What is the process for obtaining a valid authorization
The initial conversation you have with the client about his/her right to privacy is important for building trust. There is often a sense of urgency when meeting with clients because they may feel the need for immediate assistance and you are anxious to get assistance for them. If authorizations for the release of information are needed, it makes sense to get them in place quickly. But when you are asking your clients for permission to share their personal information you are asking for their trust. How you conduct that initial conversation is essential to trust-building. Use your judgment if you think it would be better to have this conversation in a second or later meeting, after you have built more rapport. But no matter when you introduce the subject, let’s look at how you might discuss the issue of confidentiality, including the right to privacy, the advantages of sharing information, and the limits to privacy (such as mandated reporting).
The Department has created a document “Tools to Protect Clients’ Right to Privacy” to help you share information safely. The tools include three sample authorization forms:
- Client Authorization to Release Information – General
- Client Authorization to Release Information – Financial
- Client Authorization to Release Information – Dorothea Dix and Riverview