DCSS Annonces Potential Breach of Personal Information

The Department of Child Support Services has begund notifying child support customers of a potential release of their personal information. The incident involved the personal information of approxiamtely 1,175 individuals. The information was faxed in error to the financial institution on Januray 4, 2007.

DCSS is committed to actively pursuing every avenue to prevent the release of sensitive, personal and confidential information and is taking steps to change the way information is transmitted to financial institutions.

"We sincerely regret this incident and any inconveniences caused to our customers," stated Greta Wallace, Director of the Department of Child Support Services. "The Department is investigating and is taking necessary actions to prevent future errors."

During the course of routine business, an internal document was faxed to a financial institution in erroe. The document contained personal information of DCSS customers. When DSCC became aware of the incident, the document was immediately retreived and an investigation was started.

The employee has been conseled and apprproate procedures were reviewed. DSCC will be providing secutiry training to all staff to reinforce security procedures and protocols when transmitting and handling confidential information. DCSS has also provided specific staff communication protocols to ensure that security issues are elevated immediately and resolved.