Victim Confidentiality
Education Empower & Embrace
CAFY serves the individuals, families and communities of Prince George’s County. We provide victim support services and education that meet the diverse needs of people of all ages, races, religions, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical disability and socioeconomic status.
We offer victim advocacy, crisis intervention, victim witness court education, and community education programs to those impacted by all forms of violence and crime including, but not limited to: adult and child sexual assault; physical assault; child and elder abuse; robbery; and burglary.
The staff of CAFY becomes involved in private and personal areas of people's lives. We are committed to respecting the privacy and integrity of those we serve by keeping all aspects of our relationship confidential. It is our policy to protect communications with agency clients.
CAFY's Confidentiality Policy covers all clients regardless of the nature of his/her victimization. Confidential communication includes all information and observation, spoken between a victim of crime and a CAFY staff person during the length of their relationship. Even the fact that the person is a client, or has had contact with the program is confidential and not to be shared with any third party unless permission is given by the client.
It is the client who owns the privilege of confidentiality and therefore, makes the decision regarding all disclosures. CAFY believes in nondisclosure. We mandate confidential communication unless the client chooses to disclose information. The client's consent to release information must be in writing. It must include the specific information to be released and signed by the client. Verbal, rather than written permission is allowed when CAFY is engaged in outreach to victims. However, CAFY will get the client's permission in order to consult with anyone in another system on his/her behalf.
The are a few exceptions to CAFY's Confidentiality Policy when the client's consent is not needed. Those will be discussed on a case by case basis.
Community Advocates for Family and Youth
A 501(c)(3) Company
P.O. Box 4419
Capitol Heights, MD 20791
301-390-4092 (Office)
email: info@cafyonline.org
© 2009 Community Advocates for Family & Youth
Produced by Community Advocates for Family & Youth. The hosting of this
website was made possible by the support by Office for Victims of Crime,
U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view in this document are those
of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or
policies of the U. S. Department of Justice.
Last Updated by Mike Dalton on May 25th, 2012
Developed by Mike Dalton