Our Commitment to Privacy
Foster Careers ("we," "our," and/or "us") values the privacy of individuals who use our website and related services (collectively, our "Services"). This privacy policy (the "Privacy Policy") explains how we collect, use, and disclose information from users of our Services ("Users"), including website visitors, participants who apply to or express interest in our program ("Participants"), employees of our placement partners who provide or express interest in providing job placements for our program ("Placement Partners"), donors who donate to our cause ("Donors"), and volunteers who volunteer with us ("Volunteers").
By using our Services, you agree to the collection, use, disclosure, and procedures this Privacy Policy describes.
Key Definitions
"Personal Information"
Any information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked with a particular consumer or household.
"Sensitive Personal Information"
Personal information revealing a consumer's social security number, driver's license and passport numbers, account numbers and credentials, precise geolocation, racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, or union membership, personal information concerning a consumer's health, sex life, or sexual orientation, contents of a consumer's mail, email and text messages where the business is not the intended recipient, genetic data, biometric information, and citizenship or immigration status.
"Biometric Information"
An individual's physiological, biological, or behavioral characteristics, including information about an individual's deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), that is used or is intended to be used singly or with each other or with other identifying data, to establish individual identity. Biometric information includes, but is not limited to, imagery of the iris, retina, fingerprint, face, hand, palm, vein patterns, and voice recordings, from which an identifier template, such as a faceprint, a minutiae template, or a voiceprint, can be extracted, and keystroke patterns or rhythms, gait patterns or rhythms, and sleep, health, or exercise data that contain identifying information.
Personal Information We Collect About You
In the preceding twelve (12) months, we have collected personal information from and about our Users, including Participants, Placement Partners, Volunteers, Donors, and visitors to our Services. Depending on your interactions with our Services, we may collect the following categories of personal information:
| Categories of Personal Information | Specific Types of Personal Information Collected |
|---|---|
| Identifiers | Name, preferred name, username, account credentials, email address, mailing address, telephone number, date of birth, participant identification number, online identifiers, IP address, device identifiers, social media account information, government-issued identification numbers where required for employment-related services. |
| Information that identifies, relates to, describes, or is capable of being associated with, a particular individual | Name, address, telephone number, education information, employment information, employment history, resume information, work authorization information, emergency contact information, insurance information provided by participants, payment card information for donations, and other information individuals choose to provide. |
| Characteristics of Protected Classifications | Age, race, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship or immigration/work authorization status, veteran status, disability status, gender, gender identity, gender expression, preferred pronouns, sexual orientation, and other demographic information voluntarily provided by participants. |
| Commercial Information | Records regarding donations made to the organization, program participation history, event registrations, services requested, workforce-development activities, employment referrals, internship referrals, apprenticeship referrals, and communications regarding available opportunities. |
| Internet or Other Electronic Network Activity Information | Browsing activity on our website, clickstream data, pages viewed, search activity, referring URLs, session information, interactions with website content, communications preferences, email engagement metrics, and cookie-related data. |
| Geolocation Data | Approximate geographic location derived from IP address, state of residence, city, or location information voluntarily provided by participants. |
| Professional or Employment-Related Information | Resume information, employment history, work experience, professional references, skills assessments, job interests, certifications, vocational training records, interview feedback, placement outcomes, internship history, apprenticeship participation, and employment eligibility information. |
| Education Information | School attended, enrollment status, graduation information, transcripts provided by participants, educational achievements, certifications, vocational training participation, career pathway information, and educational support records. |
| Inferences Drawn From Personal Information | Career interests, workforce readiness assessments, employment preferences, geographic employment preferences, program eligibility determinations, skills evaluations, and recommendations regarding employment, training, internship, or apprenticeship opportunities. |
| Sensitive Personal Information | Government-issued identification numbers, Social Security numbers when required for employment placement or verification, work authorization information, racial or ethnic origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or accommodation information, foster-care status, information relating to participation in child welfare programs, criminal history information, court records, information relating to interactions with law enforcement, health-related information voluntarily provided by participants, background check information where authorized, and other information considered sensitive under applicable law. |
How Your Personal Information Is Collected
We collect personal information from several sources, depending on how you interact with our Services.
Information You Provide Directly to Us
We collect personal information directly from Participants, Placement Partners, Volunteers, Donors, and other Users when they:
- Create an account;
- Complete an application or intake form;
- Submit resumes, educational records, assessments, or other program-related materials;
- Register for events or workshops;
- Participate in interviews, mentoring, coaching, workforce-development activities, internships, apprenticeships, or job-placement opportunities;
- Make donations;
- Volunteer with us;
- Subscribe to newsletters or communications; or
- Contact us by telephone, text message, email, online forms, or other means.
Information Collected Automatically
When you access or interact with our Services, we and our service providers may automatically collect certain information through cookies, analytics tools, server logs, pixels, and similar technologies, including information about your device, browser, IP address, and interactions with our Services.
Information We Receive from Placement Partners and Other Organizations
We may receive personal information from employers, internship sponsors, apprenticeship programs, workforce-development organizations, educational institutions, government agencies, social service providers, referral partners, and other organizations that work with us to provide services and opportunities to Participants.
Information We Receive from Referrals
We may receive personal information from individuals who refer Participants to our programs. Such information may include contact information, referral information, eligibility information, and information concerning the referring individual's relationship to the Participant.
Information We Receive from Service Providers
We may receive personal information from service providers that help us operate our Services, including providers of website hosting, data storage, analytics, communications, payment processing, customer relationship management, and information technology services.
Information We Receive from Background Screening Providers
Where authorized by a Participant, required by a Placement Partner, or otherwise permitted by law, we may receive personal information from third-party background screening providers, including information relating to criminal history, driving records, employment verification, education verification, and other screening information.
Information We Receive from Publicly Available Sources
We may collect information from publicly available sources, including professional networking platforms, publicly available employment information, government records, and other publicly available information relevant to our programs and services.
How We Use the Information We Collect
We use personal information for the following business and operational purposes:
- Operate, maintain, improve, secure, and administer our Services and programs;
- Evaluate eligibility for, provide, and manage workforce-development, career-readiness, mentoring, educational, internship, apprenticeship, employment-placement, and related services;
- Connect Participants with employers, educational institutions, workforce-development organizations, internship providers, apprenticeship sponsors, and other Placement Partners;
- Communicate with Participants, Volunteers, Placement Partners, Donors, and other Users; process applications, registrations, donations, surveys, referrals, and requests; and provide support and assistance;
- Coordinate placements, interviews, training opportunities, assessments, program evaluations, volunteer activities, and partner engagement initiatives;
- Conduct research, reporting, analytics, and program evaluation activities using aggregated, de-identified, or anonymized information;
- Facilitate fundraising, donor relations, and charitable giving activities;
- Protect the safety, security, rights, and property of Participants, Users, Foster Careers, and others; prevent fraud, misuse, unauthorized access, and other unlawful activity;
- Comply with applicable legal, regulatory, contractual, accreditation, funding, grant-reporting, audit, and recordkeeping obligations;
- Establish, exercise, or defend legal claims; and
- Carry out any other purpose disclosed at the time information is collected or with your consent.
We collect and use sensitive personal information only as reasonably necessary to provide our Services, administer our programs, comply with legal obligations, evaluate eligibility, facilitate placement opportunities, and support Participants.
Who We Disclose the Information We Collect With
In the preceding twelve (12) months, we have disclosed personal information to the categories of recipients described below for the business and operational purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy.
Placement Partners
We may share Participant information with employers, internship providers, apprenticeship sponsors, workforce-development organizations, educational institutions, staffing organizations, and other Placement Partners. The information shared may include information reasonably necessary to evaluate, recommend, refer, or place a Participant for an opportunity, including resume information, employment history, educational information, skills assessments, career interests, references, and other relevant information.
Service Providers
We may share personal information with vendors, contractors, and service providers that assist us in operating our Services and carrying out our mission, including:
- Website hosting providers;
- Cloud storage providers;
- Information technology and security providers;
- Customer relationship management providers;
- Data management providers;
- Communications and messaging providers;
- Payment processors;
- Background screening providers;
- Analytics providers; and
- Other vendors that support our programs and operations.
These organizations are authorized to use personal information only as necessary to provide services on our behalf or as otherwise permitted by law.
Educational, Governmental, and Social Service Organizations
We may share information with educational institutions, child welfare agencies, workforce-development organizations, social service providers, governmental agencies, grant administrators, and other organizations that support Participant services, where permitted by law or authorized by the Participant.
Volunteers, Mentors, and Program Advisors
Where appropriate and necessary to provide services, we may share limited information with volunteers, mentors, coaches, advisors, and other individuals who assist with our programs.
Donor and Fundraising Service Providers
We may share personal information with organizations that assist us with donation processing, fundraising activities, donor management, and charitable giving programs.
Professional Advisors
We may share personal information with our attorneys, accountants, auditors, insurers, consultants, and other professional advisors as necessary to operate our organization and comply with legal obligations.
Legal Compliance and Protection of Rights
We may access, preserve, use, or disclose personal information if we believe doing so is necessary or appropriate to:
- Comply with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, subpoenas, or legal processes;
- Respond to requests from governmental authorities;
- Enforce our Terms of Use or other agreements;
- Protect the rights, safety, property, or security of Participants, Users, Foster Careers, or others;
- Prevent, investigate, or address fraud, security incidents, or unlawful activity; or
- Establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.
Organizational Transactions
If Foster Careers undergoes a merger, consolidation, reorganization, transfer of programs, or other organizational transaction, personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to applicable confidentiality and legal requirements.
With Your Consent
We may share personal information with third parties when you direct us to do so or otherwise provide your consent.
Text Messaging Information
If you choose to receive text messages from us, your mobile phone number and SMS consent preferences will be used solely for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy. We do not share SMS consent information or mobile phone numbers with third parties for their own marketing purposes.
We Do Not Sell Your Personal Information
We do not sell personal information and have not sold personal information during the preceding twelve (12) months. We do not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising and have not shared personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising during the preceding twelve (12) months.
How Long We Retain Personal Information
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to provide our Services, support Participants, comply with legal and reporting requirements, resolve disputes, and protect our rights and interests.
The length of time we retain information depends on the type of information, the purpose for which it was collected, and any legal, contractual, or operational requirements.
When personal information is no longer needed, we will securely delete, de-identify, or otherwise dispose of it in accordance with applicable law and our record retention practices.
Your Privacy Rights
We strive to provide individuals with meaningful control over their personal information. Subject to applicable law and certain exceptions, you may have the right to:
- Request information about the personal information we maintain about you;
- Request access to the personal information we maintain about you;
- Request correction of inaccurate personal information;
- Request deletion of personal information;
- Request a copy of certain personal information you have provided to us; and
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on your consent.
We may need to verify your identity before responding to a request. In some circumstances, we may deny or limit a request where permitted or required by law.
If you believe you have rights under applicable law, please contact us at:
privacy@fostercareers.org
2967 Oak Run Pkwy Bldg 400
New Braunfels, TX 78132–5454
657-205-1497
We will not discriminate against you for exercising any privacy rights available under applicable law or querying the existence of potential rights.
Your Choices
Marketing Communications
You can unsubscribe from our promotional emails via the link provided in the emails. Even if you opt out of receiving promotional messages from us, you will continue to receive administrative messages from us.
Third Parties
Our Services may contain links to other websites, products, or services that we do not own or operate. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. Please be aware that this Privacy Policy does not apply to your activities on these third-party services or any information you disclose to these third parties. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any information to them.
Security
We make reasonable efforts to protect your information by using physical and electronic safeguards designed to improve the security of the information we maintain. However, because no electronic transmission or storage of information can be entirely secure, we can make no guarantees as to the security or privacy of your information.
Children's Privacy
We do not knowingly collect, maintain, or use personal information from children under 13 years of age, and no part of our Services is directed to children. If you learn that a child has provided us with personal information in violation of this Privacy Policy, please alert us at privacy@fostercareers.org.
International Visitors
Our Services are hosted in the United States and intended for visitors located within the United States. If you choose to use our Services from the European Union or other regions of the world with laws governing data collection and use that may differ from U.S. law, then please note that you are transferring your personal information outside of those regions to the United States for storage and processing. Also, we may transfer your data from the U.S. to other countries or regions in connection with storage and processing of data, fulfilling your requests, and operating our Services. By providing any information, including personal information, on or to our Services, you consent to such transfer, storage, and processing.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We will post any adjustments to the Privacy Policy on this page, and the revised version will be effective when it is posted. If we materially change the ways in which we use or disclose personal information previously collected from you through our Services, we will notify you through our Services, by email, or other communication.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about our processing activities, please contact us:
info@fostercareers.org
2967 Oak Run Pkwy Bldg 400
New Braunfels, TX 78132–5454