The Community Reach is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. This SMS Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect information when you opt in to receive text messages from our therapists, counselors, or administrative staff.

This policy applies to all SMS communications sent by The Community Reach, including appointment reminders, scheduling coordination, care‑related updates, and resource information.

When you opt in to receive SMS messages, we may collect:

• Your mobile phone number

• Your name, if provided

• Message content exchanged between you and your therapist or our staff

• Date, time, and delivery status of messages

We do not collect financial information, Social Security numbers, or unrelated personal data through SMS.

We use SMS communication only for purposes directly related to your care, including:

• Appointment reminders and confirmations

• Scheduling or rescheduling sessions

• Care coordination with your therapist or counselor

• Sharing community resources or support links

• Responding to your questions or requests

We do not use SMS for marketing, promotions, or mass messaging.

We take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, including:

• Secure systems for storing message logs

• Limited access to authorized staff

• Compliance with HIPAA‑aligned privacy practices for communication

While SMS is convenient, it is not encrypted. For sensitive or clinical matters, we may direct you to secure communication channels.

Message frequency varies based on your care needs and interactions with your therapist or our staff. You will only receive messages relevant to your services with The Community Reach.

You may opt out of SMS communication at any time.

• Reply STOP to unsubscribe

• Reply START to resume messages

• Reply HELP for assistance

Opting out of SMS will not affect your ability to receive services.

We do not sell, rent, or share your phone number or SMS content with third parties for marketing or advertising.

We may share information only when necessary to:

• Provide services you have requested

• Comply with legal obligations

• Support secure system operations (e.g., Microsoft Teams SMS infrastructure)

All third‑party service providers are required to protect your information.

We retain SMS communication records only as long as necessary to support your care, comply with legal requirements, or maintain accurate service records.

Our services may be provided to minors with appropriate consent. SMS communication with minors follows the same privacy protections described in this policy.

We may update this SMS Privacy Policy from time to time. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date.

If you have questions about this policy or need assistance, contact us:

The Community Reach Email: IT@thecommunityreach.org Website: https://www.thecommunityreach.org‍