The purpose of this Confidentiality Policy is to protect the personal and sensitive information of all individuals involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) program, including but not limited to children (Littles), volunteers (Bigs), parents/guardians, and staff.
BBBS is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of all information obtained during the enrollment, matching, and match support processes. This includes verbal, written, and electronic communications. All BBBS staff, volunteers, and Board members are expected to uphold this policy.
Confidential information will only be accessible to:
BBBS staff with a legitimate need to know
Authorized personnel involved in match support or supervision
External parties only with signed consent or as required by law
While BBBS strives to maintain confidentiality, there are certain legal and ethical circumstances under which information must be disclosed:
Suspected child abuse or neglect
Threats of harm to self or others
Court orders or subpoenas
Situations required by law or mandated reporting obligations
All records are securely stored and protected against unauthorized access. Electronic records are maintained in secure databases with password protection, and physical documents are stored in locked file cabinets. Access is limited to approved staff only. Staff will use secure methods when sharing confidential information. Email, phone, or online communications must follow organizational privacy practices (e.g., use of secure servers or encrypted messages when necessary).