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is the policy of the Office of Counseling and Psychological
Services to ensure the confidentiality of the student and
their record and not to release information regarding the
services provided to a student without their written
consent. The Office recognizes the Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 which addresses the privacy
of students, particularly regarding the maintenance of
confidentiality of student records. However, it should be
noted that the Act does not include under the term
"educational record" records created by a
physician, psychiatrist, psychologist or other recognized
mental health professional, which are to be used in
connection with the provision of treatment to the student.
Therefore, it is the Office's standard, that no one shall
have access to nor will the Office disclose any information
from the student's record without the written consent of the
student as delineated in the Ohio Revised Code Section
1347.08. Additionally,
the Office of Counseling and Psychological Services adheres
to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA) of 1996. A section of this Act mandates how
mental health information may be used and disclosed and how
you can get access to this information. Prior to the
initiation of counseling services, a student is provided an
explanation of what is required by law of this Office, how
information regarding services provided can be used and
disclosed and your rights regarding mental health
information about you. A copy of this notice shall be
provided to a student upon request.
However,
under certain circumstances, information regarding services
to a student may be released without their consent:
-
to
protect against a clear and substantial danger of
imminent harm by the student to oneself or others
-
pursuant
to a court order, based upon a finding that said
information is sufficiently relevant to a proceeding
before the court to outweigh the importance of
maintaining confidentiality.
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