Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 12, March 26, 2025
(a) Individual
identifiable information contained in the CONNECTIONS system is confidential
and may be disclosed only in a manner consistent with applicable statutory and
regulatory standards.
(1) Individual
identifiable information regarding children in foster care and their families
is confidential and access to such information is allowable only pursuant to
the standards set forth in sections
372,
373-a,
409-e and
409-f of
the Social Services Law and applicable OCFS regulations including sections
357.3,
428.8, 430.12 and
431.12 of this Title.
(2) Individual identifiable information
regarding children and families receiving preventive services is confidential
and access to such information is allowable only pursuant to the standards set
forth in sections
409-e and
409-f of
the Social Services Law and applicable OCFS regulations including section
423.7 of this Title.
(3) Individual identifiable information
regarding adoption assistance and adoption services is confidential and access
to such information is allowable only pursuant to the standards set forth in
section
114 of
the Domestic Relations Law, sections
4138-c,
4138-d and
4138-e of
the Public Health Law, sections
136,
373-a and
409-f of
the Social Services Law and applicable OCFS regulations including section
357.3 of this Title.
(4) Individual identifiable information
regarding child protective services is confidential and access to such
information is allowable only pursuant to the standards set forth in sections
422
(4),
422
(5),
422
(6),
422
(7),
422-a,
424
(4) and
424
(5) of the Social Services Law and applicable
OCFS regulations including section
432.7 of this Title.
(5) In addition to the standards set forth in
paragraphs (1)-(4) of this subdivision, information contained in the
CONNECTIONS system is subject to all other applicable Federal and State
confidentiality standards, including but not limited to, those set forth in
article 27-F of the Public Health Law regarding confidential HIV-related
information and section
459-g of
the Social Services Law regarding the street address of residential programs
for victims of domestic violence.
(b) Consistent with applicable statute and
regulation, an employee of OCFS, a social services district or a public or
private agency providing child welfare services may have access to client
identifiable information contained in the CONNECTIONS system only when access
to such information is necessary for the employee to perform his or her
specific job responsibilities.
(c)
Each social services district and each public or private agency providing child
welfare services that has access to the CONNECTIONS system must develop and
implement policies and practices to maintain the confidentiality of individual
identifiable information contained in the CONNECTIONS system consistent with
applicable statutes and regulations including the taking of disciplinary action
against any employee who fails to comply with the confidentiality standards set
forth in this Part.
