Terms of Use Agreement and Rules
Disclaimer:
The information provided here is for educational
purposes only! It’s not a substitute for talking
to a counselor. So that means that if you are
experiencing a crisis right now – meaning you
really need to talk to someone or if you are
experiencing an emergency – please call the
Kids’ Helpline
immediately at
716-834-1144,
toll free at
1-877-KIDS-400, or
dial 911.
Confidentiality
(Are we going to
tell anyone what you say?)
When you use the
chats, phone or web counseling services at this
site, the things you write about or talk to us
about are always private and confidential
(meaning we don’t share them with anyone outside
the agency or program), except in the following
situations.
-
If you tell us
you are being abused or hurt by someone you
know.
-
If you tell us
you are seriously considering suicide.
-
If you tell us
that you plan to hurt or have already hurt
someone else.
In these
situations, we are required by law to inform
authorities, such as the Department of Social
Services. We have to do this because we are
concerned about your safety and well-being. The
counselor will explain confidentially rules to
you and ask you for identifying information
(such as your name, address, age, etc.).
Telling us about these situations is important,
because we want to help you and those you care
about stay safe and healthy.
Security
(Technology used
to protect your privacy)
Our technology
protects who you are, what you are saying and
where you are. Some of the security
features include are:
No additional software, plug-ins needed to
be installed by your computer.
All chat communication is encrypted between
your computer and our servers.
Chat sessions are not logged or stored.
Chat Rooms
Here are a few
other guidelines for chatting:
-
Every chat
will be moderated by a counselor from the
Kids Helpline. The counselor’s role is to
facilitate the discussion and keep it
flowing.
-
Users are encouraged to
respond to the topic, other’s comments or
questions, or to ask questions on the
topic. Remember that all users are free to
respond, as well as the counselor.
-
We will also
have “guest counselors” who will be experts
in the weekly topic. These guests may be
staff or volunteers of the Kids Helpline or
from other community agencies who work with
kids and teens.
-
Appropriate
language must be used at all times. If the
counselor or facilitator feels that any
inappropriate remarks are made, you will be
blocked from using the chat room immediately
and will be unable to log in for future
chats. Again, everyone has a right to
participate in a safe and healthy way.
-
Remember that
we are not all speed typers, it might take a
few minutes from another user or the
counselor to respond. Please post questions
or comments one at a time, and be sure to
refer to the user you are replying to. The
facilitator’s role is to keep order in the
chat room and make sure everyone has a
chance to participate.
-
Finally, if
you need assistance immediately, please
utilize the Kids'
Helpline phone instead of
the chats, as a counselor on the phone can
provide one-on-one assistance to you. Call
us 24 hours a day at
716-834-1144
or toll free at 1-877-KIDS-400.
Thank you for your
interest and participation. If you have ideas
for future chats, email us today at
info@kidscrisis.com. We will get back to
you and let you know if we will be able to
schedule a chat on your suggested topic.
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