The Niagara Peninsula Children Center’s Foundation (NPCCF) handles information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information and Electronic Documents Act (Canada) and the Personal Information Protection Act (British Columbia). Questions and/or complaints regarding privacy and confidentiality may be directed to NPCCF’s Privacy Officer. In addition, agency staff will advise clients of their rights with regard to privacy and confidentiality.

All clients in programs operated by NPCCF can expect that all personal information provided to the agency will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. NPCCF will release personal information concerning a client only with the written permission of the client (unless ordered by a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction).

This policy is varied with respect to programs operated under contracts where services to clients are mandated under the provisions of the Child, Family and Community Service Act. In these situations, agency staff will strive to adhere to this privacy and confidentiality policy; when information is to be shared with personnel of the mandating agency, NPCCF will strive to engage the client(s) involved in a cooperative manner.

On occasion, mandated clients may request that agency staff share information with other persons or organizations. Because of the mandate of these programs related to the Child, Family and Community Service Act, such requests should be referred to the supervising social worker to make an appropriate decision. In all such cases, written consent of the client is required.

NPCCF regularly reviews its privacy practices, and updates this policy as needed.