Any client shall have access to their case record, except for adoption and termination case records, which may only be shared upon receipt of a court order from the court of jurisdiction that granted the adoption and/or termination. Before a client can have access to their case record, staff must comply with confidentiality laws so that proper disclosure is made. A request for case records from anyone not expressly permitted by Kentucky Revised Statue (KRS) without legal access will be subject to disclosure only upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction. If a client requests for someone other than him/herself to review their case record, they are required to provide Records Management Section with a signed authorization to allow access/disclosure of the case record.
A copy of notice outlining regulations governing the access and disclosure of public records of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) will be displayed in a prominent location in every office to which the public has access.
If anyone comes to a local or regional office and makes a request for records or an open records request, staff cannot give them any case information. Staff must follow the procedures discussed in this SOP. The Division of Administrative and Financial Managment (DAFM) Records Management Section will generate all correspondence regarding open records requests. The local DCBS office does not generate any correspondence regarding open records requests.