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MS 0190 (1) Volume 1 – General Administration MS 0190 – R. 6/1/11 – OMTL-389 Agreement to Safeguard Information An agency, organization, or school may obtain recipient information if a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Safeguarding Information in Public Assistance Programs and Business Associate Agreement has been completed with the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS). These are confidentiality agreements that are negotiated and maintained by staff in the Division of Family Support (DFS). [A. To qualify to enter into an MOU, a requesting agency must meet the following criteria:] 1. The agency must be federally funded; 2. The agency must provide needs-based services, where eligibility is based on an income test; and 3. Staff of the agency must be subject to the same confidentiality requirements as Cabinet employees. B. Examples of agencies that meet the above criteria include public housing authorities and public Boards of Education. C. Organizations which do not meet the criteria include churches, associations sponsored by religious groups, civic clubs, United Way, the Red Cross, individuals such as temporary help in the local offices, custodians, guards, repairmen, summer workers, landlords, or students working on research papers. Case information can only be released to these groups/individuals if the recipient completes form DCBS-1, Informed Consent and Release of Information and Records, or DCBS-1A Supplement. [D. If an agency/organization/school meeting requirements in item A requests client information and does not have a current signed MOU agreement with DCBS, contact the Policy Development Branch (PDB). E. Staff in PDB: 1. Will initiate completion of the MOU directly with the agency; and] 2. Send out renewal agreements every two years to agencies that have an existing MOU. F. A listing of all currently active confidentiality agreements is maintained with DFS. To inquire about the status of a confidentiality agreement, contact PDB.