PRIVACY POLICY

SCOPE

Citrus Family Care Network (“Citrus FCN”), a division of Citrus Health Network, Inc., respects your privacy. This Website Privacy Policy explains how information may be collected, used, disclosed, and protected through www.citrusfcn.com and related website communications.

Citrus Family Care Network is a community-based care lead agency contracted with the Florida Department of Children and Families.

This policy applies to the public-facing website and the email and text-message communications described below. Child-welfare records, case records, adoption records, and other protected information may be governed by additional federal and Florida confidentiality requirements.

INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE

When you contact Citrus FCN, request information, sign up for communications, volunteer, or interact with a website feature, we may collect information you voluntarily provide. Depending on the interaction, this may include:

• Name
• Email address
• Telephone number
• The subject and content of a message
• Information necessary to respond to a request

Do not submit confidential child-welfare, foster-care, adoption, dependency-case, medical, or other sensitive information through ordinary email or a general website form unless the form specifically requests that information and identifies an approved secure process.

Applications for fostering, adoption, employment, or other programs may be processed through a linked third-party portal. Information submitted directly to that portal is also governed by the portal provider’s privacy policy and terms.

INFORMATION PROCESSED AUTOMATICALLY

When you visit the website, Squarespace and approved service providers may automatically process limited technical information, including:

• IP address
• Browser and device type
• Operating system
• Pages viewed and links selected
• Referring website
• Date and time of access
• Cookie identifiers and similar technical data

This information is used to operate and secure the website and, where you permit optional analytics cookies, understand website usage and improve performance.

HOW WE USE INFORMATION

We may use information to:

• Respond to requests and inquiries
• Provide requested program or event information
• Manage email subscriptions
• Coordinate authorized communications
• Provide service-related text messages
• Operate, maintain, and secure the website
• Understand website usage and improve content
• Prevent fraud, misuse, or security incidents
• Carry out authorized contractual and official duties
• Comply with legal, regulatory, court, contractual, and recordkeeping obligations
• Protect the rights, safety, and property of Citrus FCN and others

HOW WE DISCLOSE INFORMATION

Information may be disclosed to authorized partner agencies or contracted service providers when reasonably necessary to respond to a request, provide or coordinate an authorized service, operate the website, deliver communications, perform official duties, or satisfy legal or contractual obligations.

We may also disclose information:

• When requested or authorized by you
• When required by applicable law, court order, or legal process
• To investigate fraud, security incidents, or misuse
• To protect legal rights, safety, or property

Citrus FCN does not sell or lease personal information.

Mobile phone numbers and SMS consent records are not sold or shared with third parties or affiliates for their marketing or promotional purposes. They may be provided to contracted messaging providers solely as necessary to deliver requested communications.

EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS

You may unsubscribe from nonessential email communications by following the unsubscribe instructions included in the email or by contacting Citrus FCN.

Limited records may be retained to document an unsubscribe request and ensure that the preference is honored.

TEXT-MESSAGING PRIVACY

Citrus FCN may communicate with foster parents, adoptive families, relative caregivers, prospective caregivers, clients, applicants, and other individuals by text message.

Messages may concern appointments, training opportunities, licensing activities, case coordination, program updates, event reminders, and other service-related communications.

Participation is voluntary and is not a condition of receiving services. Citrus FCN limits the information included in text messages and uses reasonable safeguards to protect privacy. Because ordinary SMS and RCS messages are not fully secure, recipients should not send confidential case information by text unless specifically instructed to use an approved method.

COOKIES AND SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES

Cookies are small data files stored on a device. Citrus FCN and its website provider use necessary cookies to operate, secure, and maintain the website.

With your permission, optional analytics cookies may be used to understand how visitors use the website and improve its performance. Optional cookies are restricted until you provide consent.

At the time this policy is posted, Citrus FCN does not use cookies for third-party behavioral advertising or remarketing.

You may use the website’s cookie banner to:

• Accept optional cookies
• Decline optional cookies
• Manage individual cookie preferences
• Change previously selected preferences

You may also configure your browser to block or delete cookies. Some website features may not function properly when necessary cookies are blocked.

Session cookies generally expire when the browser is closed. Persistent cookies remain until their stated expiration, until you change your preferences, or until they are deleted through your browser.

Third-party content embedded in the website may be governed by the third party’s own privacy and cookie practices.

CHILD-WELFARE AND OTHER CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

Certain child-abuse, dependency, foster-care, adoption, medical, educational, and case-related records may be confidential or exempt from public disclosure under federal or Florida law.

The website is not an approved channel for submitting confidential case information unless a particular secure feature expressly says otherwise. Contact your assigned case professional or Citrus FCN by telephone for instructions concerning sensitive information.

CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

The website is intended primarily for adults, caregivers, families, professionals, community partners, and older youth seeking program information. General website forms are not intended to collect personal information directly from children under 13.

Children under 13 should not submit personal information through a general website form without the involvement of a parent or legal guardian. If Citrus FCN learns that information was submitted inappropriately, it will take reasonable steps to address it, subject to applicable confidentiality and record-retention requirements.

PUBLIC RECORDS

Certain records created or received by Citrus FCN while carrying out official duties under its contract with the Florida Department of Children and Families may be subject to Florida public-records requirements.

Records that are confidential or exempt from public disclosure, including certain child-abuse, dependency, adoption, foster-care, medical, and case-related information, will be protected and disclosed only as authorized or required by law.

Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

DATA RETENTION

Citrus FCN retains information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy and meet security, contractual, legal, public-records, confidentiality, dispute-resolution, and recordkeeping requirements.

A deletion request may not apply to records that Citrus FCN is legally or contractually required to maintain.

INFORMATION SECURITY

Citrus FCN uses reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, misuse, or destruction.

No electronic transmission or storage method is completely secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

YOUR CHOICES AND REQUESTS

Depending on applicable law and the type of record involved, you may request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information by contacting Citrus FCN.

A request may be limited by child-welfare confidentiality requirements, public-records obligations, contractual duties, legal holds, security needs, or other applicable law.

You may also:

• Unsubscribe from email communications
• Change cookie preferences through “Manage Cookies”
• Opt out of text messages as described in the SMS Terms

EXTERNAL WEBSITES AND PORTALS

The website may link to third-party application portals, employment websites, training systems, social-media services, maps, videos, or other resources. Citrus FCN does not control and is not responsible for their availability, content, security, or privacy practices.

Review the third party’s policies before submitting information.

CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

Citrus FCN may update this policy periodically. The revised version will be posted with an updated effective date. Where required, additional notice or consent will be provided.

TERMS OF USE

ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

These Terms of Use govern access to and use of www.citrusfcn.com. By using the website, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the website.

WEBSITE PURPOSE

The website provides general information about Citrus FCN’s foster-care, adoption, family-support, transitioning-youth, training, event, employment, partner-network, and related programs and services.

Citrus Family Care Network is a community-based care lead agency contracted with the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Using the website or submitting a general inquiry does not create a client, case-management, foster-care, adoption, employment, contractual, or other professional relationship and does not establish eligibility for a program or service.

EMERGENCY AND ABUSE REPORTING

The website, general email addresses, and social-media accounts are not emergency-reporting systems and should not be used to report suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect.

If a child or another person is in immediate danger, call 911. To report suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect in Florida, contact the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873 or use an official reporting method provided by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

For urgent case-specific issues, contact the assigned case professional or the appropriate authorized agency.

INFORMATIONAL DISCLAIMER

Website content is for general informational purposes only. It should not be interpreted as legal, medical, clinical, case-management, licensing, adoption, or other professional advice.

Program descriptions do not guarantee eligibility, placement, approval, licensing, adoption, employment, funding, benefits, or a particular outcome.

ACCEPTABLE USE

You agree not to:

• Use the website for an unlawful or fraudulent purpose
• Attempt unauthorized access to accounts, portals, servers, or systems
• Introduce viruses, malware, or harmful code
• Interfere with website operation, security, or availability
• Circumvent access controls or security features
• Collect information about others without authorization
• Misrepresent your identity or affiliation
• Infringe intellectual-property, privacy, confidentiality, or other rights
• Submit confidential child-welfare or case information through a channel not intended for that purpose

Citrus FCN may restrict access when it reasonably believes these Terms have been violated.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Unless otherwise indicated, website content, including text, graphics, photographs, logos, videos, documents, designs, and other materials, is owned by Citrus Health Network, Inc., through its Citrus Family Care Network division, or used with permission and is protected by applicable intellectual-property laws.

Content may not be copied, reproduced, modified, republished, distributed, sold, or used commercially without prior written permission, except as permitted by law.

COMMUNICATIONS AND SUBMISSIONS

Information submitted through the website must be accurate, lawful, and appropriate for the identified purpose.

Do not submit confidential child-welfare, foster-care, adoption, dependency-case, medical, or other sensitive information through ordinary email or general website forms.

Submitting an inquiry or application does not guarantee acceptance, eligibility, placement, licensing, employment, services, or a response within a particular period.

TEXT-MESSAGING TERMS

Citrus FCN may send service-related text messages to foster parents, adoptive families, relative caregivers, prospective caregivers, clients, applicants, and other individuals who have provided an appropriate mobile number and opted in.

Messages may concern appointments, training opportunities, licensing activities, case coordination, program updates, event reminders, and other service-related communications.

By opting in, you acknowledge and agree that:

• Message frequency may vary according to your programs and services.
• Message and data rates may apply.
• Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
• SMS and RCS messages are not fully secure.
• Participation is voluntary and is not a condition of receiving services.
• Consent applies only to the messaging program for which it was provided.

You may opt out by replying STOP, QUIT, END, CANCEL, or UNSUBSCRIBE, or by otherwise clearly requesting that messages stop. Citrus FCN may send one final nonmarketing message confirming the opt-out.

For assistance, reply HELP or contact Citrus FCN at (305) 455-6000.

If you opt out and later wish to receive messages again, you must complete a new opt-in. Opting out of text messages does not prevent Citrus FCN from contacting you through another legally permitted method when necessary.

THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES AND SERVICES

The website may link to external fostering, adoption, employment, training, reporting, social-media, or other portals. Links are provided for convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.

Third-party services are governed by their own terms and privacy policies. Citrus FCN is not responsible for their content, availability, security, or privacy practices.

WEBSITE AVAILABILITY

Citrus FCN may change, suspend, or discontinue website content or features at any time. We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free availability.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the website and its content are provided “as is” and “as available.” Citrus FCN disclaims warranties regarding accuracy, completeness, reliability, availability, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Citrus FCN and Citrus Health Network, Inc. will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive, or consequential damages arising from or related to use of, or inability to use, the website.

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded.

GOVERNING LAW

These Terms are governed by applicable federal law and the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any proceeding concerning these Terms shall be brought in an appropriate court located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, unless applicable law requires otherwise.

SEVERABILITY AND WAIVER

If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect. A failure to enforce any provision does not waive the right to enforce it later.

CHANGES TO THESE TERMS

Citrus FCN may update these Terms periodically. Updated Terms will be posted with a revised effective date. Material changes will receive additional notice where required.

CONTACT US

Citrus Family Care Network
A division of Citrus Health Network, Inc.
401 NW 2nd Avenue
South Tower, Suite N1007
Miami, FL 33128
Phone: (305) 455-6000
Website: https://www.citrusfcn.com