Privacy Policy

We’re creating the change we want to see in the mental healthcare servicing the Black communities in Scarborough, Toronto. In order to do this, AGATA Resource Centre believes in following the highest ethical and behavioural standards. The policies ARC has developed across our organization reflect our core values of inclusion, compassion, empowerment, advocacy, respect, and hope. We are also guided by health sector best practices. Our privacy policy sets out how ARC collects, holds, protects, uses and discloses your personal information. It also sets out your rights and how you can access and control the information we get from you.

Your health issues, challenges and needs are private and confidential. All members of AGATA Resource Centre are committed to respecting your privacy and your trust.

The personal health information we obtain comes directly from you, or someone acting on your behalf. This information includes your name, date of birth, address, contact info, health history, and records of times you’ve visited our centre. As we are not a clinical service, we do not collect other personal health information about you or diagnoses about you. Information received about any complex mental health challenge experienced will be noted and given to a clinical professional with yours, or your guardians permission, and agreement. This will only be done if you require support via our referral services.

• To access how to best support and care for you
• To improve the quality of the support you receive
• To provide you with appropriate tools and education to fit your needs
• To obey laws and regulations

Your files and records can be accessed by you upon request, whenever you need access. You may also request changes to your file. Your personal information, your rules: you can approve or decline the use of your information for any purpose listed above. Should you require more information, you can speak to any of our staff members on how we protect your privacy. Our lines of communication are open and available for you. More information on our privacy policy can be found by contacting our Office Manager at questions@agataresourcecentre.com.

AGATA Resource Centre takes the necessary steps to ensure that the personal information we hold is protected from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorized access, modification or disclosure. ARC holds personal information in both hard copy and electronic form in secure databases on secure premises, accessible only by authorized staff. Our cloud storage provider also
maintains appropriate measures to protect personal information that we store with them from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

We take steps to protect your personal health information from theft, loss and unauthorized access, copying, modification, use, disclosure, and disposal. We conduct audits and complete investigations to monitor and manage our privacy compliance. We take steps to ensure that everyone who performs services for us protects your privacy and only uses your personal health information for the purposes you have consented to.

ARC encourages feedback from from our patrons, service users, advocates, employees, members of the public or any other entity. All feedback and concerns that are raised will be addressed in way that ensures access and equity, fairness, accountability, and transparency. We recognize that feedback and complaints are an integral part of quality improvement systems and a valuable resource for evaluating strengths and weaknesses in new and existing policies, systems, and services at AGATA Resource Centre.

This policy may change from time to time. Any updated versions of this policy will be posted on our website and will be effective from the date of posting.

Please direct all privacy complaints to ARC’s Office Manager at questions@agataresourcecentre.com.
All privacy complaints will be dealt with seriously, promptly, and confidentially; and will not affect any existing obligations or commercial arrangements between you and AGATA Resource Centre.

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your complaint, you may refer the complaint to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.

2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400
Toronto, ON M4W 1A8
Telephone: 1-800-387-0073
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