In making the appointment of a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), the judge shall sign an order that may grant the CASA the authority to review specific relevant documents and interview parties involved in the case/having significant information relating to the child, to the same extent as any other officer of the court appointed to investigate proceedings on behalf of the court.
A ward of the juvenile court or the Department of the Youth Authority shall not perform work that allows access to a private individual's personal information. Such personal information is inclusive of health insurance information and unique biometric data. This applies to wards committing an offense involving forgery or fraud, misuse of a computer, requiring the ward to register as a sex offender, or involving any misuse of the personal information of another person.
Foster children caregivers must provide babysitters with medical information necessary to provide care for the child, including any medication that should be given to the child.
Whenever a court orders a hearing terminating parental rights or establishing guardianship of children adjudged dependent children of court, the court shall direct the agency supervising the child and the licensed county adoption agency or the State Department of Social Services to prepare an assessment that includes an evaluation of the child's medical, developmental, scholastic, mental, and emotional status.
A child educational advocate's duties includes locating the child's immunization and school health records and sending them to the school in which the child is to be enrolled and to the department so that the information can be included in the child's health passport.
Where foster care is being considered, a case plan shall be submitted to the court. The case plan shall include: health and education information about the minor, school records, immunizations, known medical problems, and any known medications the minor may be taking, names and addresses of the minor's health and educational providers; the minor's grade level performance; assurances that the minor's placement in foster care takes into account proximity to the school in which the minor was enrolled at the time of placement; and other relevant health and educational information.
A licensed mental health professional conducting the evaluation must personally examine the minor and conduct appropriate screenings, testing, and assessments. The evaluator must prepare and submit a report to the court including her findings and recommendations.
If the court orders the performance of emergency medical, surgical, dental, or other remedial care, the court may also authorize the release information of such care to probation officers, parole officers, or any other qualified individual or agency caring for or acting in the interest of the minor.
A juvenile case file (meaning a petition filed in juvenile court proceeding and its associated reports and documents) shall be available to a limited set of actors; in certain cases, the information may be disseminated to law enforcement, schools and other courts.
When authorities are alerted of allegations of child abuse, they may have the child undergo a physical examination. The department shall provide the results of the examination to the court and the counsel of the child and parent. The local welfare agency must request additional examinations of the child to determine abuse/neglect by the same examiner if possible. If not, the agency must ensure that the child's future medical practitioner has specialized abuse detection training and that the practitioner have access to the child's medical records that include incidents of abuse.
