Confidentiality Statement

Midtown Assistance Center is committed to protecting the clients we serve and the information that they share with us. We acknowledge that while we have the authority to ask personal questions, we also have the legal responsibility to protect our clients’ privacy. Within our office, we may share information that we use to help the client. With other agencies, employers, or landlords, we must guard the privacy of our clients and restrict our discussion only to those issues necessary for assistance. Copying, removing, distributing and/or allowing unauthorized access to company or client documents, files or mailing lists is not allowed. Be careful not to leave confidential laying on desks, copiers, computer screens or otherwise in plain view. Conversations in public places such as hallways, public transportation, restaurants, and elevators should be limited to matters that do not pertain to information of a sensitive or confidential nature. Before calling anyone on behalf of a client, the client’s written permission is required. Issues that cannot be shared without the client’s permission: social security numbers, homelessness, medical conditions and mental diagnoses, criminal information, legal information, substance abuse information, credit/financial history, family dynamics: domestic violence, child neglect, separation, etc., housing history, current address, phone numbers, sexual orientation, race, religion, veteran discharge status. Because of what we do, our need to gather information for assistance and for statistics, we must demonstrate integrity in our mission to serve our clients. We encourage our staff and volunteers to talk with others about MAC, but we must take care not to use any names, or other information which might betray our clients’ confidence in us.