Programs

Accessing Services

Access to programming and services are often a barrier for women and children exposed to woman abuse.  The HEAL Network is committed to breaking down this barrier, by making programming as accessible as possible.  The following are some ways that HEAL makes its programming accessible to women and children:

d All HEAL services are free of charge

d In group programming, HEAL provides nutritious meals to families (breakfast or

        dinner, depending on time of group)

d HEAL provides the Helping Mothers and Children Survive Abuse Together

        (HMCSAT) groups in various languages.  Should there not be a language or

        culturally specific group running at any given time, HEAL will provide cultural

        interpreters

d All HEAL groups are located in convenient areas throughout Brampton and

         Mississauga.  Group locations are accessible through transit

d Heal will provide assistance with transportation

d We can be contacted by phone at 905. 450.1608 X119, in person at 10

        Gillingham Drive, Ste 201 in Brampton or by fax at 905.450-8902

Facilitators

The HEAL Network contracts facilitators for group programming, who represent diversity through culture, language, education level and work experience.  The HEAL Network recognizes that this diversity is important, as it also reflects the diversity of HEAL’s clients, as well as the Peel community at large.

All facilitators are trained in the area of the effects of woman abuse on children. Facilitators undergo a police check prior to being hired and all sign an oath of confidentiality.  

Confidentiality

All client information is kept confidential. This includes all written notes about a client, formal and informal, which are part of the client record and kept in the client’s file.

Confidentiality prohibits information about a client being released to, or obtained from, anyone without the client’s informed consent except when the law or professional ethics require an employee, student or volunteer to release client information.

The law requires the following exceptions to confidentiality:

d If a child under the age of 16 years is in need of protection from physical or sexual

         abuse, serious emotional abuse or neglect, then, the staff person, student or

         volunteer must report this information to the Children’s Aid Society

d If a judge orders the release of information during a legal proceeding, the agency

         may be forced to release files and staff may be subpoenaed to testify

d     If a client reveals abuse by a regulated health professional, this must be reported

Agency policy exceptions to confidentiality:

d Situations in which the client is at risk to physically harm self or others

d Client information may be shared within the agency during supervision, clinical

         meetings or consultations with other staff members as part of the service planning

         and review of the counseling work with clients

d Client records may be read by representatives of Catholic Charities or the Family

         Service of Ontario Association during periodic accreditation reviews of the

         Agency’s work. These professionals are bound by principles of confidentiality.

To view the Helping Mothers & Children Surviving Abuse Together program information in Spanish, Polish, Punjabi and Portuguese you must have a current version of Acrobat Reader. Please follow the link to download a free copy.