Privacy Policy

Last Revised: Nov 26, 2024

At BridgeCare, we’re committed to respecting and protecting the privacy of our students, families, and educational partners. Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share information to support students’ development while ensuring compliance with privacy laws, including the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

1. What Information We Collect and Why

BridgeCare collects certain types of information to deliver our educational and social-emotional support services securely and effectively. Here’s what we collect and why:

Personal Information You Provide

To create a personalized experience, we collect some basic information directly from you. This may include:

Contact Information: Names, email addresses, and phone numbers allow us to communicate with students, parents, and guardians. These communications may include service updates, session reminders, coaching-related check-ins, or technical support. Phone numbers will not be used for marketing purposes without explicit consent.

Account Information: Usernames, encrypted passwords, and other authentication data help keep accounts secure and private.

Billing Information: If any payments are made (e.g., for optional add-ons), we collect billing addresses and payment details, processed securely through trusted providers.

Sensitive Information: With your explicit consent or as permitted by law, we may collect sensitive information needed to provide mental health or coaching support. Sensitive data is collected only as necessary and protected through strict security measures.

Parental Consent Requirement for Children

For users under 13 or as required by applicable law, we require verified parental consent before collecting any personal information, in compliance with COPPA or similar state law requirements. We don’t require a child to disclose more information than is reasonably necessary to use our services. Parents have full control over what information their child shares with us. Parents can agree to the collection and use of their child’s information, but still not allow disclosure to third parties unless that’s part of the service (for example, social networking).

Parents of users under 13 can review their child’s personal information, direct us to delete it, and refuse to allow any further collection or use of their child’s information.

See “How to Review, Update, or Delete Your Data” below.

Application and Device Information

When using our app, we may collect additional information to improve functionality and security:

Location Data: To offer location-based features, we collect location information only with permission. For users under 13, location data collection requires parental consent.

Device Access: With your permission, we may request access to specific device features, such as the camera or microphone, for app functionalities.

Device Data: Information like device identifiers, IP address, and operating system details help us ensure a secure, functional app experience.

Automatically Collected Information

To support app performance and security, we automatically collect certain data when you use our Services:

Log Data: Information like IP address, browser type, and activity logs are collected solely for operational monitoring and security.

Device Information: Includes device type and network details, aiding in troubleshooting and improving app reliability.

Data from Other Sources

We may supplement our data from trusted external sources, such as:

Public and Social Media Information: If you connect through social media, we may receive limited profile data, controlled by your social media privacy settings.

2. How We Use Your Information

Your privacy is important, and we use your data only in ways that directly support the services we provide to you. Here’s how we use the information we collect:

Account Management: Assist in setting up accounts and keeping them secure.

Service Delivery: Provide access to coaching, resources, and personalized tools for learning.

Support and Communication: Respond to inquiries and offer technical support to students, families, and educators.We may use phone numbers to send SMS notifications related to coaching sessions, reminders, service updates, or technical support. We do not use SMS for marketing purposes unless explicitly consented to by the student or parent.

Service Improvement: Analyze trends and feedback to make our platform more effective and user-friendly.

Safety and Security: Monitor for unauthorized access, prevent fraud, and protect the integrity of student data.

Legal Compliance: Meet legal obligations and respond to official requests, as required.

3. When and Why We Share Your Information

We understand that trust is essential, and we share information only when necessary to deliver our services or when legally required:

Service Providers: We work with trusted third-party providers, such as cloud storage, analytics services, and communication platforms, to support the operation and improvement of our services. In certain cases, we may share phone numbers with these providers, including SMS platforms, for the sole purpose of delivering essential communication services, such as session reminders and updates. All third-party providers are contractually obligated to adhere to strict confidentiality standards, comply with applicable privacy laws, and use the information exclusively as directed by BridgeCare.

School and Educational Partners: With consent, we may share relevant data with schools and educational institutions to enhance students’ learning experiences.

Professional Advisors: BridgeCare may share limited personal information with professional advisors, such as attorneys, accountants, or healthcare professionals, when necessary to support student needs, ensure continuity of care, or comply with legal obligations. Such sharing is strictly limited to the required information and conducted with explicit consent, unless legally mandated. Professional advisors are bound by confidentiality agreements and legal obligations to safeguard the information.

Legal Compliance: In certain situations, we may be required by law to share information with government agencies or comply with legal processes.

Business Transactions: If BridgeCare undergoes a merger or acquisition, user information may be transferred as part of the transaction, but with strict adherence to our privacy practices.

Parental Rights Over Data

Under FERPA, parents of students under 18 (or students 18 and older) have the right to access, review, and request restrictions on data sharing with third parties. To exercise these rights, contact us at support@bridgecare.ai.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

To enhance your experience, we use cookies and similar tools:

Cookies: Small files that store preferences, making it easier to log in and use features.

Web Beacons: Tiny images or code snippets that help us understand usage patterns for continuous improvement.

We limit our use of cookies and tracking to essential features and do not use them for commercial purposes. Parents of children under 13 can opt out of tracking by adjusting cookie settings in their browser.

5. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

We believe in giving parents and students control over their data. Here’s how you can manage your privacy with BridgeCare:

Access and Update: You may review or update your information by logging into your account or contacting us.

Withdraw Consent for Users Under 13: Parents of children under 13 may withdraw consent at any time by contacting us. If consent is withdrawn, the child’s account and data will be deactivated and securely deleted.

Marketing Preferences: Opt out of marketing communications by clicking the unsubscribe link in our emails or by contacting us directly.

Account Deletion: To request deletion of your account and all associated information, email support@bridgecare.ai.

6. Data Security and Retention

We prioritize safeguarding your data by employing multiple security measures:

Secure Transmission and Storage: Encryption and secure storage protocols protect all sensitive information.

Access Controls: Only authorized personnel can access your data, ensuring its safety.

Routine Security Audits: Regular audits and assessments verify that we meet all security standards.

Despite our safeguards and efforts to secure your information, no electronic transmission over the Internet or information storage technology can be guaranteed to be 100% secure, so we cannot promise or guarantee that hackers, cybercriminals, or other unauthorized third parties will not be able to defeat our security and improperly collect, access, steal, or modify your information. Although we will do our best to protect your personal information, transmission of personal information to and from our Services is at your own risk. You should only access the Services within a secure environment.

Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as it’s needed for the purposes outlined in this policy, or as legally required. If an account is inactive, data will be securely deleted after six years unless otherwise mandated by law.

7. Third-Party Websites and Social Media Logins

BridgeCare may link to third-party websites or allow social media logins for your convenience. Please note:

Third-Party Links: Our Privacy Policy does not cover external websites, so we encourage you to review their privacy policies before sharing any information.

Social Media Logins: If you log in through social media, we may receive limited profile data. We use this data solely for platform functionality, and it is controlled by the privacy settings on your social media account.

8. Updates to Our Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or regulatory requirements. When changes occur, we will update the “Last Revised” date above and may notify you of major updates directly. We encourage parents and guardians to review this policy regularly to stay informed about our data practices.

9. Contact Us

We’re here to help and answer any questions you may have. If you have concerns about your or your child’s privacy or how we handle data, please reach out to us:

BridgeCare Technologies, Inc.
3000 Pegasus Park Drive, Suite 1330, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: (888) 792-7434
Email: support@bridgecare.ai

How to Review, Update, or Delete Your Data

To access, update, or delete your information, contact us at support@bridgecare.ai. We’re committed to helping you manage your data responsibly and securely.