User Privacy Policy

We are committed to maintaining your confidence and trust. Before you complete the contact form, you will need to provide us with consent to collect your personal information. We recognize that protecting your privacy is an essential part of our commitment to quality service. As part of this commitment, we believe that individuals should be aware of the personal information we collect, how we use it, how we protect it, and how to contact us if you have questions about the handling or your personal information.

OWNERSHIP OF THE WEBSITE:

Supportive Tailored Autism Respite Services (STARS) website is owned by Supportive Tailored Autism Respite Services (STARS), which is a data controller of your personal data. We take accountability and responsibility of maintaining confidentiality. This must include following all applicable privacy laws. This website is operated in a manner that is PIPEDA and FIPPA (Nova Scotia Privacy) compliant.

We have adopted this Privacy Policy, which determines how we are processing the information collected by Supportive Tailored Autism Respite Services (STARS), which also provides the reasons why we must collect certain personal data about you. Therefore, you must read this Privacy Policy before using Supportive Tailored Autism Respite Services (STARS) website.

We take care of your personal data and undertake to guarantee its confidentiality and security

THE INFORMATION WE COLLECT:

Personal information is any information that can be used to distinguish, identify, or contact a specific individual. It includes items such as your name, address, gender, age, health status (physical, behavioural, emotional, and developmental), and personal/family information. This information can include your opinions about services.

If you choose to provide us with personal information (such as your name, address, e-mail or telephone number, it will (i) be treated as being private and confidential, (ii) be kept in a secure location accessible only by designated staff and (iii) be used only for the purposes outlined in the consent form and the privacy notice statement. A consent form (outlining the purposes for collecting the information) is required to be completed before submitting the information.

USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION:

Starsns.ca collects personal information for the following purposes:

· To connect you with services and supports through STARS

· To facilitate the process of referring you to other services and programs (with your consent)

· To contact you regarding upcoming events, activities, services and programs that may be of interest to you

· To send you information, documents or forms required to keep your information up to date;

· For quality assurance purposes, including feedback on how effective and helpful our services and supports have been, so that we may continue to improve our services and supports.

CONSENT:

We will obtain appropriately informed consent, as required by law, for any collections, uses or disclosures of personal information obtained via this website.

SHARING PERSONAL INFORMATION:

By submitting your information, your request for service implies consent for starsns.ca to collect, use and disclose your personal information for purposes related to responding to your support needs. Consent may be implied or express. Consent may be provided orally, electronically or in writing. With your consent, we may share information with third parties including:

· other agencies, professionals, and others who are involved in your care and support

· other agencies and professionals who provide services and supports that may be able to respond to your needs.

· other individuals you identify as contacts, such as family members.

We may disclose information without your consent:

· for legally necessary disclosures ordered by a subpoena or required to notify authorities in situations of suspected abuse, neglect, or imminent harm;

· If you are at risk of hurting yourself or someone else

· If someone is at risk of hurting you or someone else

USER SECURITY:

Starsns.ca is committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of your personal information in any and every form. We store personal information in paper or electronic files. We protect these files by physical and electronic security measures appropriate to the nature of the information, and we allow access only by authorized personnel.

RETENTION, DISPOSAL AND DESTRUCTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION:

The disposal and destruction of personal and health information will be performed with care. Precautions to prevent unauthorized parties from gaining access to information will be taken through providing access to appropriate users via a username and password. Paper records are normally destroyed by secure means seven years after they are no longer required.

ACCURACY OF PERSONAL INFORMATION:

You have the right to request a change or amendment to your personal information if you believe the information in your file is inaccurate or incomplete.

ACCESS TO PERSONAL INFORMATION:

You have the right to access your personal information and to correct the information if it is shown to be inaccurate. For more information about your right to access, please contact the STARS owner, Stacie Johnston at sjohnston@starsns.ca

EXTERNAL LINKS:

This site contains links to other Web sites. When you click on links that take you to third party Web sites, you will be subject to the third parties’ privacy practices and policies. While we support the protection of privacy on the Internet, we are not responsible for the contents of third-party web sites or for their privacy practices. We encourage our users to be mindful of this fact when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of every website with which they interact.

QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THE WEBSITE:

You have the right to inquire or complain if you have concerns about the way we handle your personal information. If you have questions or concerns about privacy at starsns.ca, please contact the STARS owner, Stacie Johnston at sjohnston@starsns.ca