What is confidentiality?

Did you know that all counselors and social workers operate under a rule called "confidentiality" or "client confidentiality"? Children and families often wonder: "How private or safe is the information I tell the school social worker?" This page will attempt to answer that question. Let us know if you have recommendations to make this information more comprehensive and/or easier to understand.

Helpful video for young adults and adults

Please note: other than legal obligations, this video gets into ethical practices, such as involving the family in the report. This is our intention and will be done when safe and ethical to do so.

What happens to your child's counseling or social work files and data?

Short answer: everything is digitally protected and backed up or kept in a locked filing cabinet, and only necessary information is shared with school staff on a "need to know" basis. Longer answers will be explained by this great video.

Video for Kids!

It was too difficult to find a good video about confidentiality *made for kids* to view and understand. Here is a video of me giving the same explanation that I give students when they come to meet with me.