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Staff working within the welfare system may share private data with each other about applicants and participants without signed written consent.

Employment services agencies are considered part of the welfare system if BOTH of the following are true.

· The agency has a contract to serve people receiving assistance through the Minnesota Family Investment Program or the Diversionary Work Program.

· That contract specifies that the employment services agency is part of the local welfare system.

Staff working for different employment services agencies and/or in different counties or for tribes can share information about shared participants if both employment services agencies have active contracts with a county or tribe for MFIP or DWP services.

Information can be shared without a release of information between staff working within the welfare system in order to do the following:

· Verify an individual’s identity.

· Determine eligibility or amount of assistance for the individual.

· Determine a need to provide services across programs.

· Coordinate services for a participant or the participant’s family.

· Evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

· Assess parental contribution amounts.

· Investigate suspected fraud.

Links to release of information forms in multiple languages are available in the section on 4.6 (Data Privacy).