Privacy Act Review

Privacy Act Applicability Review

Youth Outreach Generic Clearance for the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)

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The NCHS Privacy Act Coordinator and NCHS Confidentiality Office have reviewed this package and have determined that the Privacy Act is applicable. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) places a high priority on providing outreach and quality products and services to the public. In anticipation of increased involvement with the community and a desire to expand on activities that help young people gain more exposure to math and science fields, the NCHS is requesting a Generic Clearance. This Generic Clearance would be for outreach to young people (K through college) and those who support them, such as parents, teachers, and counselors. The study is covered under Privacy Act System of Records Notice 09-20-0169 (Users of Health Statistics).

The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) “requires the safeguarding of individuals”, and Section 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242m) requires the safeguarding of both individuals and establishments against invasion of privacy. Contractors who collect information identifying individuals and/or establishments must stipulate the appropriate safeguards to be taken regarding such information. The Privacy Act also provides for the confidential treatment of records of individuals, which are maintained by a Federal agency according to either individual’s name or some other identifier. This law also requires that such records in NCHS are to be protected from “uses other than those purposes for which they were collected.”

Consequently, all information collected by NCHS will be kept confidential, with an exception for suspected child abuse and requirements of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015.