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D-2 Understand and comply with state and federal privacy and confidentiality laws <br />Action: The agency attorney must understand and comply with state and federal <br />privacy and confidentiality laws, including releases of information and protective <br />orders. The agency attorney should also develop protocols with the agency to help <br />the agency access confidential information from external sources when needed for <br />the case. Such methods might include obtaining court orders to access the <br />necessary information. <br />Commentary: Because the child welfare system directly impacts the lives of <br />children and families, there are numerous aspects of the system that are regulated <br />by confidentiality laws and procedures. For example, the identity of the child, <br />parents, and reporters, as well as treatment records and HIV status of any of the <br />parties, must all be kept confidential. Additionally, the agency attorney should be <br />aware of any HIPPA (medical records) or FERPA (education records) issues that <br />arise. The agency attorney should thoroughly understand these laws to help the <br />agency develop procedures, for example, concerning redacting confidential <br />information from case files for discovery, and following them. <br />D-3 Initiate and maintain positive working relationships with other professionals in <br />the child welfare system <br />Action: Because of the crucial. role the agency attorney plays in the child welfare <br />system, he or she should build relationships with the other professionals in the <br />system. These include, but are not limited to: <br />• Judges <br />• Court staff <br />• Opposing counsel <br />• Child advocates, both attorney and nonattorney <br />• Criminal prosecutors <br />• CASAs <br />• Child Advocacy Centers <br />• Multidisciplinary Teams/Child Fatality Review Teains <br />• Key service providers <br />• Medical and mental health professionals <br />• School staff <br />• Other local child-centered organizations <br />Commentary: Maintaining positive relationships with other professionals will <br />benefit the agency on individual cases as well as during times of reform. When <br />these community members believe their opinion is valued and they are an integral <br />part of the child welfare system as a whole, they will lend their support in different <br />ways, such as when the agency seeks legislative support or buy-in for new projects. <br />D-4 Play and active role in deciding whether the child should testify and/or be <br />present in the courtroom during hearings <br />17 <br />~. <br />