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Privacy & Safety
What this app does and does not do.
If you are in immediate danger or cannot stay safe, call 911. If you are thinking about suicide, self-harm, or need emotional crisis support, call or text 988.
Device & browser safety
- Because this app includes domestic abuse, sexual assault, suicide, and self-harm support, privacy and safety are extremely important.
- If someone may be monitoring your phone or browser, use a safer device if possible.
- Delete your browsing history after visiting if it is safe to do so.
- Call or text from a trusted phone if your current device may be monitored.
- An advocate from Steps to End DV or HOPE Works can also help you access resources safely.
What this app is
Our First Step Connect is a navigation and education app. It includes sensitive topics such as suicide, self-harm, domestic abuse, sexual assault, substance use, and homelessness. The app is designed to provide navigation and education only.
It does not provide medical advice, legal advice, diagnosis, treatment, counseling, therapy, or emergency services. It does not replace an advocate, counselor, medical provider, law enforcement, or emergency service.
If you are in danger or cannot stay safe, call 911 or seek emergency care. If you are thinking about suicide or self-harm, call or text 988.
Privacy practices
- No account is required to use this app.
- No login is required to access any page.
- This app avoids collecting sensitive health, safety, or personal information.
- Any saved plan is stored locally on your device only, unless you choose to share it.
- Notes saved in this app are not sent to any server.
- You control what you print, copy, or share.
- Emergency situations require professional help — this app cannot provide it.
- All resource phone numbers and websites should be verified before use.
Medication note: This app does not recommend or prescribe medication. Medication decisions must always be made with a qualified medical provider.
LGBTQ+ Privacy and Safety
If you are not out, are worried about being outed, or are concerned someone may monitor your device, be careful about what you save or print. Use a safer device if possible. You do not have to share your identity details before asking whether a provider is affirming and confidential.
This app does not require users to disclose sexual orientation, gender identity, legal name, pronouns, or private identity details.
If optional identity-related notes are saved, they stay local to your device unless you choose to share or print them.
This app is a community navigation tool and prototype. Resource information should always be verified before use.
Disability & Benefits Privacy
Our First Step Connect may help users prepare to contact disability benefit and social service programs, but it does not collect or store Social Security numbers, medical records, diagnoses, income documents, bank information, Medicaid ID numbers, VA claim numbers, DD214 details, disability ratings, or official benefit application details.
Our First Step Connect does not determine disability eligibility, submit applications, provide legal advice, or make benefit decisions. Official agencies determine eligibility.
Emailing Our First Step Connect
If you choose to email Carl directly, your message will be sent through your own email provider. Email is not anonymous. Please do not include private crisis details, medical records, legal information, Social Security numbers, benefit case numbers, safety plan details, or anything unsafe to share.
This email is not monitored for emergencies. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are thinking about suicide or self-harm, call or text 988.
Feedback Form Privacy
Our First Step Connect may collect anonymous feedback to help improve the app. Feedback may include ratings, suggestions, resource corrections, and general opinions. Please do not include private personal information, medical information, crisis details, safety plan details, or anything unsafe to share.
Leaving an email address is optional and should only be done if it is safe and you want a response. Feedback is not monitored for emergencies. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are thinking about suicide or self-harm, call or text 988.
Usage Analytics (data-minimizing)
Our First Step Connect may collect limited, data-minimizing usage analytics to understand how the app is being used and what types of support people are looking for. This may include page views, help categories selected, resource buttons clicked, support group searches, and city/ZIP searches entered voluntarily. We do not ask for or store your name, crisis details, or exact location as part of analytics.
"Data-minimizing" means we try to collect the least information needed to improve the app. It does not mean zero tracking — the platform may still record page views even when analytics is disabled.
To find nearby resources, enter a town or ZIP. Our First Step Connect does not use browser location and does not store exact GPS coordinates.