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Committee adopts rule emphasizing broader disclosure of child-welfare information to foster caregivers
Summary
The Senate Health & Welfare Committee approved a rule shifting the department's posture toward sharing more child-protection and placement information with foster parents and other caregivers, subject to legal limits and privacy protections.
The committee approved a rule docket revising the department's approach to use and disclosure of Department of Health and Welfare records, including provisions that emphasize sharing relevant information with foster parents and caregivers to promote better placements.
Jared Larson said the rule change "turns that on its head to state to the maximum extent possible without violating law or rule" and is intended to ensure foster parents and others who support placements have needed information. Larson described a House Committee example involving an infant victim of abuse where fuller information "could have improved" a placement.
Committee members asked whether the expanded disclosure could apply to schools or health providers and how confidentiality safeguards would be preserved. Larson said the change allows discretion to release necessary information to those who need it while complying with legal limits and that some information remains restricted. Senator Wintrow commented that this aligns the department's posture with the spirit of helping children rather than strictly the letter of the law.
Senator Wintrow moved to accept the docket (16-050-120-401) and Senator Blaylock seconded; the motion carried on a voice vote.
