Your Privacy & Confidentiality
For web surfers
Your visit to this website is strictly anonymous. We do not track your visits, or make any attempt to discern your identity.
For Zacharias Center clients
The relationship between you and your counselor/advocate is based on trust and privacy. It is important that you understand your right to confidentiality. Below are some frequently asked questions about the right to privacy. Please ask your counselor/advocate if you have other questions.
Do I have the right to privacy?
Yes, Illinois law protects the right to privacy for sexual assault victims. Communications, written and verbal, between you and your counselor/advocate are confidential.
Are there any exceptions?
Yes. Disclosure is required under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act for a report of child abuse or neglect and the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act for elder abuse. Disclosure is also permitted to protect you or another from imminent risk of harm. Further, if you share information about your counseling/advocacy sessions with any other person, the court could find that you have waived your right to confidentiality. You can protect your right to confidentiality by not speaking or writing to another person about your private conversations with your counselor/advocate.
What will Zacharias Center do to protect my right to privacy?
When you wish to protect your right to privacy, Zacharias Center and your counselor/advocate will make every effort to maintain your privacy. Except for those situations described above, Zacharias Center staff will not speak or write about services that you receive with a third person, such as the police, without your permission. Zacharias Center will object to any requests, including court subpoena, which seek disclosure of any information, written or verbal, about the services you receive.
Do I have a right to see my file?
Yes, you have the right to review, amend, and receive a copy of your file. And, if you want, you can request your parent/guardian to help you look at your file.
Who else has a right to see my file?
Only trained center personnel such as the counselor/advocate and consulting staff have the right to see your file. Anonymous data may be collected from your file for specific purposes such as funding, accreditation, audit, licensure, statistics, research, and evaluation.
What if I want to release my file or have my counselor/advocate talk with another person?
You can choose to release your file or have your counselor/advocate talk about your case with another person by signing a consent form after thoroughly discussing your decision and reviewing your file with your counselor/advocate. Before you sign a consent to release information form, you should look through your file so that you know exactly what information will be shared with another person. Once you have signed a consent to release information form, Zacharias Center would have to turn over information in your file if we received a subpoena for your records.
What happens if I change my mind after I sign the Consent to Release form?
As long as Zacharias Center has not taken action on your consent, you can tell your counselor/advocate not to release the information.
Rights of the Client
At Zacharias Center, we provide information on sexual assault, an exploration of various coping skills which can help a survivor gain control, and advocacy for improved system response to sexual victimization. A counselor, therapist, or advocate will try to help you examine your options, express your feelins, and recognize your choices.
You are the best judge of whether Zacharias Center is a comfortable place for your to work on your issues. Counseling or therapy is very personal, and not everyone connects with every service provider. If you are not connecting, we will be happy to refer you to another place, because it is important that you feel as safe and comfortable as possible.
As a person who receives services from Zacharias Center, you are entitled to know what your rights are:
- You have the right to receive considerate and respectful treatment by qualified staff and volunteers, and you have the right to make a complain if dissatisfied with services. You also have a right to a copy of Zacharias Center's Grievance Procedure.
- You have a right to know what services are available and to participate in the planning of your services.
- You have the right to refuse service and to request a referral to another service provider or agency.
- You have a right to confidential services. You will receive the form "Explanation of Confidentiality" which clarifies this right.
- You have the right to view your client file and to request corrections or make objections, and you can get a copy of your file.
- You have the right to have an advocate help your exercise any of these rights pursuant to Zacharias Center's policy and procedures.
To exercise any of these rights, ask your counselor, therapist, or the program director if you need more information.
Zacharias Center does not discriminate on the basis of creed, national origin, race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or ability to pay.