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Privacy Policy (DRAFT)

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California (LSSSC) is committed to protecting the privacy of our website visitors and online course participants on pss-training-lsssc.org.  This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, and share your personal information when you visit our website or participate in one of our online courses.

In 2020, California passed Senate Bill 803 that makes it possible for certified peer support specialists (PSS) to be eligible for Medi-Cal reimbursement through county mental health plans and substance use disorder plans (behavioral health plans).  This important step in the delivery of behavioral health care values the experience that peers — persons with lived experience — can provide and expands the state’s capacity to care for those who need services.

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), which oversees the administration of MediCal programs, and SB 803, which includes PSS training programs, has established the standards for training and certification to align with SB 803.

DHCS selected the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) to implement a single, state-wide, standardized Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist training and certification program.  This was done in recognition of the need for a uniform process across the state – one that does not require peers to obtain multiple certifications in multiple counties, supports quality and application of standards, creates efficiency for counties, and adds credibility to the peer profession in California.

After application, curriculum and process review, our PSS training programs were approved by the CalMHSA for state-wide use.  A condition of this approval requires LSSSC to collect, retain, and report individual and personal information from our students.  The types and data/information collected and how it is used and/or reported is listed below.

In addition, LSSSC has and continues to receive financial and administrative support for these PSS training programs from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI).  This state agency also has a set of mandatory data/information collection, retention and reporting requirements for students participating in our training programs.  The types and data/information collected and how it is used and/or reported is listed below.

 

What information do we collect?

We collect the following information from you when you visit our website or participate in one of our online courses:

  • Your name
  • Your email address
  • Your mailing address
  • Your phone number
  • Your county of residence
  • Your race/ethnicity
  • Your birth gender
  • Your date of birth
  • Your gender identity
  • Your sexual orientation
  • Your lived experience
  • Your age group
  • Your disability
  • Your military status
  • Your languages
  • Your previous program experience
  • Your career goals, survey, and questionnaire responses

If you are paying for your course work, we also collect the following information:

  • Your payment information

We also collect information about your website usage, such as the pages you visit, the links you click, and the time you spend on our website.  We use this information to improve our website and to provide you with a better user experience.

 

How do we use your information?

We use your information to:

  • Provide you with the online courses and other services that you request
  • Communicate with you about your account and your participation in our online courses
  • Send you marketing and promotional materials
  • Improve our website and our online courses
  • Comply with applicable laws and regulations
  • Comply with mandatory state agencies (DHCS, CalMHSA and HCAI) reporting requirements
  • Process and record payments

With whom do we share your information?

We may share your information with the following third parties:

  • Our service providers, who help us to operate our website and our online courses
  • Our funders, who support our work
  • Government agencies, as required by law and/or regulation

How do we protect your information?

We take steps to protect your information, including:

  • Using secure servers to store your information
  • Using encryption to protect your information when it is transmitted over the internet
  • Limiting access to your information to authorized employees
  • Implementing security measures to prevent unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction of your information
  • We do not sell or provide your personal information to anyone
  • The required data/information provided to DHCS, CalMSHA and HCAI is de-personalized prior to reporting.  Individually identifying information (name, address, date of birth) are removed.

Your rights

You have the following rights with respect to your personal information:

  • The right to access your personal information
  • The right to correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information
  • The right to have your personal information deleted
  • The right to object to the processing of your personal information
  • The right to restrict the processing of your personal information
  • The right to data portability
  • The right to withdraw your consent

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]

Changes to this privacy policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. If we make any significant changes, we will notify you by email or through a prominent notice on our website.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, please contact us at [email]

California Privacy Rights

In addition to the rights listed above, California residents have the following rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

  • The right to know what personal information we collect about you and how we use it
  • The right to delete your personal information
  • The right to opt out of the sale of your personal information
  • The right to non-discrimination for exercising your CCPA rights

To exercise your CCPA rights, please contact us at [email]