PRIVACY POLICY

RDRC is committed to assuring the privacy of individuals and/or families who have contacted us for assistance. We realize that the concerns you bring to us are highly personal in nature. We assure you that all information shared both orally and in writing will be managed within legal and ethical considerations. Your “nonpublic personal information,” such as your total debt information, income, living expenses and personal information concerning your financial circumstances, will be provided to creditors, program monitors, and others only with your authorization and signature on the Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Agreement. We may also use anonymous aggregated case file information for the purpose of evaluating our services, gathering valuable research information and designing future programs.

Types of information that we gather about you
•Information we receive from you orally, on applications or other forms, such as yourname, address, social security number, assets, and income.
•Information about your transactions with us, your creditors, or others, such as your account balance, payment history, parties to transactions and credit card usage; and
•Information we receive from a credit reporting agency, such as your credit history and credit score. 

You may opt-out of certain disclosures
You can “opt-out” of disclosures of your nonpublic personal information to third parties (such as your creditors), that is, direct us not to make those disclosures.

If you choose to “opt-out”, we will not be able to answer questions from your creditors. If at any time, you wish to change your decision with regard to your “opt-out”, you may call us at 718-327-5300 and do so.

Release of your information to third parties
So long as you have not opted-out, we may disclose some or all of the information that we collect, as described above, to your creditors or third parties where we have determined that it would be helpful to you, would aid us in counseling you, or is a requirement of grant awards which make our services possible.

We may also disclose any nonpublic personal information about you or former
customers to anyone as permitted by law (e.g., if we are compelled by legal process).

Within the organization, we restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you to those employees who need to know that information to provide services to you. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard your nonpublic personal information.

No information requested by someone outside RDRC will be given over the telephone. Staff is structed to respond with the statement, “RDRC’s policy does not permit me to give out this information.” That includes whether a person is or has been served by RDRC.

Release-of-information forms, “Letter of Authorization,” will be explained and completed in the presence of the person about whom any information may be released before it is released.

No information about individuals or records will be released to state, federal or other agency that enable the identification of any person by name, address, Social Security number or other coding procedures.

If records are inspected by an outside agency, the individual(s) who inspect the records must be specifically authorized to so by the Executive Director. The taking of notes or copying or removal of records is specifically prohibited in such cases.

Employees will not discuss any individua’s record with unauthorized individuals, whether on or off duty. All employees are required to sign a confidentiality acknowledgment stating their responsibility and commitment regarding client information.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Thank you for utilizing our CMS intake service.

You are entitled to receive the full range of activities, products and services identified with the service you requested.

Rockaway Development and Revitalization Corporation is a HUD Certified Housing Counseling Agency, which also provides services in:
- Business & Entrepreneneurship Development
- Credit Counseling Services ($35/Tri-merge Credit Report)
- Employment Services
- Financial Management Services
- Housing Counseling
- Small Business Growth Fund
- Youth Leadership Development

RDRC states that it is not in partnership with any financial institution or real estate service requiring referrals from us. We do not provide any mortgage or real estate services.

RDRC wishes you to know that your participation in any one of our programs does not require or compel you to use any of our related or additional services or any services offered by our partners.
 

PHOTO & VIDEO RELEASE FORM

By accepting this section, the participant agrees to the Photo/Video terms stated below. If they choose not to participate; please do not sign this document.

I hereby authorize and permit the Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation (RDRC) or its authorized agent, without compensation therefore, permission to photograph, publish, reproduce, record and use, with or without my name. This includes, but is not limited to, photographs, quotes and/or text, motion pictures, videotapes, web site pages and personal stories or audio tapes of and/or by me.

I release RDRC from any and all legal liability that may arise from the release of information requested. I agree that all text, Web information hypertext, photographs, motion pictures, negatives, prints and transparencies, video tapes and audio tapes made by me, by or for RDRC, shall be the exclusive property of RDRC, which in its sole discretion may use this material as it sees fit in any medium or forum.

I, the undersigned, certify that all information on this form is true and correct. I understand that my statements are subject to verification. I further understand that any false statements may subject me to criminal prosecution under both New York State Penal Laws, section 175.35 and Federal Law, 18 U.S.C.A. 1001, and to civil action for return of all monies received. I agree and accept that I will abide by all applicable rules and regulations of this program. CERTIFICATION OF ACCURACY