Frequently Asked Questions on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Confidentiality Provision
All grantees and subgrantees receiving VAWA funding are required to protect the confidentiality and privacy of persons to whom those grantees and subgrantees are providing services. This FAQ answers common questions on how to uphold your confidentiality responsibilities.
Confidentiality Institute helps non-profit organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions to solve confidentiality challenges. They will work with your organization or community collaboration to provide customized interactive training, on-call technical assistance, and localized toolkits to promote best practices.
The Safety Net Project for Technology Safety
Four in-depth toolkits from the National Network to End Domestic Violence on technology and safety. The Confidentiality Toolkit is meant to help providers and agencies understand and follow the confidentiality obligations mandated by the funding they receive through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), and related state and federal privacy laws. The Survivor Toolkit, Agency Toolkit, and Legal Systems Toolkit contain safety tips, information, and privacy strategies for survivors on the use of technology, safety and privacy tips for agencies using technology to provide services and manage data, and helps legal system stakeholders identify what technology is relevant to a case and how to use technology evidence to hold offenders accountable.
An in-depth confidentiality manual from the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence outlining best practice considerations as a tool for service provider programs to use while developing and revising confidentiality and record-keeping policies.
Negotiating Successfully with Allies Around Confidentiality (Webinar, 90 min)
Webinar from the Battered Women’s Justice Project using proven negotiation, communication, and listening techniques to help community allies break down barriers, protect confidentiality and achieve community-level goals.