Manual of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States

Confidentiality

Confidentiality, based on the individual’s right to privacy, has both legal and ethical implications. Disclosures made to a Vincentian member and Conference by an individual or family may be revealed to others only under specified conditions, and solely for the purpose of providing help. Only in rare circumstances may information be released without the informed consent of the individual or family, such as when persons pose a genuine threat to themselves or others. If time allows, the member should check with the local Council before acting. Local Councils should have an attorney they can contact in such an emergency. Confidentiality does not prevent a Conference from publicizing its work in general terms.

Confidentiality has always been an important value for the Society. Trusting relationships develop between Conference members and the persons they serve. Confidentiality is a prerequisite for membership in the Society; a breach of confidentiality may be grounds for requesting a member’s resignation.

Maintaining confidentiality can be a challenge. With fewer resources and more people in need, Conferences may find it prudent to collaborate with other groups, but collaboration may entail sharing information about persons served. Computers facilitate this sharing, but ever-changing privacy laws must be obeyed and lawsuits avoided. Utility companies and other agencies with national databanks may require Conferences to provide written permission from those they serve.

Handling Confidential Information

Vincentian members and Conferences rely on factual, often very personal information to determine a person’s actual need and offer real help. The only appropriate place to share such information is at the Conference meeting. Members should not divulge details to their family or friends, or publicize even general information that might identify the persons helped. The necessary accounting to supporters should consist of statistics, financial reports, the types of cases handled, etc. Stories provided to local media must protect confidentiality or include the written permission of the person helped.

Verbal permission should suffice from persons needing help with basics such as food, utilities, rent, etc. Written permission is advisable for people who have more personal complications (e.g., AIDS/HIV or emotional or legal problems). A Council’s attorney or local Catholic Charities agencies can supply general permission forms.

Because people tend to share personal information more freely with their Vincentian visitors in the relaxed atmosphere of their own homes, Society members should be careful to record only what is essential to serve them. Before sharing any of that information with other agencies, they should know and understand their privacy policies. Members may also want to discuss the issue of confidentiality with the persons being helped. The National Office of the Council of the United States can offer helpful advice in this sensitive area.

Services Offered by Conferences

No universal definition of Conference work can be given because each Conference determines autonomously what charitable works and services it will undertake in addition to home visits. Below are some of the person-to-person services that parish Conferences in the United States can provide:

A. Poverty Services

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  Limited material or financial assistance for short-term or continuing needs.
  
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  Emergency aid, combined with referral to an appropriate public agency when eligible for continuing assistance.
  
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  Referral to an appropriate counseling agency when recurrent financial problems indicate a need for professional guidance.
  
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  “Filling the gaps” in services provided by the local community, such as help with finding employment or housing.
  
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  Self-help programs such as food and repair co-ops, credit unions, home services for the aged and infirm, housing rehabilitation, legal services, and adult education. These can alleviate the need for recurrent handouts, which can undermine human dignity.
  
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  Development of inexpensive recreational programs for the economically disadvantaged, such as arranging for the use of local facilities, for a nominal fee, by low-income families, senior citizens, and other special groups.
  
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  Development of low-cost professional and household services for needy families. Volunteers are recruited from such professions as plumbing, carpentry, nursing, law, medicine, etc.
  
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  Domestic twinning: sharing of the membership and material resources of a more fortunate Conference with a needier one locally.
  
  B. Information and Referral Services
  
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  Providing information about services related to poverty, medical-emotional needs, family and personal problems, youth counseling and youth activity programs, senior citizens programs and facilities, etc.
  
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  Advocacy on behalf of persons being denied services to which they appear to be entitled.
  
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  Conducting or sponsoring educational programs to acquaint parishioners with community welfare and counseling programs.
  

C. Services for Emergencies and Special Needs

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  Temporary homemaker service. All families face a crisis occasionally -- through illness, hospitalization, death, etc. -- and can use help with child care, meal preparation, and basic housekeeping until the crisis subsides. If the need exceeds parish capabilities, referral should be made to appropriate community homemaker agencies.
  
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  Transportation. Because the elderly are often dependent upon others for shopping, attending church, and visiting doctors’ offices and clinics, escort services and transportation are necessary components of any reasonably adequate program of home care.
  
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  Person-to-person sharing of expertise -- in budgeting, nutrition, housekeeping, application for employment, child care, home maintenance, etc. Such service may also be offered as special parish educational programs or group classes.
  
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  Youth services. Addressing the cultural, social, spiritual, and recreational interests of young people, these services rely heavily upon youth initiative and decision-making but also offer opportunity, counsel, and support.
  
  D. Services to the Lonely and Alienated
  
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  Conference members visit lonely or alienated individuals in institutional and medical facilities. Sickness, drug addiction, and mental illness may underlie their problems and special needs. As lay volunteers, Conference members become involved only after consulting with the appropriate facility staff.
  
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  Conference members visit crime victims, and men and women who are incarcerated or on probation or parole. Continuing contact with the families of inmates may be helpful. Intelligent involvement requires consultation and collaboration with criminal justice officials.
  
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  Regular visits to patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and homes for the aged help keep them alert and engaged.
  
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  Regular visits to the homebound sick or aged reassure them that someone cares and is nearby in time of need.
  
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  Home care services, which enable persons to keep living at home, may include the following:
  

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   Preparation and delivery of meals
   
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   Providing opportunities for leisure by “relieving” family members caring for an aged relative
   
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   Home maintenance (e.g., chores and minor repairs)
   
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   Tele-care (checking in by phone to converse and make sure needs are met)
   
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   Transportation to stores, doctors’ offices, church, etc.
   
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   Recreational services (activity and companionship in the home, or at a center to which the older person is transported)
   
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   Special personal services provided by volunteers (barbers, beauticians, etc.)
   

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  Recruitment of seniors to help provide social services to various agencies. Many retired persons have abilities and experience ideal for helping our brothers and sisters in need. Volunteering can give them a renewed sense of personal wellbeing and worth.