Confidentiality
Introduction
Policy
Practices
Board members, volunteers, and employees are cautioned to demonstrate professionalism, good judgment, and care to avoid unauthorized or inadvertent disclosures of confidential information obtained in the course of their service to Chattanooga Endeavors.
For the purpose of this policy, confidential information includes: (a) identifying information, such a client’s name, address, or social security number; (b) personal information, such as a clients age, race, gender, religion, or education, (c) family information, such as marital status, identity of dependents, or child support obligations; (d) medical or mental health information, such as symptoms, assessments, diagnoses, or treatment; (e) details of a client’s criminal history or conviction/s that are not public record; and (f) psycho social information, such as a history of abuse, neglect, poverty, substance use, prostitution, etc.
In fact, it is wise to treat all information about every client — past, present, and future — as confidential.
- When discussing your experience with Chattanooga Endeavors, you may tell your story but you may not tell the story of others.
- If you need to process a difficult experience with a client, do so with a supervisor or someone your trust who is currently bound by this same policy.
- Only request confidential information if there is a need to know.
- Always store confidential information in a locked cabinet or in password protected folder.
- Refrain from leaving confidential information contained in documents or on computer screens in plain view.
- Do not discuss confidential information with anyone who is not currently bound by this same policy, including unauthorized law enforcement or criminal justice professionals, a client’s current or potential employer, helping professionals at other organizations, pastors (even under the protection of the confessional), social media connections, and loved ones — both yours and the clients.
- Obtain permission in the form of a written release form before disclosing confidential information to any third party.
- Consult with a supervisor if you believe that there is an obligation to report confidential information based on the state’s mandatory reporting laws.
- Inform a supervisor immediately if you have reason to believe that there has been a violation (unintentional or otherwise) of this policy.
- Return all documents, papers, and other materials, that may contain confidential information to the organization upon separation.
Violation of this policy will lead to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of service with Chattanooga Endeavors.