Notice of Privacy Practices

First Words Forward
Napa Valley Speech Therapy, Inc. dba First Words Forward
Michelle Hileman, M.S., CCC-SLP

Effective Date: September 14, 2026

This notice describes how medical information about you or your child may be used and disclosed and how you can access this information. Please review it carefully.

Our Responsibilities

First Words Forward (FWF) is committed to protecting your protected health information (PHI). PHI includes identifiable information relating to health, services received, or payment for those services.

We are required by law to:

  • protect the privacy and security of your PHI

  • provide you with this Notice

  • follow the Notice currently in effect

  • notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised your information

How We May Use and Disclose Your Information

We may use or disclose PHI as permitted or required by law for purposes including:

Services and Consultation
We may use PHI to provide and document FWF consultation services, communicate with you, and coordinate with another provider when appropriate. FWF consultations are parent- and caregiver-focused and do not constitute speech-language evaluation or treatment of your child.

Payment and Operations
We may use PHI to process payment and for activities necessary to operate our organization, including record management, quality improvement, administration, and compliance.

Appointments and Communication
We may use PHI for scheduling, appointment reminders, and service-related follow-up.

Other Uses Required or Permitted by Law
We may use or disclose PHI as permitted or required by law, including for public health and safety, health oversight, certain legal proceedings, law-enforcement purposes, or to prevent a serious threat to health or safety.

Business Associates
We may share PHI with companies that perform services on our behalf. When required by HIPAA, these companies must appropriately protect that information.

Other uses or disclosures requiring your authorization will be made only with your written authorization, which you may revoke as permitted by law. We do not sell protected health information.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access your records: Request an electronic or paper copy of health information we maintain about you or your child.

  • Request a correction: Ask us to correct information you believe is incorrect or incomplete.

  • Request confidential communication: Ask us to contact you in a particular way or at a particular location.

  • Request restrictions: Ask us to limit certain uses or disclosures. If you pay in full out of pocket, you may ask us not to disclose information about that service to a health plan for payment or operations, and we will honor the request unless disclosure is required by law.

  • Request an accounting: Ask for a list of certain disclosures made during the previous six years.

  • Choose a representative: A person legally authorized to act for you or your child may exercise applicable privacy rights.

  • Receive a copy of this Notice: Request a paper or electronic copy at any time.

  • File a complaint: File a complaint without retaliation if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

You may also tell us your preferences regarding certain disclosures, such as sharing information with family members or others involved in care.

Specially Protected Information

Certain health information may receive additional protection under federal or state law.

If we maintain records subject to the federal confidentiality requirements for substance use disorder records under 42 CFR Part 2, we will protect those records as required by law. Such records generally may not be used in legal proceedings against an individual except as specifically permitted by law or with appropriate written consent.

Changes to This Notice

We may revise this Notice. An updated Notice may apply to information we already maintain as well as information received in the future. The current Notice will be available on the First Words Forward website and upon request.

Questions or Complaints

For questions, privacy requests, or complaints, contact:

Michelle Hileman, Privacy Contact
First Words Forward
support@firstwordsforward.com
707-637-4970

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.