NYLPI - New York Lawyers for the Public Interest Inc.

11/22/2024 | Press release | Archived content

Urgent Call to Action: Help Protect Nonprofits’ Client Confidentiality

Urgent Call to Action: Help Protect Nonprofits' Client Confidentiality

November 22, 2024

Community Justice, Disability Justice, Immigrant Justice, Medical Access, News, Nonprofit Toolkit, Pro Bono Clearinghouse, Uncategorized

NYLPI hopes that you will join us in an important advocacy effort to protest confidentiality for vulnerable clients. The Lawyers Alliance for New York and the New York Legal Services Coalition (NYLPI is a founding member) have created a joint sign-on letter to Governor Hochul, urging immediate action to safeguard nonprofits' client confidentiality. Please read the letter and sign on by EOD Monday, 11/25.

Under recently revised NY State Master Contract language, client data is the property of the State, threatening the security of vulnerable communities including immigrants, the LGBTQIA+ community, and domestic violence survivors. By preventing nonprofits from using this client data to provide services to those outside of the State-funded program, current state contract language also poses a significant barrier to justice.

In light of the election, there are growing concerns regarding potential efforts aimed at forcing states to disclose confidential information of these communities under threat. It is imperative that nonprofits take proactive measures to safeguard our clients' sensitive information. Nonprofit client confidentiality is crucial for enabling organizations to provide vital services to immigrants, the LGBTQIA+ community, and domestic violence survivors in need who have no other options. As nonprofits, we must do what we can to protect the sensitive personal information of these communities and to establish trust within clients.

What can you do? Sign on to this letter to join us in our call urging Gov. Hochul to take immediate action to protect Nonprofits client confidentiality and to protect immigrants, the LGBTQIA+ community and domestic violence survivors in this time.

Click here to read the letter and add your organization's name to the list.