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Clients of the Bergen County Department of Human Services have a right to expect that all information about them will be held strictly confidential. The confidentiality of clients is held in the highest regard by the Department, and will not be violated verbally, electronically, or in written form. Personnel will exercise the utmost care and attention to safeguard and protect the privacy rights of clients and their families.
The following exemptions apply to our confidentiality policy:
- Child Abuse: We are required by law to report to the Division Youth and Family Services should there be reasonable suspicion of child abuse by a family member and if a non-family member is suspected.
- Duty to Warn: When an indication of serious intent to harm yourself or another person has occurred we must notify law enforcement.
- Homicidal/Suicidal Ideation: We must call law enforcement. For suicide the report is made via 262-HELP- the official screening agency in Bergen County.
- Drugs and Alcohol: The federal rules restrict any use of information to criminally investigate or prosecute any alcohol or drug abuse patient.
- Sexually related behaviors/pregnancy: Parents cannot receive or release information concerning an adolescent with out the adolescent's consent.
Please note the consent for release of information may be withdrawn at any time.
Definitions:
Confidentiality -
The protection and maintenance of the privacy
of information acquired about others for the purposes
of considering them for services and/or providing
services to them.
Release of Information - The
expression used to denote that a person has agreed
in writing to have some or all of his or her information
shared for the purpose of better serving the clients.
The release of information provided by a person
must be based on a person’s full understanding
of what information will be exchanged, with whom
it will be exchanged, how it will be used and
the duration of the release.
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