What are the requirements for children’s records?
Any identifying and personal information about a child and the child’s family must be kept confidential as required by chapter 26.33 RCW. These records must be kept in a secure place inaccessible to clients, unauthorized staff and the public. (WAC 388-147-1525)

It is the policy of Joining Hands Visitation in conjunction with state regulations that all information concerning clients is to be treated as confidential. All employees, volunteers, interns, visitors, researchers, auditors, or anyone else coming into contact with agency or client data are required to adhere to this regulation.

Procedures:

1. Agency Compliance

All employees must sign the acknowledgement of the agency’s Confidentiality Policy, which outlines these policies and affirms the employee’s compliance.

2. Client Compliance

Each client will be notified of their rights to confidentiality and their responsibility to protect the confidentiality of other clients.

The following items must be specifically filled in or addressed on the form:

• The name of the programs, agencies, or individuals is allowed to release or receive the confidential information
• The name of the client the disclosure concerns
• The extent or nature of information to be disclosed
• The purpose or need for disclosure
• A statement that the consent of the subject to revocation at any time except to the extent that action has been taken in reliance upon it, and a specification of the date, event, or condition upon which it will expire without expressed revocation
• The date on which the consent is signed
• The signature of the client, and when required, the signature of a persona authorized to give consent