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Privacy Policy

Your privacy is extremely important to us.

We are constantly putting a great deal of thought, effort, tools, resources and procedures in place in order to protect and safeguard your privacy. This document is our “Privacy Policy” and it contains details on issues related to your privacy when using our services. It is intended to inform you of our policies, procedures and practices regarding the collection, use and disclosure of any information that you provide through the Platform.

The Privacy Policy is part of our Terms and Conditions which can be found in our website. The terms in the Privacy Policy (such as, but not limited to, “we”, “our”, “us”, “Platform”, “Counselor”, “Counselor Services” etc) have the same meaning as in our Terms and Conditions document. When you use our Platform you accept and agree to both the Terms and Conditions and to the Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to be bound to the Privacy Policy you should stop using the Platform immediately. By accessing and using our Platform you affirm that you have read the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy and that you understand, agree and acknowledge to all the terms contained in both of them.

Information Collection,Use, and Disclosure

To let us operate the Platform effectively and to let you use the Platform, including the Counselor Services, we may have to collect your personally identifiable information (such as, but not limited to, your name, phone number, email address, and address), billing and payment information, profile information, log data (information such as your computer, Internet Protocol address (“IP”), pages that you visit and the amount of time spent on those pages, actions you take and other statistics), information related to the Counselor Services or your need for Counselor Services, and any information which is exchanged between you and your Counselor (collectively the “Information”). In some cases, some of the Information that you give to us is considered health-related data. You may decide which Information, if any, you would like to share with us, but some functions of the Platform may not be available to you without providing us the necessary Information. By deciding to provide the Information you agree to our methods of collection and use, as well as to other terms and provisions of this Privacy Policy.

Protecting this Information is a top priority for us. We will never sell or rent any information you share on the Platform. Other than in the limited ways detailed in this Privacy Policy, we will never use or disclose any Information unless you specifically and explicitly request or approve us to do so.

The Information may be used or disclosed to third parties for one or more of the following business or marketing purposes:

    • To create your account on our Platform and let you log in to your account and use the Platform.
    • To manage your account, provide you with customer support, and ensure you are receiving quality service
    • To contact you or provide you with information, alerts and suggestions that are related to the service.
    • For billing-related purposes.
    • To reach out to you, either ourselves or using the appropriate authorities, if either we or a Counselor have a good reason to believe that you or any other person may be in danger or may be either the cause or the victim of a criminal act.
    • To match you with a Counselor.
    • To enable and facilitate the Counselor Services.
    • To supervise, administer and monitor the service.
    • Market the Platform and Counselor Services to you.
    • To respond to law enforcement requests and as required by applicable law, court order, or governmental regulations.
    • To comply with applicable state and federal laws, including, but not limited to laws related to protecting client and public health and safety.
    • To provide, support, personalize, and develop our Platform and Counselor Services.
    • To personalize your Website experience and to deliver content and product and service offerings relevant to your interests, including targeted offers and ads through our Websites, third-party sites, and via email or text message (with your consent, where required by law).

Opting out of Marketing Communication

You can opt out of receiving email marketing by unsubscribing using the unsubscribe link provided in all of our marketing email communications.

Cookies and Web Beacons

Like many websites, we use “cookies” and “web beacons” to collect information. A “cookie” is a small data file that is transferred to your computer’s hard disk for record-keeping purposes. A “web beacon” is a tiny image, placed on a Web page or email that can report your visit or use. We use cookies and web beacons to enable the technical operation of the Platform, to administer your log-in to your account and to collect the Log Data. You can change your browser’s settings so it will stop accepting cookies or prompt you before accepting a cookie. However, if you do not accept cookies you may not be able to use the Platform. The Platform may also include the use of cookies and web beacons of services owned or provided by third parties that are not covered by our Privacy Policy and we do not have access or control over these cookies and web beacons. We may also use third-party cookies for the purposes of web analytics, attribution, and error management.

Social and General Information Tools

We use several publicly available tools and information exchange resources, such as (but not limited to) a blog, a Facebook page, a Twitter account, and others (collectively “Social and General Information Tools”). Any information you provide or share while using Social and General Information Tools may be read, accessed, and collected by that site and users of that site according to their Privacy Policy.

Phishing

Online identity theft and account hacking, including the practice currently known as “phishing”, are of great concern. You should always be diligent when you are being asked for your account information and you must always make sure you do that in our secure system. We will never request your login information or your credit card information in any non-secure or unsolicited communication (email, phone or otherwise).

Links

The Platform may contain links to other websites, services, or offers that are owned, operated, or maintained by third parties. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third website or service. The fact that we link to a website or service is not an endorsement, authorization, or representation of our affiliation with that third party, nor is it an endorsement of their privacy or information security policies or practices. We do not have control over third-party websites and services and we do not have control over their privacy policies and terms of use.

Security

While using any Internet-based service carries inherent security risks that cannot be 100% prevented, our systems, infrastructure, encryption technology, operation and processes are all designed, built and maintained with your security and privacy in mind. We apply industry standards and best practices to prevent any unauthorized access, use, and disclosure. We comply with or exceed all applicable federal laws, state laws, and regulations regarding data privacy.

Service Providers

We may employ third-party companies and individuals to facilitate our Platform, to perform certain tasks which are related to the Platform, or to provide audit, legal, operational or other services for us. These tasks include, but not limited to, customer service, technical maintenance, monitoring, email management and communication, database management, billing and payment processing, reporting and analytics. We will share with them only the minimum necessary information to perform their task for us and only after entering into appropriate confidentiality agreements.

Children’s Privacy

We are a practice that provides care for children and their parents. We will collect identifying information with the consent of a guardian. For clients age 17 and under, we can schedule an intake session through the parent or guardian of the minor client. However, if the client’s parent or guardian would like to have access to the client’s information after the intake session, then we need to have a completed Authorization naming the parent or guardian in the client’s file.

For users ages 13 and under, we collect a first and last name, date of birth, gender, username, and that under-13 user’s parent’s email address to provide notice to the parent regarding the Services.

You may choose not to provide us with certain information, but then you may not be able to take advantage of many of our features.

We use the Personal Information we receive about you to provide you with our services and also for purposes such as:

    • Attempting to authenticate your identity.
    • Administering your account.
    • Responding to your requests for certain information.
    • Customizing the features that we make available to you.
    • Suggesting relevant services or products for you to use.
    • Improving the services and internal operations (including troubleshooting, testing, and analyzing usage.
    • Communicating with you about new features.
    • And, most importantly, protecting our users, sending emergency alert messages we are directed to send to you, and working towards making sure our services are continually evolving to be as safe and secure as possible.

You may modify or remove your Personal Information at any time by logging into your account and accessing features to edit your account information.

If you or your child are receiving clinical services from us, a Provider may collect additional information from you and may create information about you in order for them to provide you with the services.  The information the Providers collect will be protected as described in our Notice of Privacy Practices.

International Transfer

Your information may be transferred to – and maintained on – computers located outside of your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction. Regardless of where your data is stored, it will be maintained securely as outlined in this policy. Your consent to our Terms and Conditions followed by your submission of such information represents your agreement to such transfers.

We cooperate with government and law enforcement officials to enforce and comply with the law. We may disclose information necessary or appropriate to protect the safety of the public or any person, to respond to claims and legal process (including but not limited to subpoenas), and to prevent or stop activity that may be illegal or dangerous. You should also be aware that Counselors may be obliged to disclose information to law enforcement or other authorities to conform to their professional and legal responsibilities. Specifically, and without limitation, you should be aware that the law requires mental health professionals to disclose information and/or take action in the following cases:

(a) reported or suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult

(b) serious suicidal potential

(c) threatened harm to another person

(d) court-ordered presentation of treatment.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Notice

This section provides additional information about our Privacy Policy relevant to users from the European Union. It is necessary for us to use your personal information:

    • To perform our obligations in accordance with any contract that we may have with you.
    • It is in our legitimate interest or a third party’s legitimate interest to use personal information in such a way to ensure that we provide the Services in the best way that we can.
    • It is our legal obligation to use your personal information to comply with any legal obligations imposed upon us.

You can view and edit any personal data that you have provided to us using this website. Automated processing of your Personal Information is necessary to operate the Platform effectively and to provide counseling and related services. In some cases, we may be required to retain personal data to comply with applicable medical record retention laws.

Mobile Terms and Conditions

Effective Date: 2/7/2023
Backpack Healthcare Alerts

Opt in to receive important messages from Backpack Healthcare regarding appointments, events and general information about our mental health services. Opt-in by web, https://hellobackpack.com/newsletter/. Message Frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply.
 

By opting in to this service, you consent to receive mobile text alerts using an automatic telephone dialing system. Consent to receive marketing text messages is not required as a condition of purchasing any goods or services.
By signing up, you are confirming you are over the age of 13.

STOP Information
Text STOP to 82892 to stop receiving Backpack Healthcare Alerts messages from Backpack Healthcare (you will receive a confirmation text).

HELP Information
For additional information, text HELP to 82892 or contact  866.968.6342 

Supported carriers are: 
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile®, Verizon Wireless, Boost, Cricket, MetroPCS, U.S. Cellular, Virgin Mobile, Google Voice, ACS Wireless, Advantage Cellular (DTC Wireless), Appalachian Wireless, Atlantic Tele-Network International (ATN), Bandwidth, Bluegrass Cellular, Buffalo Wireless, CableVision, Carolina West Wireless, Cellcom, Copper Valley, C-Spire Wireless (formerly Cellsouth), Cellular One of East Central Illinois, Chariton Valley Cellular, Cross (dba Sprocket), Duet IP, Element Mobile, EpicTouch, GCI Communications, Golden State, Hawkeye (Chat Mobility), Hawkeye (NW Missouri Cellular), i Wireless (IOWA Wireless), Illinois Valley Cellular, Immix (Keystone Wireless / PC Management), Inland Cellular, Mobi PCS (Coral Wireless LLC), Mosaic, MTA Communications, MTPCS / Cellular One (Cellone Nation), Nex-Tech Wireless, Panhandle Telecommunications, Peoples Wireless, Pine Belt Wireless, Pine Cellular, Pioneer, Plateau, Revol Wireless, RINA, SI Wireless/Mobile Nation, SouthernLinc, SRT Wireless, Thumb Cellular, Union Wireless, United, Viaero Wireless, West Central Wireless, Leaco, Nemont/Sagebrush. T-Mobile is not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.

Changes to the Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy statement at our sole discretion. The date of the last revision of this policy appears at the end of this page. We encourage you to periodically review this page for the latest information on our Privacy Policy and practices. Regardless of changes to our Privacy Policy, we will never use the information you submit under our current privacy notice in a new way without first notifying you and giving you the option to opt out