Foster Pantry
Confidentiality Agreement
When working with children and families in foster care confidentiality is extremely important. Our volunteers are expected to uphold the highest level of confidentiality when it comes to the children, the foster caregivers, and the parents.
Confidentiality ensures that youth in foster care will receive the help they need and won't suffer any more harm due to breaches of privacy.
When volunteering with Foster Pantry we ask that
*No Photos are taken or shared of the children and families that attend our events
*Our families are not questioned about anything aside from the information needed for the event
(name, items needed etc)
*Our volunteers understand that any information provided by the families, child, or Foster Pantry not be shared outside of the event.
THE ONLY EXCEPTION: North Carolina has a mandatory reporting law, NCGS § 7B-301 that states "any person or institution who has cause to suspect that any juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent, as defined by NCGS § 7B-101, or has died as the result of maltreatment, shall report the case of that juvenile to the director of the department of social services in the county where the juvenile resides or is found."
Foster Pantry's Confidentiality Agreement - 2022
I. Purpose. The purpose of this Confidentiality Agreement is to protect the identity and privacy of our clients. Board Members, Staff and Volunteers at Foster Pantry may encounter personal and sensitive information about clients. This is particularly true when assisting families involved in the Foster Care Program. Therefore, it is very important to refrain from disclosing any information to third parties about our clients to avoid causing them harm.
II. Confidential Information. Confidential client information should never be discussed in the presence of third parties, except under the Terms outlined below. Any files and/or documents containing confidential information should never be shared or released to third parties, except under the Terms outlined below.
Confidential information includes, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Identifying information about the client, including name, address or phone number;
2. Information relating to the client’s family;
3. Information regarding the client’s placement status;
4. Information about the abuse, trauma, and/or persecution experienced by the client; or
5. Any other information that would identify the client or potentially place the client and/or family members at risk.
III. Terms. By signing this Confidentiality Agreement, you agree to the highest ethical standards and to abide by the following provisions:
1. All communications between Agency staff, volunteers, and clients are confidential.
2. The staff or volunteer shall not disclose confidential information to a third party without the client’s written consent to release such information.
3. The staff or volunteer shall not disclose confidential information to a third party without Agency’s knowledge and consent.
4. I understand that as a staff or volunteer, I have a duty to keep client information confidential throughout my term as a staff or volunteer as well as after my employment or volunteer status ends.
5. I understand that my failure to abide by the terms of this Confidentiality Agreement may result in the termination of my participation as a staff or volunteer at the Agency.