A mandated reporter shall make a report to an agency specified in Penal Code 11165.9 whenever the mandated reporter has knowledge or observes a child reasonably suspected of being a victim of child abuse or neglect. The mandated reported shall make an immediate initial report, followed by a written report which may include any nonprivileged documentary evidence relating to the incident. Failure to report is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail, fine of one thousand dollars or both.
Authorized persons within county health departments shall be permitted to receive copies of any reports made by health practitioners. The Department of Justice is not required to disclose information contained in its records of child abuse and severe neglect index or records from its investigations of out-of-home care abuse. Disclosure of any reports or records of child abuse or neglect is not permitted if the disclosure would be prohibited by any other state or federal laws.
The Department of Justice shall maintain an index of all reports of child abuse and severe neglect submitted by mandated reporters. The department shall maintain a repository of reports in the Child Abuse Central Index. Information from an inconclusive report filed by mandated reporters shall be deleted from the Child Abuse Central Index after 10 years if no subsequent report is received within that time period.
After a mandated report is made, the investigating agency shall inform the mandated reporter of the results of the investigation and of any action the agency is taking with regard to the child or family.
Women prisoners who participate in the survey sample of children of incarcerated parents shall provide written permission that allows the California Research Bureau access to their children's records like medical records (including drug or alcohol use and mental health). The California Research Bureau shall follow appropriate procedures to ensure confidentiality of the records and to protect the privacy of the survey participants and their children.
Prescribing Physician's Statement must include the diagnosis of the child's condition that the physician asserts can be treated through the administration of psychotropic medications.
The case plan for a child placed in foster care shall include a summary of health and education information or records, including the child's mental health information/records and may be kept in the form of a passport comparable format. The health summary should include known medical problems, current medications, past health problems and hospitalizations, record of relevant mental health history, known mental health mental health condition and medications, and any other relevant mental health, dental, and health information determined by the Director of Social Services.
At the initial hearing, the court shall direct each parent to provide the child protective agency with the child's complete medical, dental, and mental health information and medical background. The court will determine whether the medical dental, and mental health information has been provided to the child protective agency.
(g): Team members may view relevant parts of the unified program records and may disclose to other team members relevant information and may view records on a seriously emotionally disturbed and special needs child and family as required to formulate an integrated services plan or to deliver services. (j): Such sharing of information must be governed by memoranda specifying the types of information that may be shared without a signed release form and the process to be used to ensure confidentiality requirements are met.
