The Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals (Institute) is an international, non-profit educational organization, governed by a board of directors.  The Institute contracts with the following academic partners: James Madison University and the University of Kansas.  The Institute was originally created with public and private funding received by the Virginia Department of Health, Iowa Department of Public Health, Early Impact Virginia and the University of Kansas.   

The Institute suite includes the learning management platform known as the Institute, Knock and the Rapid Response webinars and resources. 

PLEASE READ THIS PRIVACY POLICY CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THE INSTITUTE. BY VOLUNTARILY PROVIDING ANY PERSONAL DATA TO THE INSTITUTE AND USING OUR APPLICATION, YOU ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS POLICY AND THAT YOU CONSENT TO THE COLLECTION, USE AND DISCLOSURE OF SUCH DATA AS SET FORTH IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY, DO NOT PROVIDE US WITH ANY DATA AND/OR CANCEL YOUR ACCOUNT. 

1. Importance of Privacy 

We understand that you entrust us with certain personal data when using The Institute (institutefsp.org) and related services (collectively “The Institute”) and protecting your privacy is of great importance to us. 

2. What Information is Collected? 

The Institute collects information about you when you create an account. Your data, including personal data and non-identifiable data is captured when you create an account. Some features within The Institute, such as registering for an in-person event, may require additional information or take you to a third party who may collect additional information. 

2.1. Personal Data 

The Institute defines “personal data” as any information about an identifiable individual. Account Registration: To access all features of The Institute, you must create an account by providing personal data that may include your name, email address, work location, time zone, zip code, gender, birthdate, education level, field of work, years in the field, role, and model affiliation, and creating a unique password. Outside of your password, which is stored hashed so that it remains unknown even to The Institute, this data is stored by, accessible to, and may be used by The Institute for the purposes outlined in this policy. Note, we also collect your IP address or unique device identifier to investigate any suspicious use of The Institute.  

Learning modules and registration pages may collect additional personal information. If you voluntarily provide personal data in connection with event registration or while engaging with a module, it is also governed by the terms of this Privacy Policy.  

2.2. Non-Personal Data 

When you interact with The Institute, we collect certain non-identifiable information which may include, without limitation, characteristics of your device and software, Internet browser type, domain names of your Internet Service Provider, your approximate geographic location, a record of your usage of The Institute, including the time of your usage and how long you stayed. Such information, which is collected passively using various technologies, cannot, in and of itself, be used to specifically identify you. 

Additionally, The Institute partners with third parties for payment processing, to offer quizzes and exams, and continuous education units (CEUs), they may collect the same, similar, or additional information than what is described above. The information we collect from third parties may be combined with information collected within The Institute.  

2.3. Aggregated Personal Data 

In an ongoing effort to better understand and serve our learners, we often conduct research on learner/account holder demographics, content area knowledge, interests, and behavior. This research involves compiling and analyzing aggregated data. Aggregated data will be derived from your data and usage but will be anonymized to not reveal your identity. 

3. How is my Information Used? 

We may use your information as follows: 

3.1. Technical Assistance: If you contact us for account/access support or other technical assistance, we may use the information you provide to answer your question. 

3.2. Data Linkage: Your information may be used to link data points necessary to provide certain features including college credit. 

3.3. Third Party Services: We may provide aggregate data to third parties, when appropriate contractual and data security agreements are in place, for purposes including: improving the experience of learners; analyzing outcomes by state, model, or region; reporting and evaluating overall performance on exams, module usage, registration totals, and event attendance.  

3.4. Internal Business Purposes: We may use your information for internal business purposes, including improving the content and functionality of the Institute, understanding our learners, protecting against, identifying, and addressing fraudulent activity within the Institute.   

3.5. Communications: We may use your information to contact you to alert you to changes and enhancements to The Institute including the launch of new content or new features, and to request your voluntary feedback regarding your experience with The Institute. 

3.6. Evaluation: Your information may be used to validate and improve professional development resources at The Institute. All identifiable information including agency, name, date of birth, and email address will be protected. This information will be used for and not limited to technical reports, conference presentations, academic publications, trainings, and other formal and informal communication.  

3.7. Other Purposes: If we intend to use any information in any manner that is not consistent with this Privacy Policy, you will be informed of such anticipated use prior to or at the time at which the information is collected or we will obtain your consent subsequent to such collection but prior to such use.  

4. Who has access to my Personal Data? 

4.1. System Administrators: When you register for an account at The Institute, you consent to our providing your Personal Data to The Institute administrators. If you register for an event, your personal data is accessible to administrators of the event or activity. Anyone with access to your data is required to respect your privacy in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable privacy laws.  

4.2. Third Parties, Consultants, and Service Providers: We, like many businesses, sometimes engage other companies to perform certain business-related functions. Examples of such functions include mailing information, data analysis, hosting and maintaining databases, and processing payments. When we engage another company to perform such functions, we may provide them with information, including personal data, in connection with their performance of such functions.  

4.3. Legal Requirements: We may disclose your Personal Data if required to do so by law (including, without limitation responding to a subpoena or request from law enforcement, court or government agency) or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:  

a. comply with a legal obligation; 
b. protect or defend our legal rights, interests or property or that of learners of The Institute;  
c. act in critical circumstances to investigate wrongdoing in connection with The Institute; and/or  
d. protect the personal safety of learners of The Institute or the public.  

5. How is my Personal Data Kept Secure? 

The Institute has implemented critical physical, organizational, and technical measures to guard against unauthorized or unlawful processing of the data we collect. We have also taken steps to avoid accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, your Personal Data. While no system is completely secure, the measures implemented by The Institute significantly reduce the likelihood of a data security breach, and include:  

• The use of encryption when personal information is transferred to and stored on The Institute’s servers. Transmission between your browser and our web server is implemented using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology. 

• Limited access to personal information by The Institute staff on a need-to-know basis, and the use of robust authentication processes. 

• The use of data centers with effective physical and logical data security controls, and the use of reputable third parties who have demonstrated security consciousness. 

• Secure office premises and staff that are keenly aware of their data protection responsibilities. 

No method of transmitting or storing data is 100% secure. As a result, although we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee the security of any information you transmit to us. If you have reason to believe that your Institute account is no longer secure (for example, if you feel that the security of your account has been compromised), you must immediately notify us of the problem at mail@institutefsp.org.  

In addition, we recommend that you do your part in protecting yourself from unauthorized access to your The Institute account by ensuring no one else uses your computer or device when you are logged in, by logging off when you are not using The Institute and by keeping your password confidential. The Institute is not liable for any unauthorized use of your personal information that is beyond our reasonable control.  

6. How Long is my Personal Information Retained? 

We will retain your information if you have an Institute account. You may cancel your Institute account at any time. If you cancel your account, identifiable information will be removed from the database, but activity completed by the learner will remain in the system. 

7. Updates 

This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically and without prior notice to you to reflect changes in our practices. This Privacy Policy will be available at https://institutefsp.org/privacypolicy when it is available. Any changes to this Privacy Policy will become effective upon the posting date of the revision as indicated at the bottom of the policy. Use of the site following changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy then in effect. If you have any privacy concerns or questions at any time, please contact us at mail@institutefsp.org.  

Last Revised: 11/11/2024