Privacy and SMS Policy
Purpose:
The purpose of this Privacy Policy and SMS/Text Messaging Policy is to establish Stewards of Recovery, LLC's commitment to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of personal information while providing clear guidelines for the use of text messaging as a communication tool. This policy outlines how personal information is collected, used, protected, and disclosed, informs individuals of the risks and limitations associated with SMS communications, and ensures compliance with applicable federal and state privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), where applicable. The policy also defines the rights and responsibilities of individuals who choose to communicate with Stewards of Recovery through text messaging.
Privacy Policy:
Stewards of Recovery, LLC (“Stewards of Recovery,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting personal information in accordance with applicable law. This Privacy Policy & SMS/Text Messaging Terms explains how we may collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information when you communicate with us, including through our text messaging service.
Security Policy:
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no method of electronic communication or storage is completely secure. Standard SMS text messaging may not be fully secure and is not encrypted in the same way as some secure healthcare portals or encrypted messaging platforms.
SMS & Text Messaging Policy:
Stewards of Recovery may use text messaging to communicate with clients, prospective clients, family members, authorized representatives, referral sources, and other individuals who choose to communicate with us by text. This SMS & Text Messaging Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information in connection with our text messaging service. By texting START to 208-932-4493, you consent to receive conversational text messages from Stewards of Recovery, LLC, including messages from Stewards’ main number and from phone numbers assigned to individual Stewards counselors, staff members, programs, or departments. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. You may unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP. Reply HELP for help. Consent to receive text messages is not a condition of receiving treatment, services, or purchasing any goods or services from Stewards of Recovery. By subscribing to our text messaging service, you acknowledge and consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy & SMS/Text Messaging Terms.
Procedure:
1. SMS/Text Messaging Program
Stewards of Recovery may send conversational and service-related text messages. These messages may include, but are not limited to:
Appointment scheduling and reminders
Intake, admissions, or program-related coordination
General care coordination
Limited client support
Administrative or billing-related communications
Responses to questions or messages you send to us
Other service-related communications
Our text messaging service is intended for conversational and service-related communications. It is not intended for third-party marketing or promotional mass messaging.
2. Text Messaging Numbers
To subscribe to our text messaging service, text START to 208-932-4493, which is our main text messaging opt-in number.
After you subscribe, text messages from Stewards of Recovery may come from 208-932-4493 or from other phone numbers assigned to individual Stewards counselors, staff members, programs, or departments. These numbers are used by Stewards of Recovery for service-related communications.
If you receive a text message from a Stewards counselor or staff member, that message is still part of Stewards of Recovery’s text messaging service, even if the message comes from a number other than 208-932-4493.
3. Information We Collect
In connection with text messaging and other communications, we may collect and maintain information such as:
Your name
Your mobile phone number
Your contact information
Your communication preferences
The content of text messages exchanged with us
The date, time, and source of your opt-in or opt-out
Delivery status, carrier information, and related messaging records
Records necessary to document consent, communication preferences, and compliance
4. Use of Your Information
We may use information we collect to:
Communicate with you about appointments, services, care coordination, and administrative matters
Respond to messages you send us
Manage opt-in and opt-out preferences
Maintain records of communications
Provide, coordinate, and improve services
Support compliance, auditing, accreditation, billing, payment, healthcare operations, and legal obligations
Comply with applicable laws, regulations, payer requirements, court orders, and governmental requests
5. Sharing Your Information
Stewards of Recovery does not sell your mobile phone number or text messaging opt-in information. Stewards of Recovery does not share mobile opt-in data or consent information with third parties for their marketing or promotional purposes. We may share information with service providers and vendors who help us operate our text messaging services, phone systems, software systems, compliance systems, billing systems, or other business operations. These vendors are permitted to use information only as necessary to provide services to Stewards of Recovery and as otherwise permitted or required by law. We may also use or disclose information as permitted or required by applicable law, including HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2 where applicable, court orders, regulatory requirements, payer requirements, accreditation requirements, or other lawful obligations.
6. Data Security and Text Messaging Limitations
We implement reasonable and appropriate safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
No method of electronic communication or storage is completely secure. Standard SMS text messaging may not be fully secure. Text messages may be visible to anyone with access to your phone, your mobile account, your carrier account, or message backups. Text messages may also be stored by your mobile carrier or by technology vendors involved in transmitting or supporting text messages.
Because standard SMS text messaging has privacy and security limitations, Stewards of Recovery’s text messaging service is intended for practical, service-related communications, such as scheduling, reminders, coordination, administrative follow-up, and limited client support. Text messaging is not intended to replace counseling sessions, crisis services, emergency services, or detailed clinical treatment discussions. Stewards of Recovery trains its counselors and staff on appropriate text messaging practices and takes reasonable steps to limit unnecessary sensitive information in text messages. However, text messages are not a fully secure method of communication, and individuals should avoid sending highly sensitive, urgent, or detailed clinical information by text message unless they choose to do so after considering these risks. If a text message conversation involves sensitive, urgent, complex, or clinically detailed issues, Stewards of Recovery may direct the individual to a phone call, secure portal, in-person discussion, emergency resource, crisis line, or another communication method better suited to the situation.
7. Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Information
Some services provided by Stewards of Recovery may involve substance use disorder treatment, mental health treatment, or other sensitive healthcare services.
By subscribing to text messaging, you acknowledge that text messages from Stewards of Recovery could reveal that you have contacted or are communicating with Stewards of Recovery. By choosing to communicate by text message, you understand that the content of your messages, as well as the fact that you are communicating with Stewards of Recovery, may involve or reveal sensitive information. If you do not want to receive text messages from us, or if you prefer a different method of communication, you should not subscribe or you should opt out by replying STOP. Stewards of Recovery will make reasonable efforts to avoid including unnecessary sensitive clinical details in text messages. Text messaging should not be used for detailed clinical discussions unless specifically determined to be appropriate under the circumstances.
8. Message Frequency
Message frequency varies depending on your relationship with Stewards of Recovery, your appointments, your services, and your communications with us.
9. Message and Data Rates
Message and data rates may apply. Charges are determined by your mobile carrier and your mobile plan. Stewards of Recovery is not responsible for charges imposed by your mobile carrier.
10. Opting Out
You may opt out of receiving text messages at any time by replying STOP to a text message from Stewards of Recovery. Because Stewards of Recovery may use more than one phone number for text messaging, replying STOP may stop messages from the specific number you replied to. To request a broader opt-out from Stewards of Recovery text messaging, you may also contact us directly at 208-932-4493 or through our main office.
After you reply STOP, you may receive one final message confirming that you have been unsubscribed. After that, you should no longer receive text messages from that number or service unless you later re-subscribe or otherwise consent again.
11. Help Instructions
For help, reply HELP to any text message from us.
You may also contact us at:
Stewards of Recovery, LLC
685 1st St.
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
Phone: 208-932-4493
Email: recovery@sor4life.com
12. Not for Emergencies or Crisis Situations
Text messaging is not monitored at all times and should not be used for emergencies, crisis situations, urgent medical needs, or situations involving risk of harm to yourself or others.
Counselors and staff may not see or respond to text messages immediately, and text messaging should not be used when an immediate response is needed.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
If you are experiencing a mental health, substance use, or suicidal crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or seek immediate emergency assistance.
13. Minors
Stewards of Recovery may provide services involving minors. Text messaging involving minors should be used only by individuals who are legally authorized to communicate with Stewards of Recovery regarding the applicable services, such as a parent, guardian, legally authorized representative, or the minor where legally permitted.
14. Communication Preferences
You may request a different communication method at any time. For example, you may ask us to communicate by phone, mail, secure portal, or another available method instead of text message.
We will make reasonable efforts to honor reasonable communication requests as required by applicable law and as operationally feasible.
15. Carrier Disclaimer
Wireless carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
Delivery of text messages is subject to effective transmission by your mobile carrier and is not guaranteed.
16. Changes to This Policy
We may update or change this Privacy Policy & SMS/Text Messaging Terms from time to time. Updates will be posted on our website with a revised effective date.
Your continued use of our text messaging service after updates are posted means you accept the updated terms.
17. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy & SMS/Text Messaging Terms, or if you want to update your communication preferences, contact us at:
Stewards of Recovery, LLC
685 1st St.
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
Phone: 208-932-4493
Email: recovery@sor4life.com