Disclosure of Confidential Child Abuse and Neglect Records - Missouri

Confidentiality of Records

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 210.150

The Children's Division shall ensure the confidentiality of all reports and records maintained by the division; its local offices; the central registry; and other appropriate persons, officials, and institutions.

To protect the rights of the family and the child named in the report as a victim, the Children's Division shall establish guidelines that will ensure that any disclosure of information concerning the abuse and neglect involving that child is made only to persons or agencies that have a right to such information.

Persons or Entities Allowed Access to Records

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 210.150

Only the following persons shall have access to investigation records contained in the central registry:

• Appropriate Federal, State, or local criminal justice agency personnel
• A physician who reasonably believes that the child being examined may be abused or neglected
• Appropriate staff of the division and of its local offices, including interdisciplinary teams
• Any child named in the report as a victim or a legal representative, the parent if not the alleged perpetrator, or guardian of such person when such person is a minor
• Any alleged perpetrator named in the report
• A grand jury, juvenile officer, prosecuting attorney, or law enforcement officer involved in the investigation of child abuse or neglect
• A juvenile court or other court
• Other Federal, State, and local government entities
• Any person engaged in bona fide research
• Any child fatality review panel
• Appropriate staff of the U.S. Department of Defense including, but not limited to, authorized family advocacy program staff, when a report has been made and the suspected perpetrator or any person responsible for the care, custody, and control of the child is a member of any branch of the military
• The State Registrar of Vital Statistics, but the information made available shall be limited to identifying information only for the purposes of providing birth record information

Only the following persons shall have access to records maintained by the division for which the division has received a report of child abuse and neglect and the division has determined that there is insufficient evidence or proceeded with the family assessment and services approach:

• Appropriate staff of the division
• Any child named in the report as a victim or a legal representative, the parent if not the alleged perpetrator, or guardian of such person when such person is a minor
• Any alleged perpetrator named in the report
• Any child fatality review panel
• Appropriate criminal justice agency personnel or juvenile officer
• Multidisciplinary agency
• An individual including a physician or physician's designee who is providing services to the child or family
• Any person engaged in bona fide research
• Appropriate staff of the U.S. Department of Defense including, but not limited to, authorized family advocacy program staff, when a report has been made and the suspected perpetrator or any person responsible for the care, custody, and control of the child is a member of any branch of the military

When Public Disclosure of Records is Allowed

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 210.150

Nothing in this section shall preclude the release of findings or information about cases that resulted in a child fatality or near fatality. Such release is at the sole discretion of the director of the Department of Social Services based upon a review of the potential harm to other children within the immediate family.

Use of Records for Employment Screening

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 210.150

The following may request an examination of the central registry:

• Any child care facility; child-placing agency; residential care facility, including group homes; juvenile courts; public or private schools; or any other public or private agency exercising temporary supervision over a child or providing or having care or custody of a child for all employees, volunteers, or prospective employees and volunteers who do or will provide services or care to children
• Any agency or business that provides training and places or recommends people for employment or for volunteers in positions where they will provide services or care to children
• Any parent or legal guardian about a specific person or child care facility who does or may provide services or care to his or her child
• Any person who inquires about a specific child care facility, child-placing agency, residential care facility, public and private schools, juvenile court, or other State agency
• Any State agency regarding a license of any person, institution, or agency that provides care for or services to children