Procedures to Protect Confidentiality

Constantine, Aronson, and Wilber (1994) list the following standards under Procedures to Protect Confidentiality:

• Standard 4.15 - "Agencies and partnerships should establish thorough and ongoing programs of staff instruction on issues of confidentiality." (p. 112)

• Standard 4.16 - "When individuals or agencies request information about a client, agencies should not provide any client information or even confirm that the client is receiving services unless the agency receives proper authorization to release the information." (p. 113)

• Standard 4.17 - Agencies or partnerships should appoint one staff member as a 'Gatekeeper' to respond to all requests for client information when there is no written release permitting release of the requested information." (p. 114)

• Standard 4.18 - "Agencies should require all employees to sign a confidentiality oath, pledging not to disclose confidential information discovered in the course of work, as a condition of employment." (p. 114)

• Standard 4.19 - "Interagency partnerships should execute written agreements among the participating agencies to facilitate sharing of client information. Each interagency agreement should specify:

• What information will be shared.

• How the information will be shared.

• Who will have access to the information.

• The purposes for information sharing.

• Assurances by participating agencies that they will not disclose the information further except as dictated by the agreement and will resist other efforts to obtain the information.

• Other requirements mandated by applicable confidentiality provisions." (p. 115)

• Standard 4.20 - "When referring a client to another agency for services, the initial agency should inform the client of the referral and alert the receiving agency if confidential client information accompanies the referral." (p. 116)

• Standard 4.21 - "Agencies should document all requests for client information and any client information actually released." (p. 116)

  References