Confidentiality, Informed Consent, & Mandated Reporting

Confidentiality and Informed Consent

Much like mental health counselors, school counselors are bound by confidentiality.  This means that whatever a student, parent, teacher, etc. discusses with a school counselor stays between that person and the counselor.  Information will not be revealed without permission from the person who has provided the information.  This helps to foster trust and confidence within a counseling relationship. 

The only time confidentiality would be broken is if a student, parent, or teacher discloses that they are in danger or that someone else in danger.  In any of those cases, school counselors are responsible to break confidentiality in order to make sure that everyone is safe.  Each individual and group session is prefaced by a discussion on informed consent in which counselor are open and honest with students about when confidentiality would need to be broken.  In the event confidentiality does need to be broken, the student, parent, or teacher, are kept informed every step of the way.

Mandated Reporting

School counselors are required by Pennsylvania law to report any kind of child maltreatment or suspected maltreatment. In the event a child discloses maltreatment, or we are made aware of child maltreatment by a third party, counselors are always obligated and mandated to make a report to Children and Youth Services and Childline.  For more information on child abuse, who is a mandated reporter, and what happens when a referral is made, please refer to the information below.

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter42/s42.42.html

Montour County Children and Youth Services:  271-3050

MCCYS is the county agency to which referrals are made.

 Childline:  1-800-932-0313

Childline is a 24 hour hotline that anyone can use to report suspected child maltreatment.  When maltreatment is suspected, both the county agency and Childline are contacted and given the information.