Confidentiality Statement

We are an independent, locally operated, private, not-for-profit organization that is eligible to receive grants and other funds to provide services to people with substance use disorders. As such, we are required to abide by the federal laws that protect the confidentiality of people with substance problems who seek our help. These laws were enacted in the early 1970’s to protect people from being stigmatized and discriminated against if they sought help for substance-related problems. There are legal punishments for breaking confidentiality, including fines and possible jail sentences. We will explain this information in more depth during orientation and training. For now, please remember:

1. We must not tell anyone that a peer is seeking our help unless that peer signs a release form giving us permission. Any identifying information about our peers will be stored in our locked file. Documents with peers’ names should never be left out in the open in the office, e.g., house roster.
2. We may talk to each other within our program as staff about issues related to the peers we are serving but limited to a “need to know” basis. In our open environment, it is very important to be mindful of who is “around” when we talk about our peers.
3. Confidentiality rules apply to people seeking services, enrolled in services, people after they’ve left our services, even deceased people previously involved with us.
4. We may break the above rules only if:
   
   1. A peer has a medical emergency, and medical personnel may need to know about their substance use as it may affect treatment.
   2. A peer commits a crime in our center or against our staff and we need to inform law enforcement to report the crime.
   3. We must report child or elder abuse; and/or
   4. We receive a proper court order (not merely a subpoena) under the confidentiality regulations.

Please consider how you would want your own personal information to be handled by others, and this will help to guide your communications. Our peers will often be in the most difficult situations of their lives, frightened and vulnerable. We want to be a safe place for them to get help, and confidentiality is a huge part of building safety and trust. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions you have. Thank you for taking confidentiality very seriously!