Student Information - visiting the Children's Center

In addition to providing high quality care and education, the Children’s Center is also available for observation, research, data collection, and completion of various course requirements. Because our space is small, we must limit the number of visitors present at any one time. Please stop by the Center to sign up for a specific time. All visitors must also sign in and out of our Visitors’ Log each time they come to the Center.

Parents who enroll their children in our program, most of whom are BSU students, do so understanding that part of the Center’s mission is to serve as a training site and research facility. In addition, parents have confidence that all observations will be handled in a professional manner, with strict adherence to confidentiality.

What is confidentiality?

Confidential information is restricted and private. It is potentially sensitive information about families that is available to us either through written records or daily interactions with children and parents. Everyone must take responsibility for protecting the privacy of our children and parents. This means being extremely careful of what is said and to whom.

What kinds of information should be kept confidential?

All personal information about families’ financial circumstances, family problems, health problems, and/or actions of parents or children is confidential. In addition the fact that a child attends the Children’s Center should also be kept confidential; please use a fictitious name in any of your written notes or reports. Keep notebooks with you and do not leave your notes unattended. If you personally know some of the children or their families, please keep those relationships separate from your professional ones.

Who relates information to parents?

Reports to parents on children’s behavior or special difficulties should be done only by the lead teachers or the director, unless they delegate this responsibility to someone else. All sharing of information done by staff should be reported to the director as soon as possible to maintain continuity.

Part-time staff, students, and volunteers should never communicate sensitive information to parents. This especially includes reporting to parents on children’s negative behavior. If a parent asks you for information please redirect them to the lead teacher or director.

When and where is it appropriate to discuss families?

Any observation you make or information a child shares with you may be discussed in your class or with staff at the Children’s Center, but should never be discussed elsewhere. Sensitive information may, at times, need to be shared with staff so that they can better plan for a particular child. Such sharing should only be done in a private place, where children are not present. This sharing should never be done in places where the conversation might be overheard by children or other adults. Staff will try to make themselves available to answer any questions you might have after you observe. Please approach a lead teacher or the director for interpretation of an incident or teacher strategy observed which you question, or with which you disagree.

Thank you for your cooperation in protecting the privacy of all parents and children served by the Children’s Center.

Last Modified: September 30, 2010