Introduction: Our Privacy Promise to You
At #OurChildren Legal Services, you put an immense amount of trust in us to provide legal information and support for adoption, guardianship, and family-based advocacy. Protecting the privacy of our users is part of our mission. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data when you visit our website (https://nashidity.info/), use our services or reach out to us. Whether you are a current or potential adoptive parent, a legal practitioner, or a volunteer supporter, we want you to be secure in the knowledge that your privacy remains a priority. We ask you to please review this policy carefully so that you are informed of your rights and our responsibilities.
Who We Are
#OurChildren Legal Services is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to the provision of free, up-to-date legal information, advice and support services for individuals and families seeking adoption or other alternative family-based care in the United States. We offer step-by-step guides, free consultations with adoption lawyers and psychologists, legal document preparation services, and access to guaranteed adoption resources. 5000 Westheimer Rd Ste 400, Houston TX 77056 (713) 248-1610 [email protected]
Scope of This Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy applies to information collected via the #OurChildren Legal Services website (https://nashidity.info/) and any related #OurChildren online, communication (including email and telephone), and other services we may provide. This Privacy Policy describes the information we collect and how it is used for all visitors, users, volunteers, consultants, or anyone who interacts with our online content, tools, and help resources. By visiting our site and/or using our services you consent to these practices as outlined in this Privacy Policy.
What Information We Collect
- Your Personal Information – name, email, phone, mailing address, and other contact details you provide when creating an account, asking for a consultation, subscribing to updates/alerts, or otherwise directly contacting us.
- Your Requirements for Legal Help – information you provide when asking for legal help or support, such as your adoption or guardianship case details, questions, and supporting documentation.
- Professional Information – if you are a legal professional, psychologist or volunteer we may collect your qualifications, expertise, and professional experience to enable your participation.
- Technical Information – IP address, browser type and version, device identifiers and details about the operating system of the devices you use to access the website (some of this data is collected automatically on access).
- Site Interaction Data – pages visited on our website, resources opened or downloaded, contact history or other interactions.
- Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies – we use cookies and other similar tracking tools to record details of your interactions with the website to improve user experience, remember preferences, and a mix of aggregated statistics (see below ‘Cookies and tracking’).
How We Use Your Information
- To deliver legal information, guides, and support that are tailored to your needs
- To offer free consultations with adoption attorneys and psychologists
- To generate legal documents and provide assistance with that effort
- To send you updates, newsletters, and relevant resources (with your consent)
- To respond to your inquiries or provide customer support
- To protect the security and integrity of our website and services
- For internal research and development and to generate aggregated anonymous statistics that can be used in future services and reporting
- To comply with any applicable U.S. laws, court orders, or other regulatory requirements
Legal Grounds for Processing Information
- Your consent (e.g., when you fill out a form, or you register to receive updates)
- Processing is necessary for the provision of the services you requested
- Compliance with a legal obligation (e.g., recordkeeping and responding to lawful requests)
- Legitimate interests in enhancing our platform, keeping it safe and secure, and providing you with a family environment, provided that our interests do not override your rights
Circumstances Under Which We Share Information
- With our attorneys, psychologists and volunteers who have a legitimate need to work with us
- With partners who help power our platform (e.g., host of our website, process emails in the system) pursuant to strict confidentiality agreements
- With legal or regulatory authorities, if we are required by law or court order or believe disclosure is necessary
- In anonymized or aggregated form that does not identify you, for research, reporting, and advocacy purposes
We will not sell, rent or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing or commercial purposes.
Information Security and Protection
Keeping your information secure is one of our top priorities. We use technical and organizational measures in line with industry standards, such as:
- Secure servers and encrypted data transmission (SSL and TLS)
- Access controls and staff confidentiality training
- Regular security audits and vulnerability scans
- Secure storage and disposal for physical and electronic records
While we take all reasonable measures to secure your information, no system is completely secure. We also recommend that you use strong passwords, refrain from sharing personally identifiable information unless necessary, and contact us directly if you believe there has been any kind of security incident.
Cookies and Related Technology
Our site utilizes cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your experience. Cookies are small data files that are stored on your computer that:
- Remember users’ preferences and login information
- Help us analyze traffic on the website
- Help us customize content for users and the performance of our websites and applications
You can manage cookie preferences through settings within your browser application. Most web browsers allow user control of cookies. If you do not want cookies to be used in your web browser you must adjust your browser settings. However, please be advised that this action may impact the performance of other sites that you visit. By continuing to browse our website you consent to our use of cookies. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.
Links and Third-Party Materials
We provide curated links to U.S. government services, other official child welfare websites, and other external websites. While we do our best to only provide links to reputable sites, we are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites. If you go to an external website that is linked from this website we encourage you to read the privacy policy on that site.
Children’s Information
Privacy policy in respect of children: protection of children is paramount in our work. #OurChildren does not knowingly collect or ask for personal information for anyone under the age of 13. The website, services and resources are for the use of adults who wish to access legal information and support. Where you have reason to believe that a child has provided their own personal information to us, please let us know by contacting [email protected] and we will ensure that such information is deleted.
Your Rights and How to Exercise Them
We recognize the importance of privacy rights. Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have certain rights, including the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information
- Request deletion of your personal information, subject to applicable law and operational requirements
- Object to or restrict certain processing activity
- Withdraw consent (where processing is based on consent) at any time
If you would like to exercise any rights or update your marketing preferences please contact us at [email protected] or (713) 248-1610.
Data Retention
We only retain your personal data for so long as it is required for the purposes outlined in this policy, in the event that we need to comply with a legal obligation, resolve litigation and/or enforce our rights. Our criteria for defining how long we retain your data includes:
- The services you have received
- The circumstances of legal and regulatory requirements
- Your ongoing relationship with #OurChildren Legal Services
When data is no longer needed, we delete or anonymise it in line with best practice.
International Reach of This Privacy Commitment
Although we primarily direct our activities toward users in the United States, the Platform is accessible globally. This includes access by U.S. citizens and resident foreign nationals located outside the United States. If you are located outside the United States, any information you provide to us may be transferred to, processed or stored in the United States, where laws regarding the use and processing of personal information may be different than in your home country. By using the Platform, you acknowledge and consent to such transfers, subject to the safeguards described in this Policy.
Privacy and Professional Volunteerism
If you participate in #OurChildren Legal Services as a volunteer, lawyer, psychologist, or consultant we will collect only that which is needed to confirm your qualifications and to process your participation, such as professional credential, criminal background, and relevant experience. All professional and volunteer information collected is held strictly confidential and used only to operate the platform, market quality services, and for legal compliance.
Breach and Related Security Notification
In the rare instance of a breach or other security incident involving the personal information we process, we would act quickly to contain the breach, assess its scope, and provide legally-required notice of it to affected persons. We also have a formal incident response plan and conduct regular team training in industry best practices for preventing and responding to security incidents.
Changes to This Privacy Commitment
We may from time to time change this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or technology, or as a result of any changes in applicable laws or regulations. When we do, we will alert you by email or by a clear notice on this website and the effective date of the amended policy will be reflected in the posted policy. We recommend that you check back from time to time if you are concerned about our privacy practices. Substantial changes to our privacy practices will be discussed with you by email or with an alternative form of notice on our websites. Your continued interaction with our services following the implementation of changes means that you agree to the changes.
How to Reach Us
If you have any questions, complaints or requests in connection with this Privacy Policy or your privacy, you may contact us at:
Address: 5000 Westheimer Rd Ste 400, Houston TX 77056
Phone: (713) 248-1610
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://nashidity.info/
We will respond to your request as soon as possible, and in all cases, within thirty (30) days.
California and Other State-Specific Privacy Rights
Other U.S. states, including California, provide additional privacy rights to its residents. If you are a California resident, you have the right to request information regarding our data practices, your access to certain personal data, to delete information pertaining to you, and to opt out of certain data-sharing activities as set forth in the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and other such laws. We do not sell your personal information. To exercise your privacy rights specific to your state, please contact us at [email protected] or (713) 248-1610.
Data Protection Commitments When Handling Sensitive Legal Information
Due to the highly sensitive nature of adoption/family law issues, we handle all case, issue or legal discussions with the knowledgeable professionals at BFKS in the strictest confidentiality. All communications with any of our trained, licensed attorneys and psychologists are handled in strict accordance with the applicable professional and, where relevant, legal ethical standards. We will never provide identifying information about your case to any individual without your explicit consent, absent a legal requirement or in order to avoid harm.
User Information and Passwords
If you register for an account on our system, you are responsible for the confidentiality of your log-in information. Log-in information should be complex, unique and not shared or used by others. If you believe your account has been compromised, please contact us immediately at [email protected]. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts where we suspect compromised security and risk.
Email and Related Communications
We may send you email communications, newsletters, or notices we think you would find relevant to your interests, with your consent where required. You may unsubscribe from marketing and promotional communications at any time using the unsubscribe link within the communication. Transactional or service related communications (e.g., confirmation of an appointment or legal update) are not marked as marketing and are not configurable for opt out, as these communications are necessary to the proper delivery of services.
Podcasts and Other Media Productions
Our ‘Mom, I’m Home!’ podcast and other media content may include real-life stories, interviews with professionals and patients, or user testimonials. Within reason, we always request written or electronic consent before using personally identifiable information or case materials in our media. Participation is voluntary, with the option to decline consent for participation or withdraw your consent at any time. Anonymous stories/case materials or fictional composites can be utilized for education and advocacy purposes without identifying information.
Disclosure Under U.S. Government Orders or Legal Process
We cooperate with U.S. government agencies, courts and child welfare authorities when required by law to do so (e.g., subpoena or child welfare operation). We will only disclose information as required by law. And we’ll let affected users know as soon as possible, unless prohibited by court order or other legal process.
Testimonials, Success Stories, and Publicly Posted Content
Testimonials, adoption success stories, and user-submitted content posted to our site or media properties are published with prior consent. We make every effort to remove or anonymize identifying details at your request. To update, remove, or clarify a published testimonial or use stories, please contact [email protected]. You can also read more about our Success Stories.
Disputes, Complaints, and Controversy Resolution
We will also take reasonable steps to resolve privacy concerns and disputes in a timely and fair manner. If you have any concerns with our privacy practices, please contact us directly. However, if you are not satisfied with our response, you may have rights to make a complaint with the relevant regulatory or oversight body and/or seek mediation independent of us. We will engage fully with any official inquiry.
Your Responsibilities as a User
We expect that all our users will respect the privacy and confidential rights of others when using community forums, submitting content to our site or communicating with us or any other team member. Do not disclose any confidential information about third parties without permission. We also advise that if you access or gain knowledge of confidential information during your duties as a volunteer or in a professional capacity, that you abide by our confidentiality policies and procedure and your professional ethics.
Different Types of Donor and Supporter Privacy
As a donor or supporter of #OurChildren Legal Services, we value your generosity as well as your privacy. We only collect the information that we need to process donations, deliver receipts and to stay connected with you about the impact you are making. Donor information is never sold or given to other organizations without your clear permission. Anonymous giving is available upon request.
Languages, Accessibility, and Responsiveness
We are dedicated to ensuring that our privacy policy is as clear and accessible as possible. Our aim is to provide transparency regarding our privacy practices to all users, including individuals with disabilities or those with limited proficiency in English. Key sections of our Privacy Policy are available in multiple languages upon request. Should you require an alternative format or need additional assistance, please contact us at [email protected].
Effective Date and Policy Acknowledgment
This Privacy Policy is current as of June 1, 2024. It applies to and supersedes all previous policies. When using our website, services, and/or contacting us, you understand, acknowledge, and agree that you have read, understood, and accepted the following terms and circumstances:
Thank you for allowing #OurChildren Legal Services to assist you on your family law matters while also respecting your privacy.