Applicants and awardees are expected to develop and implement appropriate procedures to address confidentiality and other ethical issues pertinent to the protection of participants in proposed projects. Confidentiality is particularly important in projects because of the illegality of drug use and the potential for stigmatization of participants in drug abuse treatment, treatment of mental illness, and the like. If participants could be exposed to any risk of problems through any failure of the project to keep information about them confidential, the applicant must develop procedures to prevent these risks and describe them in the application.

Applicants and awardees must maintain the confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse treatment client data in accordance with 42 CFR Part 2, Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records. These regulations are applicable to information about alcohol and other drug abuse patients obtained by a federally assisted program, as defined in the regulations. Projects that offer treatment for mental illness must maintain confidentiality in accordance with professional standards of practice and applicable law.

Other relevant ethical issues, such as equitable selection of participants and adequacy of care, must also be addressed in the project plans and application. If applicable, project staff must meet State and local licensure and professional accreditation standards in addition to normal professional standards of care and practice. Project directors have direct and continuing responsibility to ensure that participant protection is adequate.

National Evaluation of the Safe Schools/ Healthy Students Initiative	Due Date: July 21, 1999