Privacy Policy

Culture Care ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and website (collectively, the "Platform"). We understand the sensitive nature of mental health information and have implemented robust measures to protect your data.

By using Culture Care, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Platform.

Personal Information

When you create an account or use our services, we may collect:

• Name and email address
• Phone number (optional)
• Date of birth
• Location (city/state for therapist matching)
• Profile photo (optional)

Cultural and Health Information

To provide culturally-matched therapy services, we collect:

• Cultural background and ethnicity
• Language preferences
• Religious/spiritual background (optional)
• Gender identity and sexual orientation (optional)
• Mental health concerns and therapy preferences
• Responses to intake questionnaires

Usage Information

We automatically collect certain information when you use the Platform:

• Device information (type, operating system)
• IP address and general location
• App usage patterns and feature interactions
• Error logs for troubleshooting

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide Matching Services: Match you with culturally-compatible therapists based on your preferences and background
• Personalize Your Experience: Adapt content and recommendations to your Cultural Care Mode
• Facilitate Communication: Enable messaging between you and your matched therapists
• Improve Our Services: Analyze usage patterns to enhance features and user experience
• Send Notifications: Provide appointment reminders, wellness tips, and important updates
• Ensure Safety: Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, or harmful behavior
• Comply with Legal Requirements: Meet legal obligations and respond to lawful requests

Culture Care uses artificial intelligence to enhance your experience:

• Culturally Adaptive Matching: Our AI analyzes your intake responses to find therapists who understand your cultural background
• Tone Engine: AI adapts wellness content and therapeutic prompts to be culturally relevant to you
• Care Circle Recommendations: AI suggests community groups based on your cultural context

Important: AI features are designed to support, not replace, professional mental health care. All therapists on our platform are licensed mental health professionals.

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information only in these circumstances:

• With Therapists: When you match with or message a therapist, they receive relevant information to provide care
• In Care Circles: Posts and comments you make in community groups are visible to other members
• Service Providers: Trusted third parties who help us operate (hosting, analytics) under strict confidentiality agreements
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or to protect safety
• Emergency Situations: If we believe there is an imminent risk of harm to you or others
• With Your Consent: In other situations where you explicitly agree

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption of data in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
• Secure authentication with optional biometric login
• Regular security audits and vulnerability testing
• Limited employee access to personal data
• HIPAA-compliant infrastructure for health information

While we strive to protect your data, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and personal data
• Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications
• Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data in certain circumstances

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@joinculturecare.com.

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. If you delete your account, we will delete your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal, regulatory, or safety purposes. Anonymized data may be retained for analytics and service improvement.

Children's Privacy

Culture Care is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

International Users

Culture Care is operated in the United States. If you are accessing our Platform from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States where our servers are located. By using our Platform, you consent to this transfer.

California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act:

• Right to know what personal information is collected and how it is used
• Right to delete personal information
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell your data)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. For significant changes, we will provide additional notice via email or in-app notification. Your continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: