Statement from the Children’s Trust of Alachua County on Contractual Requirements and Data Collection
December 9, 2021
The voters who approved the Children’s Trust of Alachua County have high expectations for ensuring the well-being of Alachua County’s children. The Statutes authorizing the Trust requires the collection of statistical information to ensure the right children are receiving the right services throughout life.
Contracted agencies, who have previously complied with the Trust’s data reporting requirements, have now raised concerns about the information being collected
Everyone should be concerned about the misuse of data, and we share those concerns.
The Trust only collects the necessary data to help measure program performance and provide the accountability the public expects of us. The data is collected with the consent of the parents or guardians of the children, and specific data requirements are included in every contract we have with the contracted agencies. We have never shared the data outside the organization and never used data other than for program evaluation and quality improvement.
Our policies instruct employees to treat individual data with complete confidentiality. The Employee Handbook specifically states this policy, and employees sign this agreement on their first day of employment. Further, all data collected for children and families is exempt from public records.
Our guiding principles require us to put the needs and children and families first.
The Board of the Children’s Trust has directed the staff to review our current practices and make policy recommendations. CTAC staff will work with all of contracted agencies to make sure that they can meet our requirements, ensure the continuity of services, and maintain the privacy and confidentiality of our shared clients. We look forward to receiving additional input to ensure that the policies fulfill our shared concerns and build for the future.
Colin Murphy
Executive Director
Children’s Trust of Alachua County
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Contact: Daniel J. Douglas
Email: ddouglas@childrenstrustofalachuacounty.us
Phone: 352-374-1825 or 352-647-6253
Website: www.childrenstrustofalachuacounty.us
