The U.S. Department of Education and the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released updated joint guidance addressing the application of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule to records maintained on students. 

The guidance clarifies how FERPA and HIPAA apply to student education and health records. This revised guidance includes additional frequently asked questions and answers addressing when a student’s health information can be shared without the written consent of the parent or eligible student under FERPA, or without written authorization under the HIPAA Privacy Rule

Formerly incarcerated individuals with opioid use disorder are at high risk for death by overdose during the first weeks after reentering the community.  This no-cost webinar, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will cover five critical activities that communities and jails can engage in to ensure continuity of treatment and the necessary supports to lower the risk of overdose during this transition.  Specific program examples around jail-based treatments and health care, community-based in-reach activities, and specialized case management will be shared.

Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., ET

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.  In preparation, the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC) has gathered several no-cost resources to assist in prevention and victim assistance.

OVC TTAC provides practitioner-driven, evidence-based training and assistance that is responsive to the needs of victim service providers, their communities, and the victims they serve, including a specific focus on human trafficking.  The types of content include tailored, on-site consultations and trainings in response to specific requests, professional development scholarships, crime victim scholarships, and several online resources.  These resources include an expert Q&A session, an e-Guide, a tribal victim assistance Web page, online training modules, and much more.

Law enforcement departments in rural communities face unique challenges in terms of practical responses.  While all law enforcement agencies have resource allocation challenges, the environments of rural agencies differ from urban ones.  This webinar, sponsored by the National Sheriffs' Association and hosted by the Justice Clearinghouse, will present strategies to help rural departments obtain needed resources, access and utilize technology, and develop effective solutions for use in their communities. 

Date:  Thursday, January 16
Time:  1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., E

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) will host a no-cost webinar discussing the hemp industry and analytical testing.  This webinar will provide a history of U.S. farm policy as it relates to the legalities of hemp and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).  Information on farming and quality testing used by the hemp industry will be presented.  The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will share its revised and enhanced forensic testing program for the effective and efficient identification of suspected marijuana submissions. 

Date:  Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Time:  1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., E