Upstate Religious Trauma Support - Privacy, Cookies, Terms, and Disclaimers (South Carolina)

Version 0.1 • Draft • Last updated July 11, 2025

Privacy Policy

Introduction

Upstate Religious Trauma Support (“URT,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and the choices you have.

Scope

This Policy applies to personal data collected via upstatereligioustrauma.org (the “Site”), including any sub‑pages, forms, and API endpoints. It does not cover data collected offline or on third‑party websites linked from our Site.

What We Collect & Why

Category Examples Purpose Legal Basis*
Information you provide Email address, form submissions, comments Register interest, send updates Consent (GDPR Art 6(1)(a)); CAN-SPAM consent
Automatically collected IP address, device type, browser, pages visited, time on page Site analytics, fraud prevention, performance Legitimate interest (GDPR Art 6(1)(f))
Cookies & similar tech _ga, _gid (Google Analytics); _gcl_au (Google Ads); __Secure-1PSIDCC (reCAPTCHA) Analytics, advertising conversion tracking, security Consent via Cookie Banner

Where GDPR applies. If you reside in the U.S., processing is based on our legitimate interests and your consent where required by applicable U.S. federal and state privacy laws.

How We Use the Data

  1. Communications — Send confirmation emails, newsletters (if opted‑in), or important service notices.
  2. Analytics & Improvements — Understand usage patterns to improve content and accessibility.
  3. Advertising — Measure the effectiveness of Google Ads campaigns (never personalized ads without consent).
  4. Legal & Security — Detect abuse, comply with legal obligations, enforce Terms of Use.

Sharing & Disclosure

We never sell your personal data. We share it only with:

International Transfers

Our servers are in the United States. If you access the Site from outside the U.S., your data will be transferred to—and processed in—the U.S. We rely on standard contractual clauses (SCCs) or equivalent safeguards for such transfers where required.

Data Retention

Data Retention Period
Email address & preferences Until you unsubscribe + 30 days for suppression logging
Analytics event data 14 months (Google Analytics default)
Server logs (IP) 30 days, then aggregated/anonymized

Your Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, rectify, delete, restrict, or object to our processing of your personal data, and to port it or withdraw consent at any time. To exercise any right, email privacy@upstatereligioustrauma.org.

Children’s Privacy

The Site is not directed to anyone under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe we have, contact us and we will delete it.

Security

We implement “reasonable safeguards” under the South Carolina Breach Notification Act (SC Code § 39‑1‑90), including HTTPS/TLS encryption, least‑privilege access controls, encrypted environment variables, and regular vulnerability scans. No system is 100% secure; we will notify you of any breach as required by law.

Changes

We may update this Policy from time to time. We will post the revised version and update the “Last updated” date. Substantive changes will be announced via email or on the Site.

Contact

Questions? Email privacy@upstatereligioustrauma.org.

Cookie & Tracking Policy

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device to store information. We also use local storage and similar technologies; together we call these “cookies.”

How We Use Cookies

Category Description Example Cookies Opt‑out
Strictly necessary Enable site operation and security. __Host-next-auth.csrf‑token, __Secure-1PSIDCC Cannot be disabled.
Analytics Count visits and traffic sources so we can improve performance. _ga, _gid, _gat Banner toggle ‘Analytics’
Marketing / Conversion Measure Google Ads clicks that complete our signup form. _gcl_au, IDE Banner toggle ‘Marketing’

On first visit we display a banner: “Accept All / Accept Essential / Manage Preferences.” Until you consent, we load only strictly necessary cookies and Google Consent Mode v2 pings.

Do Not Sell or Share

We do not sell your personal information. Under CPRA definitions, we also do not “share” it for cross‑context behavioral advertising.

A live list of currently active cookies is available at /cookies and is updated in real-time based on your current session and consent choices.

Updates

We will update this Policy to reflect new cookies or legal changes; check back periodically.

Terms of Use

Acceptance of Terms

By accessing upstatereligioustrauma.org (the “Site”) you agree to these Terms of Use (“Terms”). If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. Revised Terms are effective when posted. Your continued use indicates acceptance.

Use of Site

You may use the Site only for lawful, non‑commercial purposes. You agree not to:

  1. Violate any applicable law or regulation.
  2. Upload malicious code or attempt to disrupt the Site’s operation.
  3. Harvest email addresses or other data for unsolicited marketing.
  4. Misrepresent your identity or affiliation with URT.

Intellectual Property

All content (text, graphics, logos) is either owned by URT or used with permission. You may not reproduce or distribute it without prior written consent, except as permitted by fair‑use doctrines.

The Site links to third‑party websites. We do not control them and are not responsible for their content or practices. Access at your own risk.

Disclaimer of Warranties

The Site is provided “as is” and “as available.” URT disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including fitness for a particular purpose.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, URT shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of or in connection with your use of the Site.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold URT harmless from any claim or demand arising out of your breach of these Terms.

Governing Law & Venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina, without regard to conflict of law principles. Exclusive venue for any dispute shall be the state or federal courts located in Greenville County, SC.

Contact

questions@upstatereligioustrauma.org

Mental-Health & General Disclaimer

  1. No Clinical or Professional Relationship The information on this Site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental‑health condition. Interaction with the Site or contacting URT does not create a therapist–client or doctor–patient relationship.
  2. Crisis Resources If you are in crisis or think you may harm yourself or others, call or text 988 (U.S.) or dial emergency services (e.g., 911) immediately.
  3. Accuracy of Information We aim for accuracy but cannot guarantee completeness or timeliness. Information may change and may be updated without notice.
  4. No Endorsement Links to external organizations, books, podcasts, or therapists are provided for convenience and do not constitute endorsement. URT is not responsible for the content or services of external resources.
  5. Age Restrictions The Site is intended for individuals 13 years or older. If you are under 13, please do not provide personal information.
  6. Financial & Legal Notes URT is an emerging nonprofit. Tax‑deductible donation status is pending IRS 501(c)(3) determination; consult your tax advisor.

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