Common use of Participant Confidentiality Clause in Contracts

Participant Confidentiality. Any person given permission to enter or view HOPES participant or program data must adhere to DFPS/HHSC rules, regulations, and standards for confidentiality, security, and integrity of program data. Grantee will take all appropriate steps to maintain participant confidentiality and obtain any necessary written participant consents for disclosure of protected health information and data sharing, in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, including, but not limited to, authorizations, data use agreements, and business agreements as necessary. Grantee will take all appropriate steps to maintain participant confidentiality and obtain informed, written participant consent prior to sharing information, stories, or photos in which the participant or household members may be identified. Grantee must partner and collaborate with other PEI/FSS-funded grantees in the service delivery area where applicable to ensure optimal coordination of services for families and impact of grant investments in the service delivery area. Grantee operating in the same service delivery area with other PEI/FSS-funded early childhood grantee(s) must coordinate with the other grantee(s) with respect to program and service planning as well as any community-level or systems-building initiatives. Designated Grantee staff must complete any orientations, trainings, or meetings required by PEI/FSS and any approved program model(s). Grantee staff vacancies must be filled as soon as possible and no later than 90 days of vacancy begin date. Grantee will allow for flexible schedules for direct service staff and supervisors to accommodate participant schedules. Schedules should be reasonable and not pose hardship or safety concern for staff or participants. Grantee will implement any approved evidence-based program model(s) according to official model requirements and standards. Any curricula, assessments, screening tools, data collection, and guidelines required by the program model or PEI/FSS must be used. Grantee is required to participate in PEI/FSS-required program development and evaluation activities administered through PEI/FSS Research and Evaluation, designated state agencies, or any PEI/FSS-contracted partners as applicable. Grantee is prohibited from engaging in research on program staff and/or participant population without prior written authorization from PEI/FSS.