Confidential and Anonymous Connection with our Advocates
StrongHearts Native Helpline is provided with the intent to give confidential, anonymous assistance to those in crisis, or those calling on behalf of a victim. While providing this service, advocates may ask about non-personally identifying information, such as:
- Type of caller
- Organization name, if referred
- Gender
- Race
- Tribe
- Age
- City
- State
- Zip code
- How caller heard about the service
Users can choose not to provide identifiable information during interactions with advocates. The collection of this information is critically important to the function and utilization of our service. We may use this non-personally identifying information for internal purposes, for data analysis, for research, or to improve marketing platforms. This information is also collected to improve the experience of those calling StrongHearts.
Personally Identifying Information
Both the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) prohibit sharing personally identifying information about victims without informed, written, and reasonably time-limited consent. StrongHearts is further prohibited from sharing personally identifying information to comply with Federal, Tribal, or State reporting, evaluation, or data collection requirements. As outlined below, both the Violence Against Women Act and the Family Violence Prevention Services Act permit limited sharing of personally identifiable information when mandated by state law or a valid court order.
Legal Disclosure
We may access and/or disclose personally identifying information if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) conform to the edicts of the law or (b) comply with legal process served on StrongHearts.
StrongHearts staff and advocates are located across the United States, and as such, may not be trained or fully knowledgeable about your particular state’s laws. Therefore, other state laws may apply to our communications with you. These laws may not protect your communications or privacy to the same degree or in the same manner as the laws of the state you are calling from. Additionally, the Violence Against Women Act and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act permit limited sharing when mandated by state law or a valid court order. However, even in this situation, StrongHearts is required to protect your information as much as possible to still comply with mandates or valid court orders.
Online Safety: Cookies and Browser History
StrongHearts may use cookies to enhance your experience while using our site. Cookies are pieces of information that some websites use to transfer to the user’s computer and are used for record-keeping purposes. Use of cookies makes web navigation easier by performing certain functions such as saving your passwords, your personal preferences and to make sure you don’t see the same advertisement repeatedly. Many consider the use of cookies to be an industry standard. It is important for you to understand that StrongHearts does not link the information stored in cookies to any personally identifying information shared while using this site.
Your browser is probably set to accept cookies. You can set your browser preferences to block or refuse cookies. In this way, you control your cookies. If you choose not to have your browser refuse cookies, you consent to the storing of your cookies by StrongHearts. If you choose to have your browser refuse cookies, it is possible that some areas of this site will not function properly.
Generally, users should always be careful and responsible whenever online. Computer use can be monitored, and your browser history is impossible to completely clear. Once you leave the StrongHearts site, we recommend that users clean their browser history and erase the cookies on their computer or mobile device for safety. Please be advised that an IP address can also be linked to a specific computer.
Mandatory Reporting
StrongHearts staff and advocates are considered mandatory reporters. In situations regarding the welfare of a minor such as child abuse or neglect, any personally identifying information that is provided to an advocate will be shared to the extent required by mandatory reporting. Only the information necessary to comply with mandatory reporting requirements will be shared with only those whom it is required to be shared.
Software as a Service and Application Service Providers (3rd party)
We will undertake an annual review of any third-party privacy policies affecting StrongHearts services. StrongHearts is not responsible for changes or updates made outside of the review period.
Direct Connect
As part of utilizing our service at StrongHearts, an advocate may provide callers with what is known as a direct connect to a service provider. StrongHearts does not share any personally identifying information with the service provider to which callers are directly connected. It is critically important that you, as the caller, protect your information in accordance with your own privacy wishes when engaging with third-party service providers. We encourage you to ask each third-party service provider for information regarding their privacy policy should you decide to go forward with a direct connect or should you utilize their services at any point. StrongHearts is not responsible for the privacy policies or practices of third-party service providers.
Language Line and Interpretation Assistance
Callers who utilize the Language Line for interpretation assistance are subject to the third-party privacy policies of the Language Line. Again, it is critically important that you, as the caller, protect your information in accordance with your own privacy wishes when engaging with third-party service providers. We encourage you to review each third-party service provider’s privacy policy. StrongHearts is not responsible for the privacy policies or practices of third-party service providers.
Technical Information We Collect
Our web servers automatically collect non-personally identifying information such as the domain name of the internet access provider, the internet protocol address used to connect the computer to the internet, the average time spent on our website, pages viewed, information searched for, access times and other relevant statistics. Again, this information is used to improve functionality of this site, to improve the overall user experience, and for data analysis.
Other Websites
The StrongHearts site and services offer links to other websites. Please note that when clicking on one of these links, you are entering another website for which StrongHearts has no responsibility. Users are encouraged to read the privacy statements on all such sites as those policies may differ from StrongHearts. We are not responsible for any information provided on third-party sites or in third-party policies.
Notification of Policy Changes
We reserve the right to change, modify or add to our privacy policy to protect the ethical, privacy and confidentiality standards that are required of StrongHearts as a helpline under both Federal Law and grant compliance requirements. Notification of any changes to the StrongHearts privacy policy will be posted to our homepage (www.strongheartshelpline.org) or other appropriate location to adequately inform users of these revisions. We encourage users to please review it frequently.
Contacting the Website
If you have any questions about this privacy policy, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this site, please contact: info@strongheartshelpline.org.