Privacy Policy
Effective Date: September 14, 2026
Napa Valley Speech Therapy, Inc., doing business as First Words Forward (“First Words Forward,” “FWF,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide when you visit our website, subscribe to our communications, or interact with our online services.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information collected through the First Words Forward website (the “Website”).
This Privacy Policy applies primarily to information collected through our public Website and marketing activities. Protected health information associated with consultation services is also subject to our Notice of Privacy Practices, which describes our obligations and your rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) and other applicable health privacy laws.
1. Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with the Website, we may collect the following categories of information.
Information You Provide to Us
Email subscriptions and resources.
When you subscribe to our email list, request a free resource, or complete another email opt-in form, we may collect your first name, email address, and information relating to your subscription preferences.
Our email subscription forms are not intended for the submission of medical, developmental, diagnostic, or other health information about you or your child. Please do not submit sensitive health information through an email subscription form.
Communications.
If you contact us by email, we may collect your name, email address, and any other information you voluntarily include in your communication.
Please do not send medical, developmental, or other sensitive health information through ordinary email unless instructed to do so using an appropriate secure communication method.
Consultation and Scheduling Information
When you schedule or participate in consultation services, you may be asked to provide information through our secure practice-management platform. This information may include:
your name and contact information;
your child's name, age, and other identifying information;
developmental, medical, educational, speech, language, and communication information;
reasons for seeking consultation;
intake information;
scheduling and appointment information; and
information discussed or documented in connection with consultation services.
Information that constitutes protected health information under HIPAA is handled in accordance with applicable law and our Notice of Privacy Practices.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit the Website, our website platform and related technologies may automatically collect certain technical or usage information, such as:
IP address;
browser and device type;
operating system;
referring website or source;
pages viewed;
approximate geographic information derived from an IP address;
dates and times of visits; and
information about how visitors interact with the Website.
This information may be collected through cookies and similar technologies.
2. How We Use Information
We may use information collected through the Website to:
operate, maintain, and improve the Website;
provide resources you request;
manage email subscriptions;
send educational, informational, and promotional communications when you have subscribed to receive them;
respond to inquiries;
facilitate scheduling and consultation services;
communicate with current and prospective clients;
understand Website usage and performance;
maintain the security and integrity of our Website and systems;
comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements; and
protect our rights, safety, property, and operations.
We do not use protected health information for marketing purposes except as permitted by applicable law or with any authorization required by law.
3. Email Communications
We use a third-party email service provider to manage subscriptions and distribute email communications.
When you subscribe, information such as your first name, email address, subscription status, and engagement with our emails may be processed through that service.
You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in our emails. We may continue to send communications that are necessary for an existing consultation, transaction, or other service relationship when permitted by law.
We intentionally limit information collected through our marketing email system and do not use it to collect medical, developmental, diagnostic, or other health information about children or families.
4. Scheduling, Intake, and Consultation Services
We use a third-party practice-management platform to facilitate scheduling, intake, consultation documentation, and related services.
When you interact with scheduling or intake functionality available through or embedded within our Website, information you provide may be transmitted to and processed through that platform.
Because scheduling and intake information may include health information, we take steps designed to handle such information in accordance with applicable privacy and security requirements.
Please review our Notice of Privacy Practices for additional information concerning protected health information and your rights under HIPAA.
5. Payment Information
Payments for consultation services are processed through third-party payment and practice-management providers.
First Words Forward does not directly collect or store complete payment-card information through the public Website. Payment information provided in connection with a transaction is processed by the applicable payment provider and is also subject to that provider's privacy and security practices.
6. Cookies and Website Analytics
Our Website platform may use cookies and similar technologies that are necessary for Website functionality, security, performance, and basic analytics.
We may in the future use additional analytics technologies to better understand Website traffic and improve our services. If we materially change our use of analytics, advertising, or tracking technologies, we will update this Privacy Policy and take other steps required by applicable law.
We evaluate tracking technologies used in connection with areas of the Website that may involve health information in light of applicable HIPAA privacy and security requirements.
7. How We Disclose Information
We may disclose personal information to service providers that assist us in operating our business, including providers supporting:
website hosting and operation;
email communications;
scheduling and practice management;
secure communications;
payment processing;
information technology and security; and
professional, legal, accounting, or regulatory functions.
We may also disclose information when required by law, legal process, or governmental request; when necessary to protect our rights or safety or the rights or safety of others; or in connection with a business reorganization, merger, acquisition, or similar transaction, subject to applicable law.
When a third party creates, receives, maintains, or transmits protected health information on our behalf as a business associate, we address that relationship as required by HIPAA.
We do not sell personal information.
We do not sell or disclose protected health information to advertising companies for their own advertising purposes.
8. Children's Privacy
The Website and First Words Forward's online resources are intended for parents, caregivers, and other adults. They are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly solicit personal information directly from children under 13 through the public Website.
Parents and legal guardians may provide information about their children in connection with consultation services. Such information is collected and handled in connection with the adult's request for services and, when applicable, in accordance with our Notice of Privacy Practices.
If you believe a child has submitted personal information directly to the public Website without appropriate parental involvement, please contact us at support@firstwordsforward.com.
9. Protected Health Information
Certain information collected in connection with First Words Forward consultation services may constitute protected health information under HIPAA.
Where HIPAA applies, our collection, use, disclosure, safeguarding, and handling of protected health information is governed by HIPAA and our Notice of Privacy Practices.
If there is a conflict between this Website Privacy Policy and our Notice of Privacy Practices regarding protected health information, the Notice of Privacy Practices and applicable law govern.
10. Data Security
We use administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information appropriate to the nature and sensitivity of the information involved.
Sensitive information associated with consultation services is handled through systems selected and configured with health-information privacy and security considerations in mind.
No website, electronic communication, or information-storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee absolute security of information transmitted electronically.
11. Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, provide services, maintain appropriate business and professional records, comply with legal and regulatory obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements.
Retention of protected health information and consultation records may also be governed by applicable federal and state healthcare and professional record-retention requirements.
12. Your Privacy Choices and Rights
Depending on where you live and applicable law, you may have rights concerning your personal information.
You may contact us to request information about personal information we maintain about you, request correction or deletion where applicable, or ask questions about our privacy practices.
Certain records, including healthcare, professional, transactional, or legally required records, may need to be retained even when a deletion request is made.
Rights relating specifically to protected health information are described in our Notice of Privacy Practices.
To make a privacy-related request, contact us at support@firstwordsforward.com.
We will not discriminate against you for exercising privacy rights provided by applicable law.
13. Third-Party Websites and Services
The Website may contain links to, integrations with, or embedded functionality provided by third-party websites and services.
Those third parties may maintain their own privacy policies and practices. Where a third party acts independently rather than on our behalf or as our business associate, its collection and use of information may be governed by its own privacy practices.
We encourage you to review the privacy information provided by third-party services you use.
14. Do Not Track and Browser Privacy Signals
Web browsers and devices may provide privacy preferences or signals concerning online tracking.
Because technologies and legal requirements concerning browser-based privacy signals continue to evolve, we respond to legally required privacy signals where applicable and technically feasible.
15. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our services, technologies, business practices, or legal obligations.
When we make changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this policy. If changes are material, we may provide additional notice when required by applicable law.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.
16. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, or would like to exercise an applicable privacy right, please contact:
Napa Valley Speech Therapy, Inc.
doing business as First Words Forward
Email: support@firstwordsforward.com
For information concerning protected health information and HIPAA rights, please see our Notice of Privacy Practices.