I’m 15 and think I’m pregnant. I want to talk to someone but don’t want my parents to know. Will you tell them?
No. Youth over the age of 12 can legally talk to a counsellor without their parents’ consent. The information you tell the counsellor is confidential. We would only break your confidence under the following circumstances:
- where a worker suspects child abuse and is obliged to report to the Children’s Aid Society;
- where agency/worker records and /or a worker have be subpoenaed by the court to release information; and/or
- where a worker has reason to believe an individual is going to harm or is at risk of harming him/herself or someone else.
I don’t want anyone to know that I need help. Can we meet somewhere else?
Yes, we meet individuals in schools, our offices, homes or a safe, convenient location. Speak to your worker to consider alternative locations.
Who will find out about my problems if I come to see you?
First our Intake Worker will discuss your concerns with you. The agency Supervisor will also be advised of your request for service to assign a worker. Our service is provided in the context of supervision and multi-disciplinary teams. Pertinent information about you may be shared within the agency with supervisors, allied professionals e.g. consulting psychiatrist, co-workers and or administrative staff on a need-to-know basis. If there is more than one worker in our agency involved with you, they will meet as a team to develop to ensure their service delivery is coordinated and efficient.
All workers are bound by overall policies of ethics and confidentiality. Our workers must receive your consent to share information about you with other people or professionals outside of Point in Time.
Do you charge a fee for services?
Most of our services are funded by the provincial government and are free. Some services not fully funded do have fees e.g. respite, volunteer driving. We do assist families to access financial assistance programs to help offset these costs when appropriate.
If I call your office for help, how much do I have to tell the person who answers the phone?
First you will be directed to our Intake Worker. She will ask you questions about your child and your family example: name of child and other family members, birthdates, medical, social, emotional behavioural concerns, your address and phone number, what worries you have or why you are calling for help, what strategies you have tried or other agencies you may have been involved with. Because we offer a wide range of services for different age groups we need as much information as possible right