CSBD collects, uses and discloses (or shares) personal information in order to provide services to children and families.  We disclose or share information to other service providers when the disclosure is requested by you, the client, and you have provided informed written consent for the disclosure.

There are certain situations in which information may be disclosed without your consent and these include the following legal obligations to:

• Inform the Children’s Aid Society if a worker learns of a child who is at risk of sexual or physical abuse or neglect.
• Inform the Police Service if a worker learns of a person with a developmental disability who is being abused.
• Inform an appropriate health care professional of a person’s intention to harm self or other.
• Report a health professional who has sexually abused a client.
• Release a record if it is subpoenaed by a court of law.
• Release information to a law enforcement agency in the course of an investigation by the law enforcement agency

When you have the right to consent to the disclosure of personal information, you may make decisions about that disclosure.  For example, you may choose to not share any information, or you may choose to place limits on the information that is shared.  You may also choose to change your mind about the sharing of information, such as in a situation when you have chosen to share information at an earlier time and then you decide you no longer wish to consent to further disclosure.

We assume individuals accessing our services are capable of giving consent related to information disclosure, unless there are reasonable grounds to believe the person is not capable.  In the case of children under the age of 16, consent is provided by the parent or legal guardian.

Your personal information is kept private and secure.  Everyone who works for CSBD is bound by confidentiality.  We protect your information from loss or theft and make sure no one has access to your information if they are not involved in providing service to you.

If we become aware your personal information has been disclosed, lost, stolen or used without authority, we will notify you as soon as possible. 

You have the right to access the personal information that we hold about you.  You may request access to your information by making a written request to your worker, or to our designated Privacy Lead.  We are required to respond to your request within 30 days, with the ability to extend this to 90 days under certain circumstances.

CSBD makes every effort to keep your personal information as accurate and up-to-date as possible.  Once you have received a copy of your records, you have a right to request a correction to any piece of information that you believe is not complete or correct.  This does not apply to records not created by CSBD, or to information that pertains to an observation or opinion.  We will work with you to determine whether the information can be corrected.  If the information cannot be corrected, you have a right to create a statement summarizing your concerns and this will be contained within your records.