Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV) collects, uses and discloses personal information in accordance with the British Columbia Personal Information Protect Act, or, where applicable, the British Columbia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Information about the substance of these acts is made available at FSGV branch offices. Questions and/or complaints regarding privacy and confidentiality as they directly pertain to the programs and services delivered by FSGV may be directed to the agency’s Privacy Officer; in addition, agency staff will advise clients of their rights with regard to privacy and confidentiality.
All participants in programs operated by FSGV and all recipients of agency services (hereafter referred to as clients) can expect that all personal information provided to the agency will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. FSGV will release personal information concerning a client only with the written permission of that 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 of British Columbia. In these situations, agency staff will strive to adhere to this Privacy Policy; when information is to be shared with personnel of the mandating agency, FSGV staff will strive to engage the client(s) involved in a co-operative 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 of British Columbia, such requests should be referred to the supervising social worker in order to make an appropriate decision. In all such cases, written consent of the client is required.
Information about clients will be shared between programs in the Agency in situations where there may be a duty to warn, a safety concern, or a child protection concern. In cases where there is an intra-agency referral, only necessary and relevant information will be shared between programs of the Agency in order to facilitate the most effective referral and to support the best interests of the client.
FSGV regularly reviews its privacy practices, and updates this policy as needed.
Limits to Confidentiality
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Children in need of protection: FSGV is required under the Child, Family, and Community Service Act of British Columbia to report instances where it has reasonable cause to believe a child is in need of protection to the appropriate authorities. Whenever possible, parents are to be advised of the substance of the complaint, unless doing so would clearly create danger to a child or children.
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Duty to warn—potentially suicidal/homicidal/dangerous clients: FSGV has a duty to protect the client from him/herself or to protect others if the client is perceived as a threat. In the case of a suicide threat, a medical referral or hospitalization may be instituted. If the client is considered to be dangerous to others, the police and/or a threatened person(s) may be informed. The CEO or designate must be informed of such an incidence by way of unusual occurrence reporting.
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Legal proceedings: Staff members shall give evidence in court on a client-related matter only in response to a duly served subpoena, and upon express order of a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction.
Information for volunteers, donors, and supporters
PERSONAL INFORMATION
This is any information that can be used to distinguish, identify or contact a specific individual. This information can include an individual’s opinions or beliefs, as well as facts about, or related to, the individual. We collect, use and disclose personal information only for purposes that a reasonable person would consider appropriate in light of the circumstances. We routinely offer individuals we deal with the opportunity to opt not to have their information shared for purposes beyond those for which it was explicitly collected.
EXCEPTIONS
Business contact information and certain publicly available information, such as names, addresses and telephone numbers as published in telephone directories, are not considered personal information. Where an individual uses his or her home contact information as business contact information as well, we consider that the contact information provided is business contact information, and is not therefore subject to protection as personal information.
USE OF INFORMATION
We do not rent, sell or trade our mailing lists. The information you provide will be used to keep you informed and up to date on FSGV’s activities, including programs, services, special events, funding needs, opportunities to volunteer or to give, open houses, and other events. If at any time you wish to be removed from any of these lists, contact our Director of Development by phone at 604-731-4951 or contact us by email, and we will gladly accommodate your request.
WEBSITE AND E-COMMERCE
We use password protocols and encryption software to protect personal and other information we receive when a product or service is requested and/or paid for online. Our software is routinely updated to maximize protection of such information.
In the case of a complaint regarding privacy of information, volunteers, donors, and supporters are invited to discuss their concerns with the agency’s Privacy Officer. Information on how to contact the agency’s Privacy Officer is available at the top of this page and is also available at all FSGV’s branch offices.