in how Community Corrections evolves in the Province of Ontario. Through POAO this voice is an independent one that is not bound by our employment status…The question should not be can we afford to join but can we afford not to?”
Our thanks to Susan Masters for succinctly answering a question posed by many potential members.