Which practice best protects a child's confidentiality?

• A. Restrict access to authorized personnel and share only as allowed by law and consent
• B. Leave records unlocked
• C. Post on bulletin board
• D. Share with all staff

Answer: (A)

Protecting a child’s confidentiality means keeping their information private and sharing it only with people who genuinely need to know, and only with proper consent or as allowed by law. The best practice is to restrict access to records to authorized personnel and share information only when there is a legitimate need to know and with consent or as required by law. This safeguards the child’s privacy, reduces the risk of harm from disclosures, and helps ensure compliance with legal and agency policies.

Leaving records unlocked makes sensitive information visible to anyone in the vicinity, which breaches privacy and can put the child at risk. Posting confidential information on a bulletin board makes it accessible to people who have no business seeing it, and sharing with all staff goes far beyond what is necessary for anyone’s role. In contrast, access should be limited to those who need it to support the child’s well-being and services, with appropriate safeguards and documentation for any disclosures.