Privacy Policy

 

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW PRIVACY INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. 
PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Our House is a childcare and support center for homeless families that is mandated by its contracts with certain federal and state agencies to participate in the state selected Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). The system in use by the state of Georgia is operated *Pathways Community Network Inc. This system allows authorized agencies throughout the State of Georgia to collect client data, produce statistical reports, and share information with select partner agencies if a “ release of information” form is signed by the client.

This notice tells you about how we use and disclose your private personal information.  It tells you about your rights and our responsibilities to protect the privacy of your private personal information.  It also tells you how to complain to us, or the government if you believe that we have violated any of your rights or any of our responsibilities.

 

How We Use or Disclose Your Private Personal Information

To Provide Services

We will use private personal information about you to provide you with services.  We may share this information with members of our staff or with others involved in your support. 

For Administrative Operations

We may use or disclose your private personal information for operational purposes.  Your private personal information may be used in evaluating our services, compiling statistical data for funding, or in an effort to improve the quality and effectiveness of the services we provide.

Related Benefits and Services

We may use and disclose private personal information about you to determine your eligibility for related benefits or services.  If these services are provided by an outside agency, the agency will be required to sign a contract that requires them to protect your private personal information.  

Individuals Involved in Your Care

We may disclose private personal information about you to a family member, other relative, close friend, or any other person identified by you if they are involved in your care.  We may also use or disclose private personal information about you to notify those persons of your location, general condition or death.  We will not disclose any information to the above-stated persons without first obtaining your written consent and a list of those persons authorized to receive your private personal information.

 

Uses or Disclosures that Require Your Authorization

Other uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization.  You may cancel an authorization by submitting a written notice of cancellation to your Our House Family Advocate.  If you cancel an authorization it will not have any affect on information that we have already disclosed.  Examples of uses or disclosures that may require your written authorization include the following:

 

• A request to provide your private personal information to an attorney or case worker.
• The use of your picture or personal information in our staff or constituent newsletters and media campaigns.

 

Your Rights

The information contained in your record maintained by Our House is the physical property of Our House.  The Information in it belongs to you.

You have a right to the following:

Right to Request Restrictions – You have the right to ask us not to use or disclose your private personal information for a particular reason related to our services or our operations.  You may ask that family members or other authorized individuals not be informed of specific private personal information.  Your request must be made in writing to your Our House Family Advocate.  We will keep this agreement, except in the case of a medical emergency.  Either you or Our House, Inc. can stop a restriction at any time.

Right to Inspect and Copy Your Protected Personal Information – You have the right to request to inspect and obtain a copy of your private personal information.  You must submit your request in writing to your Our House Family Advocate.

Right to Request Amendments to Your Protected Personal Information – You have the right to request that we correct you r private personal information.  If you believe that any private personal information in your record is incorrect or that important information is missing, you must contact your Our House Family Advocate with the correct or missing information.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures of Private Personal Information – You have the right to find out what disclosures of your private personal information have been made.  The list of disclosures is called an accounting.  The accounting may be for up to 1 year prior to the date that you make your request.

Right to Obtain a Copy of the Notice – You have the right to request and get a paper copy of this notice and any revisions we make to the notice at any time.

 

Our Rights and Responsibilities

We are required by federal and state law to maintain the privacy of your personal information.  We must provide you with a copy of this notice and get your written acknowledgement of its receipt.  We must follow the terms of this notice that are currently in effect.

We reserve the right to change this Notice at any time.  This Notice is not a legal contract.  If this notice is changed, a copy of the revised notice will be available upon request or posted at out location or on our website.  We reserve the right to change our privacy practices, provided such changes are permitted by applicable law.  Before we make a significant change in our privacy practices, we will change this notice and make the new notice available upon request.

 

Complaints

You have the right to complain if you believe we have violated your privacy rights.  There is no risk in filing a complaint.

If you are concerned that we may have violated your use or disclosure rights you may contact us:

*More information about Pathways and its functions can be found at ww.pcni.org