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Exception: Information disclosed to DCF employees in the performance of official duties.

Case Information Made Available to the Participant:

Information entered in the case record, unless already purged, is made available for inspection and copying upon request of the participant or the participant’s guardians at a time mutually agreeable to the agency and client or guardian, except as set forth below:

▪ Case information is not disclosed over the telephone. ▪ Information provided by other DCF programs, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Rehabilitation Services, and non-medical mental health providers is not made available to the participant. ▪ Second party information (medical, psychiatric or investigative reports, social histories, summaries, evaluations, school records, etc.) compiled and provided by medical practitioners or non-DCF professionals/agencies and DCF summaries of these documents are not released. ▪ When a specific request for disclosure of second-party information is received, the participant/guardian is advised that the information must be obtained directly from the practitioner, professional or agency that compiled the information, unless the second party provides DCF with a signed written consent to disclose the information. ▪ The names and addresses of complainants or informants are not made available to the participant.

Case Information Available to DCF Employees:

Case information is disclosed to DCF employees only when the information is needed in the performance of official duties.

▪ Information is not disclosed over the phone, unless the caller has adequately identified himself/herself by name, DCF position and place of DCF employment. ▪ Information concerning a recipient is not disclosed to another DCF employee without the signed written consent of the recipient unless the purpose of such disclosure relates to the administration of a State or federally assisted program that provides assistance, in cash or in kind, or services directly to individuals on the basis of need for which the employee is responsible. ▪ When there is some question as to the disclosure of information to another DCF employee, the question is referred to the DCF Regional Director for clearance.

Case Information Available to Non-DCF Employees/Sources:

All case information is disclosed to auditors performing official auditing duties after they have adequately identified themselves by showing official identification credentials.