Code of Massachusetts Regulations
110 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Title 110 CMR 12.00 - Records
Section 12.06 - Release of Information - Providers

(1) The Department may release to any Department provider or other individual or entity acting at the Department's request, any records, documents, or information which in the judgment of the Department is necessary for service delivery to children in the care or custody of the Department.

Commentary

In order to adequately serve the children in its care and custody, the Department must necessarily release a variety of personal information about a child (as well as the child's family and other third parties) to a variety of providers or other individuals who serve the child, such as the child's doctor, dentist, psychiatrist, hospital, school, foster parents, day care center, private placement or adoption agency, camp, etc. Providers (e.g. day care centers, camps, etc.) under contract with the Department may receive and hold information from the Department, subject to the same restrictions upon release as apply to the Department. Other individuals or entities (e.g. doctors, hospitals, schools, etc.) may be given so much information as is, in the Department's judgment, necessary for them to provide needed services.

(2) Only employees of the Department may release information from Department files. Only the Commissioner or his/her designee may release information from the Departments Central Registry. Agencies or providers under contract with the Department holding Department records must consult the Department before releasing any information or documents from the Department's files.