Family Treatment Court prohibitions

Family Treatment Court (FTC) maintains strict confidentiality, prohibiting the use of FTC-related information in external records or court proceedings unless expressly permitted by the participating parent, ensuring privacy and protection for those engaged in the program.

1. Department of Children & Families (DCF) Social Workers (SW) are prohibited from recording information gained directly from the FTC process in their dictation. However, DCF SWs may document conversations they have with a Participating Parent, only when those conversations take place outside an FTC session. The SW will remind the Participating Parent when meeting with the parent outside of the FTC that the conversation is not part of the FTC and that the SW will document the conversation as part of the DCF record.
2. Juvenile Court Probation Officers are prohibited from recording information gained from the FTC process in their case notes. However, they must document information gathered outside of the FTC session in the context of meeting Probation Level 1 Supervision Standards where a child is placed in the conditional custody of a parent or third party. The PO will remind the Participating Parent when meeting with the parent outside of the FTC that the conversation and their observations are not part of the FTC and that the PO will document the conversation and their observations as part of the Probation record.
3. DCF Foster Care Reviewers shall not inquire about the protected content of FTC team meetings and Court Sessions, however the information gained via paragraph 1 may be discussed.
4. Court Investigators, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and Guardians ad litem (GALs) will not have access to FTC information including reports, worksheets, or sessions. A Participant may share that they are engaged in the FTC.
5. No information released to the FTC shall be admissible unless the Participating Parent expressly permits its admission. Statements made by the Participating Parent or collaterals during FTC sessions, intake, or meetings shall not be admissible.
6. Information gathered in the FTC by Probation will be inadmissible in any court proceeding outside of Family Treatment Court, absent the Participating Parent’s waiver.
7. No information shared during the Team Meeting will be admissible outside of Family Treatment Court. Statements contained in any parent’s written submission as part of Family Treatment Court are inadmissible outside of Family Treatment Court, absent the parent’s waiver.
8. No witness may testify about observations made of a Participant during the FTC hearing or FTC team meetings.

Last updated:	January 1, 2024