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BridgeToCommunity.org

Effective Date: 05/28/2026
 

Thank you for visiting BridgeToCommunity.org. This Privacy Policy explains how information may be collected, used, protected, and shared when you visit this website or interact with online forms, event registrations, email links, resource requests, or other digital features connected to the BRIDGE program.

BridgeToCommunity.org is intended to provide educational information, community resources, program updates, and outreach support for older adults, caregivers, families, community members, and partner organizations.

This Privacy Policy should be read together with the website’s Terms of Use.

1. Our Commitment to Privacy

BridgeToCommunity.org is committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and dignity of the people and communities we serve.

We aim to collect only the information needed to respond to requests, support program activities, manage events, improve outreach, and provide helpful community resources.

Information collected through this website will be handled in accordance with applicable federal, state, institutional, and program requirements, which may include:

• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, known as HIPAA, when applicable

• New York State Internet Security and Privacy Act

• New York State Personal Privacy Protection Law

• New York State Freedom of Information Law, where applicable

• New York SHIELD Act and applicable data-security requirements

• SUNY and SUNY Downstate privacy, information security, communications, and accessibility policies

• Applicable research, grant, outreach, and program reporting requirements

2. Important Notice About Medical Information

BridgeToCommunity.org is a community education and resource website. It is not intended to be used for emergency communication, medical diagnosis, treatment decisions, or urgent healthcare needs.

Please do not submit sensitive medical information, Social Security numbers, medical record numbers, insurance identification numbers, financial account information, or urgent health information through general website forms unless the form clearly states that it is specifically designed and secured for that purpose.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, emotional distress, or thoughts of self-harm, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Use of this website does not create a provider-patient relationship.

3. Information We May Collect

A. Information You Voluntarily Provide

We may collect personal information when you choose to submit it through this website, such as when you:

• Complete a contact form

• Register for an event

• Request information

• Sign up for updates

• Ask to be contacted

• Submit a survey

• Request a referral or resource connection

• Send an email through a website link

• Participate in outreach, education, or program activities

The information you provide may include:

• Name

• Email address

• Phone number

• Mailing address or ZIP code

• Preferred language

• Age range or older adult status

• Caregiver status

• Organization or community affiliation

• Event registration details

• Questions, comments, or service interests

• Communication preferences

• Information needed to respond to your request

You are not required to provide personal information simply to browse the website.

B. Information Automatically Collected

When you visit BridgeToCommunity.org, certain technical information may be collected automatically to help operate the website, improve performance, protect security, and understand general usage.

This may include:

• Internet Protocol address, also called IP address

• Browser type

• Device type

• Operating system

• Pages visited

• Date and time of visit

• Referring website

• General location information based on IP address

• Website performance information

• Error logs or security logs

This information is generally used for website administration, security, analytics, accessibility improvement, and troubleshooting.

C. Cookies and Similar Technologies

BridgeToCommunity.org may use cookies, pixels, tags, analytics tools, or similar technologies.

A cookie is a small file placed on your browser or device that helps a website remember information or understand how visitors use the site.

Cookies may be used to:

• Improve website performance

• Remember user preferences

• Measure website traffic

• Understand which pages are helpful

• Improve accessibility and user experience

• Support security and fraud prevention

• Evaluate outreach and public education efforts

You can usually adjust your browser settings to block or delete cookies. Some website features may not work properly if cookies are disabled.

BridgeToCommunity.org should not use cookies or tracking tools to collect sensitive health information for advertising purposes.

4. How We Use Information

Information collected through BridgeToCommunity.org may be used to:

• Respond to your questions or requests

• Provide information about programs, services, events, or resources

• Register you for workshops, trainings, or community events

• Send event confirmations, reminders, or updates

• Connect you with appropriate community resources

• Support outreach to older adults, caregivers, and community partners

• Improve website content, accessibility, and usability

• Monitor website performance and security

• Evaluate program reach and community impact

• Prepare de-identified or summary-level reports

• Meet grant, academic, administrative, or legal requirements

• Comply with applicable laws, policies, audits, or institutional obligations

We do not sell personal information collected through this website.

5. How We Share Information

We may share information only when appropriate, permitted, or required by law, policy, or program operations.

Information may be shared with:

• Authorized SUNY Downstate personnel

• BRIDGE program staff

• Approved academic, healthcare, or community partners

• Event or training coordinators

• Technology service providers supporting the website

• Email, form, analytics, or registration vendors

• Grant, evaluation, or reporting teams using de-identified or summary-level information

• Government, regulatory, legal, or oversight entities when required by law

• Emergency services or appropriate authorities when needed to protect health or safety

Access to personal information should be limited to individuals or entities who need the information to perform authorized duties or services.

We do not share personal information for unrelated commercial marketing purposes.

6. Third-Party Service Providers

BridgeToCommunity.org may use third-party service providers to support website operations, including:

• Website hosting

• Online forms

• Event registration

• Email communication

• Analytics

• Cybersecurity

• Accessibility tools

• Video conferencing

• Maps or location tools

• Document storage or file sharing

• Customer support or outreach tools

These providers may have access to certain information only as needed to provide services. When appropriate, service providers are expected to maintain privacy and security safeguards consistent with applicable requirements.

Third-party tools may have their own privacy policies. Visitors should review those policies when leaving BridgeToCommunity.org or using third-party platforms.

7. Third-Party Links

BridgeToCommunity.org may include links to external websites, including community organizations, government agencies, healthcare providers, social service agencies, libraries, transportation resources, event platforms, or educational resources.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, content, accuracy, accessibility, or policies of third-party websites.

A link to another website does not mean endorsement, sponsorship, or guarantee unless clearly stated.

When you leave BridgeToCommunity.org, you should review the privacy policy and terms of use of the website you visit.

8. Email and Text Communications

If you provide your email address or phone number, you may receive communications related to:

• Your request

• Event registration

• Program updates

• Resource navigation

• Follow-up support

• Educational information

• Community outreach

• Surveys or evaluation requests

Where required by law, consent may be requested before sending non-essential text messages, newsletters, recurring updates, or promotional communications.

You may request to stop receiving non-required communications by following unsubscribe instructions or contacting the program directly.

Standard message and data rates may apply for text messages.

Please remember that email and text messages may not always be secure. Do not send sensitive medical or urgent information by email or text unless instructed through a secure process.

9. Health Information and HIPAA

Some SUNY Downstate services and healthcare programs may be subject to HIPAA and other health privacy laws.

If you are a patient or receive healthcare services from SUNY Downstate or another covered healthcare provider, your protected health information may be governed by that provider’s Notice of Privacy Practices.

This website’s Privacy Policy applies to information collected through BridgeToCommunity.org. It does not replace any HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices that may apply to clinical care, treatment, billing, or healthcare operations.

If a website form, referral pathway, or program activity collects protected health information, additional privacy protections, authorizations, or notices may apply.

10. Research, Evaluation, and Community Impact Reporting

The BRIDGE program and its partners may evaluate website usage, event participation, outreach activities, community needs, and program impact.

Whenever possible, reports should use de-identified, aggregated, or summary-level information that does not directly identify individual visitors.

Information may be used to support:

• Program improvement

• Grant reporting

• Community needs assessment

• Academic or educational evaluation

• Outreach planning

• Quality improvement

• Public health and community impact reporting

If any activity qualifies as formal human subjects research, it will be handled according to applicable institutional review, consent, and regulatory requirements.

11. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to help protect information collected through this website from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

Security measures may include:

• Access controls

• Limited employee or staff access

• Secure website hosting

• Monitoring for unauthorized activity

• Use of encrypted connections where appropriate

• Vendor security review where applicable

• Internal policies and procedures

• Staff training and confidentiality expectations

No website, email system, internet transmission, or electronic storage method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Visitors should also protect their own devices, passwords, browsers, and internet connections.

12. Data Retention

Information collected through BridgeToCommunity.org may be retained only as long as reasonably needed for the purpose for which it was collected, or as required by law, policy, contract, grant requirements, audit rules, institutional record-retention schedules, or program operations.

Different types of records may be kept for different periods of time.

When information is no longer needed, it should be securely deleted, de-identified, archived, or retained according to applicable requirements.

13. Your Choices and Rights

Depending on the type of information, how it was collected, and applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Ask what personal information was collected about you

• Request correction of inaccurate personal information

• Ask to update your contact preferences

• Request removal from non-required mailing or outreach lists

• Withdraw consent for certain optional communications

• Ask questions about how your information is used

• File a privacy concern or complaint

Some requests may be limited by law, institutional policy, public records requirements, grant requirements, healthcare regulations, legal obligations, or security needs.

To make a privacy-related request, contact the office listed in Section 22.

14. Children’s Privacy

BridgeToCommunity.org is primarily intended for adults, older adults, caregivers, community members, partner organizations, and professionals.

This website is not designed to knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without appropriate consent.

If we become aware that information from a child has been collected in a way that does not comply with applicable law, we will take appropriate steps to address the issue.

15. Older Adults, Caregivers, and Family Members

BridgeToCommunity.org may serve older adults, caregivers, family members, and community advocates.

If you submit information on behalf of another person, you should have appropriate permission or legal authority to do so.

Please do not submit private health, financial, legal, or personal information about another person unless you are authorized and the form is intended for that purpose.

16. Language Access and Translation

BridgeToCommunity.org may provide information in English and other languages to support community access.

Translations are provided to improve understanding and access. If there is a conflict between translated content and the official English version, the English version may control unless otherwise required by law.

For language support, contact:

Language Access Contact:
[Insert Contact Name or Office]
[Insert Email Address]
[Insert Phone Number]

17. Accessibility

BridgeToCommunity.org is committed to making information accessible to older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and community members using assistive technologies.

We aim to support:

• Clear, simple language

• Readable text

• Strong color contrast

• Keyboard-accessible navigation where possible

• Image descriptions where appropriate

• Mobile-friendly design

• Accessible documents when possible

• Alternative formats upon request

If you have difficulty accessing information on this website, please contact us.

Accessibility Contact:
[Insert Accessibility Contact Name or Office]
[Insert Email Address]
[Insert Phone Number]

18. Social Media

BridgeToCommunity.org may link to or display content from social media platforms.

If you interact with BRIDGE-related content on social media, your activity may be visible to the platform, other users, or the public depending on your privacy settings.

Social media platforms have their own privacy policies and terms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those platforms.

Please avoid posting personal medical information, private family details, or urgent requests on public social media pages.

19. Photography, Video, and Media Consent

BRIDGE program activities, community events, or partner events may include photography, video recording, interviews, testimonials, or media documentation.

When required, consent or release forms should be obtained before using identifiable images, video, voice, stories, or testimonials.

If you do not wish to be photographed or recorded at an event, please notify event staff when you arrive.

Media content collected at events may be used only according to applicable consent, release, institutional, and program requirements.

20. Public Records, Legal Requests, and Required Disclosures

Because SUNY Downstate is a public institution, certain records may be subject to public records laws, legal requests, audits, investigations, subpoenas, court orders, regulatory review, or government reporting requirements.

Personal information may be disclosed when required or permitted by law.

Where appropriate, efforts will be made to protect privacy and confidentiality consistent with applicable law.

21. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

When changes are made, the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page will be revised.

Your continued use of BridgeToCommunity.org after changes are posted means you acknowledge the updated Privacy Policy.

We encourage visitors to review this page periodically.

22. Contact Information

For questions about this Privacy Policy, privacy concerns, accessibility issues, or requests related to your personal information, please contact:

BRIDGE Program / BridgeToCommunity.org
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
450 Clarkson Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11203

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23. Legal and Compliance Review Notice

This Privacy Policy is intended to support responsible, transparent, and compliant privacy practices for BridgeToCommunity.org.

Before publication, this policy should be reviewed and approved by the appropriate SUNY Downstate legal, privacy, compliance, information security, accessibility, communications, and program leadership representatives.