There have been efforts on the part of government and businesses to protect the confidentiality of client information. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Commission on Certification and Accreditation (USCCB/CCA) has always taken seriously the confidentiality of the information it possesses about programs, organizations, and arch/diocesan offices that maintain files with the USCCB/CCA. The USCCB/CCA Board of Directors would like you to be aware of the safeguards in place to protect this information:

1. We believe that privacy is important to all programs and organizations that have established a relationship with the USCCB/CCA by opening a file, and we are committed to maintaining the confidentiality and security of information pertaining to the forms, letters, reports, complaints, and grievance procedures in those files. Therefore, we shall protect such information by maintaining physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that meet those required by the USCCB/CCA policies and procedures, the USCCB/CCA Code of Ethics and Ethical Practices, and the law.

 
2. We shall restrict access to information about a program to the director of that program, access to information about the files of an organization to the executive director or president of that organization, and access to information about the certification files to the arch/diocesan director of the arch/diocesan office.

 
3. We shall not disclose information about the contents of a file to any external agent unless authorized in writing to do so by the director of that particular program, the executive director or president of that particular organization, the director of an arch/diocesan office, or as required by law.

 
4. We shall not sell information about any program, organization, or arch/diocesan office on file with the USCCB/CCA.

 
5. Only the staff of the USCCB/CCA office is authorized to have access to the USCCB/CCA files containing information relating to a program, organization, or arch/diocesan office.

 
6. We shall treat information about a program, organization, or arch/diocesan office that has closed a file with the USCCB/CCA in the same manner that we treat information about a program, organization, or arch/diocesan office that maintains an active file.

If you have questions or concerns regarding the confidentiality of the information found in the file of your program or organization, please contact the USCCB/CCA Executive Director.