Privacy Policy

FosterFerret (“we,” “our,” “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of foster youth, caseworkers, counselors, and district partners who use our platform (“Services”). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

1.1 Student Information

• Name, email, and school/district details 
• Caseworker and counselor contact information
• Optional student ID or foster ID (if provided)
• Wellness check-in responses and journals

1.2 Caseworker & Counselor Information

• Name, email, and assigned district/school
• Youth connections and communication logs

1.3 Uploaded & Generated Content

• Documents stored in the Vault
• Messages and chats with the AI Assistant (Notebook)
• Orders placed through the Burrow

1.4 Technical Information

• Login and authentication data (via AWS Cognito or Google SSO)
• Device type, browser, and log data
• Service usage patterns (for security and improvements)
   

2. How We Use Information

We use collected information to:

• Verify student eligibility and connect them to caseworkers/counselors 
• Provide access to features (Vault, Burrow, Notebook, Check-In, Contacts)
• Deliver notifications to caseworkers in case of wellness concerns or emergencies
• Fulfill resource requests through Amazon Business accounts
• Improve the Services and ensure security

We do not sell or use information for advertising.

3. Sharing of Information

We may share limited information only as needed:

• Caseworkers/Counselors: Receive wellness updates, shared files (with consent), and order activity logs.
• District Admins: May view aggregated usage and fund balances.
• Service Providers: Third-party partners such as AWS Cognito (authentication), Google (SSO), Twilio (SMS/voice), Amazon (ordering), and OpenAI (AI Assistant) process data securely to operate the platform.
• Legal Obligations: If required by law, court order, or government request.

Sensitive files and student journals are never shared without explicit student consent.

4. Student Privacy & Control

• Students control which documents are shared from the Vault. 
• Sensitive files require an extra confirmation step before sharing.
• AI Assistant chats are not visible to caseworkers or district staff.
• Burrow orders are logged as “Order placed” only—item details remain private.
   

5. Data Security

We use industry-standard safeguards to protect information, including:

• Encrypted storage (AES-256) 
• Encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS)
• Secure backups and access logs
• Role-based permissions for staff and administrators
   

6. Data Retention

We retain data only as long as needed to provide the Services or meet district/legal obligations. Students may request deletion of their data if permitted by their district policies.

7. Children’s Privacy

FosterFerret is designed for foster youth, including minors. Access is managed through school districts and verified caseworkers, who act as responsible adults overseeing youth use of the platform.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your role and district policies, you may have the right to:

• Access, update, or delete your information 
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Limit or withdraw sharing of certain information

Requests can be made by contacting us directly.

9. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as our Services evolve. Continued use of FosterFerret means acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Contact Us

For questions about privacy, please contact:

Email: christinas@vantaggio.ai