Presentation Slides

Information SharingA Call to Action: Building Partnerships for SaferCommunities: Tools for Change

The Goal:Safer CommunitiesChildren, Youth and Families

…but sometimes…

Let’s get together and help!!

But wait….…what about the privacy laws?

To name a few• Provincial– The Freedom of Information and Protection of PrivacyAct– The Local Authority Freedom of Information andProtection of Privacy Act– The Health Information Protection Act• Federal– Youth Criminal Justice Act– Access to Information Act– Privacy Act– Personal Information and Protection of ElectronicDocuments Act (private sector)

So is it OK to share?Sorting out the Web

The “privacy” laws protect personalinformation, but…• They are not permanently lockedvaults• They allow sharing in manycircumstances – typically:• With consent• For the purpose the information wascollected• Without consent where allowed

FOIP – for example• With consent• For the purpose the information was gathered ora consistent purpose• To a prescribed law enforcement agency for thepurpose of enforcing a law or carrying out aninvestigation• Where necessary to protect the mental orphysical health or safety of any individual• Other• Similar in LAFOIP, HIPA, etc.

A simple checklistDetermine if you are subject to FOIP, LAFOIP,HIPA, etcIdentify the needs and risksWhat, when, with whom do you need to shareIs there authority to proceed?How is the information protected?Document, document, document - including:ProtocolsInformation Sharing Agreements, if neededGuidelinesEducate, monitor and follow-up

Are you subject to a privacy law?FOIPLAFOIPHIPAPrivacy ActAccess toInformationPIPEDASaskatchewan ministries, boards,commission, Crowns, etc.Municipalities, regional healthauthorities, school boards, postsecondary,othersHealth trustees (RHAs, government,health sector)Federal government agenciesFederal government agenciesOrganizations engaged incommercial activities (private sector)

Identify needs and risk• Do you need to share personal information or personalhealth information?– Make a list of common scenarios• Assessing the need and risks– Check for authority to share in these scenarios– Privacy impact assessment / privacy tools(http://www.oipc.sk.ca/resources.htm)(http://www.justice.gov.sk.ca/AP-Privacy)– Look for alternate strategies• Summary reporting, de-identified information, aggregate data• Are there existing protocols? E.g.:– Provincial Child Abuse Protocol; Community Threat Assessmentand Support Protocol; Guidelines for Information Sharing relatedto the Youth Criminal Justice Act

Document your understanding:Information Sharing AgreementsTypically include the following:– Roles and responsibilities of each party– Purpose for sharing• What personal information will be shared for what purpose• Identify secondary use such as research, evaluation– Authorities for collection, use, disclosure– Safeguards – how will the information be protected– Access to record by individuals– Accuracy– Compliance monitoring• http://www.justice.gov.sk.ca/PISAG2G

Educate, monitor, follow-up• Make sure all understand guidelines forsharing – when is it OK, when is it not OK• Create extra tools:– Red Light, Green Light– FAQs– Top ten sharing needs and appropriateresponse• Educate, educate, educate• Monitor compliance

Information Sharing IssuesWorking Group• Inter-ministerial working group examining issuesaround information sharing in support of child,youth and family• Chaired by Justice• Membership from Justice (formerly JAG andCPSP), Education, Health, Social Services• Recommend improvements, training, tools toimprove appropriate information sharing whilemaintaining respect for privacy

Duane MombourquetteMinistry of Justiceduane.mombourquette@gov.sk.cawww.justice.gov.sk.ca/accessandprivacy