Section 408.125  Confidentiality of Records and Information

a)         The caregiver shall respect the confidential nature of the child and family records.

b)         Information pertaining to the admission, progress, health, or discharge of an individual child shall be confidential and limited to authorized representatives of the Department, caregivers and assistants unless the parent(s) of the child has granted written permission for its disclosure or dissemination.

1)         The facility shall have confidentiality release forms signed by the parents which specifies to whom information may be released and how long the release form is valid.  Such release forms shall be on file at the facility prior to release of information.

2)         If information is requested by outside persons or agencies, a specific written request signed by the person requesting the information shall be obtained and placed on file at the facility prior to the release of confidential information.

c)         Nothing in this Section shall be construed to relieve the caregiver(s) or other persons of their responsibility to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the Department or  to report communicable disease(s) among children, staff or members of the household to the local health department of the Illinois Department of Public Health.