News

Latest Statewide News

November 8, 2007

PA Legislators Propose Change to Confidentiality Rights for Children and Families

There are currently two bills (SB 481 and HB 1220) regarding confidentiality for children and families involved with Child Welfare or Juvenile Probation Offices. 

The primary concern is that the proposed legislation takes away the protections of Pennsylvania confidentiality laws from vulnerable children.  In addition, the legislation has been developed without input from youth and families – those who would be directly impacted. Or, from advocacy organizations who work to protect the rights of children.

The Juvenile Law Center (JLC) joined by a number of other organizations communicated their opposition to SB 481, which is likely to move in the near future.

• Read the Bills
  You can read these bills by entering their numbers on the PA Legislative web site. SB 481 and HB 1220.
• National Resource
  In October 2006, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention within the U.S. Department of Justice published Guidelines for Juvenile Information Sharing, which outlines best practice standards for the development of information sharing projects between juvenile justice and other child-serving agencies.
  
  The purpose of the guidelines is to improve information sharing among key agencies responsible for community safety and the health and well-being of at-risk youth and juvenile offenders.