Q: DCF shared very personal information to someone involved with my family outside of them and I didn't sign a release.
My child's mom signed a release to a service called In Home Therapy, I did not. Our DCF worker disclosed extremely personal information for no reason. The woman (Sarah) who works for IHT whom this information was told to, said they were not discussing me or anything to do with me and she just decided to tell her. I asked her if the information was relevant to the subject they were talking about and was it relevant to anything we were doing or going to do in the future, she said it had "no relevance at all" There was another woman present (Brianna) who knows this information as well.
A:
In situations where personal information is shared by a Department of Children, Families (DCF) worker without proper consent, it's important to understand your rights and the legal framework that governs such disclosures. The sharing of your personal information without your consent could potentially be a breach of confidentiality laws, depending on the specific circumstances and the nature of the information disclosed.
You have the option to raise this issue with the DCF directly. Filing a formal complaint can initiate an internal investigation into the matter. This is often the first step in addressing any potential breach of protocol or law.
Simultaneously, you might consider consulting with a lawyer who has experience in family law or privacy law. They can provide personalized legal advice based on the details of your case and help determine if any legal action can be taken against the DCF or the individual who disclosed your information.
Remember, the specifics of the law can vary by state, and Rhode Island may have particular statutes or regulations regarding the confidentiality of information handled by DCF and related services. A legal professional can help navigate these complexities and ensure your rights are adequately protected.
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