Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 21, 2026  Smile & Hopes Health Care (“we”, “us”, “our”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use and share it, and your rights and choices regarding your information. This policy applies to information collected through our website, phone, email, in-person services, and other interactions with our organization in Port St. Lucie, Florida and the communities we serve. 

Contact Us
Smile & Hopes Health Care
529 SW Prima Vista Blvd, Suite 301L, Port St. Lucie, FL 34983
Phone: (772) 289-8530
Email: aa@smileandhopes.com

1. Information We Collect We collect information you provide directly and technical/usage information automatically. A. Information you provide
Contact information: name, email, phone number, mailing address.
Health and care information: medical conditions, care needs, medication schedules, emergency contacts, caregiver preferences, and other health-related details needed to provide care (may be sensitive health data).
Payment and billing information: credit card, bank/insurance details, billing address, invoices and payment history.
Employment / caregiver applications: resume, references, certifications, background check authorization, and other recruitment materials.
Communications: messages, intake forms, emails, support requests, and any content you submit to us.
B. Information collected automatically Device and usage data: IP address, browser type/version, pages visited, time on pages, referring/exit pages, and other analytics.
Cookies and tracking: cookies, pixel tags, and similar technologies used to operate the site and analyze usage. See our Cookies section below.

2. How We Use Your Information We use the information we collect for purposes including: To provide, manage, and deliver in-home care and related services.
To schedule visits, match caregivers, and coordinate care with healthcare providers when authorized.
Billing and payment processing, insurance claims, and required financial record keeping.
To communicate with you about appointments, care updates, account notices, and promotional information (if you opt in).
To process job applications and background checks for caregivers.
To respond to inquiries, requests, and customer service needs.
To improve our website, services, marketing, and operations through analytics.
 To comply with legal obligations or to protect the rights, property, and safety of our clients, employees, or the public.
   
3. Legal Basis & HIPAA If you are in the U.S.: some health information we collect may be considered Protected Health Information (PHI).​Smile & Hopes Health Care  is not a substitute for medical care. If we handle PHI as a business associate of a covered entity, appropriate business associate agreements and HIPAA safeguards will be put in place. Please contact us if you need details about our HIPAA practices.
General legal basis: where required by law (e.g., GDPR) we will rely on consent, contract performance, legal obligations, or legitimate interests depending on the processing activity.
   
4. When and With Whom We Share Information We may share your information with: Service providers who perform functions on our behalf (payment processors, scheduling platforms, background check providers, IT and hosting providers).
Healthcare providers or facilities when needed to coordinate care and with your authorization.
Insurance companies for billing and claims processing, as authorized by you.
Legal and regulatory authorities when required to comply with law, subpoena, or to protect public safety.
Business transfers: if we sell or restructure our business, customer data may be transferred as part of that transaction.
With your consent or as otherwise disclosed at the time of collection.
We require vendors and partners to keep data secure and only use it for our agreed purposes. 

5. Cookies & Tracking Technologies We use cookies and similar technologies to provide and improve our website: Essential cookies to enable core site functionality.
Performance and analytics cookies to understand site usage and improve the experience.
Marketing cookies (only with consent) to deliver relevant ads and measure campaign performance.
You can control cookies via your browser settings and opt-out tools. Disabling some cookies may limit site functionality. 

6. Security We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards intended to protect personal information. Examples include encrypted connections (HTTPS), access controls, and secure backup practices. However, no internet transmission or storage system is 100% secure. If you have concerns about our security practices, contact us. 

7. Data Retention We retain personal information as long as necessary to: Provide services and support,
Comply with legal, tax, or accounting obligations, and
Resolve disputes and enforce agreements.
Retention periods vary by data type (e.g., employment records vs. marketing contacts). 

8. Your Rights & Choices Depending on where you live, you may have rights to: Access the personal information we hold about you.
Request correction of inaccurate information.
Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal exceptions).
Opt out of marketing communications.
Opt out of sale or sharing of personal information (where applicable under local laws such as the CCPA).
Object or restrict processing in certain situations.
Data portability — receive a copy of certain personal data in a structured format.
To exercise these rights, contact us at aa@smileandhopes.com or by mail at the address above. We may need to verify your identity before responding. We will respond consistent with applicable law. 

9. Children’s Privacy Our services are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected data from a child under 13, contact us and we will take steps to delete it. 

10. Third-Party Links Our site may link to third-party websites or services that have their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties. Review their policies before submitting personal information. 

11. Job Applicants & Caregiver Screening If you apply for employment or caregiver referral, we may collect resume details, references, background check authorizations, certifications, and other employment-related information. We will use these details to evaluate candidacy and to meet legal and safety obligations (including background checks). 

12. HIPAA & Sensitive Health Data If you provide health information to us, we treat it with special care. If we act as a business associate for a covered entity, we enter into required agreements and follow HIPAA rules. If you need specific assurances about HIPAA compliance or want to sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), contact aa@smileandhopes.com . 

13. Changes to This Policy We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will post the revised policy with a new Effective Date. For material changes affecting your rights, we will provide prominent notice. 

14. How to Contact Us Questions, requests to access, correct, or delete personal information, or privacy concerns may be directed to: 
 Smile & Hopes Health Care
529 SW Prima Vista Blvd, Suite 301L, Port St. Lucie, FL 34983
Phone: (772) 289-8530
Email: aa@smileandhopes.com  

15. Additional Notices (Optional — include if relevant) California Residents (CCPA): If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights such as the right to know, delete, and opt out of sale of personal information. To exercise those rights, contact us at aa@smileandhopes.com . 

We will not discriminate against you for exercising privacy rights.
EU/EEA Residents (GDPR): If you are located in the European Economic Area, you have rights under the GDPR including access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, and objection. We process data on legal bases including consent, contract necessity, and legitimate interest. Contact us to exercise these rights.
  
HIPAA: If you receive care from us and want to request a copy of your medical records or have HIPAA-related questions, contact our privacy officer at aa@smileandhopes.com.
   
Disclaimer: This Privacy Policy is a general template and does not constitute legal advice. For a fully compliant policy tailored to your exact operations (particularly related to HIPAA, CCPA, and GDPR), please consult a qualified attorney.