What is required before any information is collected or distributed from clients?

Before any information is collected or distributed from clients, obtaining a signed consent form is essential. This formal documentation serves multiple purposes: it ensures that the client understands what information will be gathered, how it will be used, and who may have access to it. Consent reflects the ethical obligation to respect the client's autonomy and privacy rights, and it helps to protect both the client and the organization legally.

A verbal acknowledgment alone may not provide sufficient protection or clarity regarding the terms of information use, as it lacks the formal aspect of a written agreement. A formal survey is a method of data collection that may require consent but does not itself fulfill the requirement for authorization. A statement of purpose can provide context about why the data is being collected, but it does not substitute for the need to secure formal consent from clients regarding their information.