Miami Rescue Mission (The Caringplace) recognizes our obligation to respect and protect the privacy of our clients and those that come to our centers for services. We adhere to the following guidelines to protect your identity and confidentiality.
Miami Rescuw Mission is a partner in the Miami-Dade County Continuum of Care (CoC) HMIS (this is an information system database). Miami-Dade CoC HMIS partner agencies work together to provide services to persons and families who are experiencing homelessness. When you request or receive services, we may collect data about you and your household that may be shared with other Miami-Dade CoC HMIS partner agencies. Sharing your data allows service providers to see if they have housing services that fit your needs and for the purpose of ensuring effective coordination of services. It does not guarantee that you will receive housing.
The Miami-Dade County Continuum of Care (CoC) is administered by the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust (the “Homeless Trust”) and local agencies provide housing and services (“providers”). When you request services through the CoC, information about you and members of your family that are with you is entered into a computer system called the Homeless Management Information System (“HMIS”), which is managed by the Homeless Trust. Such information is used by the Homeless Trust and local providers participating in the CoC to better organize and deliver housing and services to Miami-Dade County individuals and families who are homeless, formerly homeless or at-risk of homelessness. Providers and the Homeless Trust share and utilize information about you and members of your family under an HMIS Participation Agreement (hereafter parties to the HMIS Participation Agreement referred to as “HMIS-Participating Providers”).
Who can have access to your information?
Agencies and/or organizations that participate in the HMIS Database can have access to your data. These agencies and/or organizations may include homeless service funders/providers, housing providers, healthcare providers, and governmental agencies. Additional agencies and/or organizations may join the Miami-Dade CoC HMIS at any time and will also have access to your data.
How will my data be protected?
Your information is protected by the federal HMIS Privacy Standards, is secured by passwords and encryption technology and the HMIS application incorporates industry standard security protocols, and is updated regularly to meet these security standards. In addition, each participating organization has signed a Contributing HMIS Organization (CHO) agreement to maintain the security and confidentiality of the information. In some instances, when the participating organization is a health care organization, your information may be protected by the privacy standards of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
How do I benefit by providing the requested information and sharing it with other agencies?
By sharing your information with other agencies, you may be able to avoid being screened again, get services faster, and minimize how many times you have to tell your “story.” You also help agencies document the need for services and funding.
Client Informed Consent/Authorization for Release of Information (ROI). You will have the option to authorize a consent form for release of information. When you sign this form, it shows that you understand the following: