Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 10/06/26

The Victims Assistance Center of Jefferson County (“VAC,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), including our Child Advocacy Center of Northern New York program, respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and disclose information through vacjc.com and related website communications.

This policy applies to website visits, online inquiries, and donations. It does not replace the separate confidentiality practices, consent forms, or privacy notices that apply to counseling, advocacy, shelter, or other client services.

Important Safety Information

Our website and contact form are not emergency services. Website messages are not checked daily. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For assistance, call our 24-hour hotline at (315) 782-1855 when it is safe to do so.

Please avoid sending sensitive details about abuse, medical information, Social Security numbers, or confidential records through our general contact form or ordinary email. Contact our hotline or office to discuss an appropriate way to communicate. When submitting an inquiry, let us know whether and how it is safe to contact you, including whether we may leave a message.

Our Quick Exit button takes you to another website. It does not erase browsing history, cookies, downloads, or other records of your visit. Private or incognito browsing does not guarantee that your activity is hidden from someone monitoring your device or network. Consider using a safer device if you believe your activity is being monitored.

Information We Collect

Information you provide. When you contact us, we may receive your name, email address, telephone number, message, and other information you choose to provide. We may also receive information relevant to inquiries about volunteering, employment, events, or community education.

Donation information. When you make a donation, we may receive your name, contact and billing information, donation amount, transaction details, and any optional company name or comment. Online payment information is processed through Stripe. Selecting an anonymous donation option does not prevent VAC or the payment processor from receiving information needed to process and administer your donation.

Automatically collected information. Our website, hosting provider, and third-party tools may collect technical information, including your IP address, browser and device information, pages viewed, referring website, approximate location, and the date and time of your visit. Cookies and similar technologies may support website operation, payment processing, security, and traffic measurement.

How We Use Information

We use information collected through the website to:

• Respond to inquiries and requests.

• Process donations and provide receipts.

• Communicate about activities, opportunities, and support.

• Operate, maintain, and improve the website.

• Understand website traffic and outreach effectiveness.

• Maintain security and prevent fraud or misuse.

• Meet applicable legal, accounting, and recordkeeping requirements.

If you receive optional fundraising or promotional communications, you may request that they stop by using an unsubscribe option, when provided, or contacting us. We may still send communications needed to respond to your request or administer a donation.

Cookies and Google Analytics

Our website uses Google Analytics to help us understand how visitors find and use the site. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to collect information about website interactions and devices and provide reports to us.

Learn more about Google’s handling of this information:

• How Google uses information from websites that use its services

• Google Privacy Policy

• Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on

You can manage or delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking cookies may affect certain website features, including donation processing. The Google Analytics opt-out add-on applies to supported browsers and does not prevent every form of website data collection.

Google, YouTube, and Advertising

We may advertise through Google, YouTube, and other platforms to raise awareness of our services. Those platforms process information under their own privacy policies.

Running an advertisement does not, by itself, mean that we share information submitted through our contact form or information about our clients with an advertising platform.

You can manage Google advertising preferences through My Ad Center. Changing those preferences does not remove information already collected or prevent all advertising.

How Information May Be Shared

We do not sell personal information submitted through our website contact form or donation form, or provide that information to other organizations for their independent marketing.

We may provide information to service providers that help us host and maintain the website, process payments, deliver communications, or perform related administrative functions, as needed for those purposes. Third-party tools may also collect information directly when you use their features.

For website information covered by this policy, we may disclose information with your permission or when legally required, subject to applicable confidentiality protections.

Confidential client records are governed by separate requirements. This website policy does not authorize disclosure of those records.

Donations, Embedded Content, and External Links

Online donations are processed through Stripe. Information about Stripe’s privacy practices is available in the Stripe Privacy Policy.

Our website may display YouTube videos, maps, social media content, or other third-party features. These providers may receive information about your device or visit and use their own cookies when content loads or you interact with it.

Our website also links to external websites. These websites and services have their own privacy practices, which we do not control. Please review their policies before providing information.

Information Security and Retention

We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards appropriate to the information we handle. However, no website, email system, or internet transmission can be guaranteed completely secure.

We retain website inquiries, donation records, and related information as needed for the purposes described in this policy, including applicable legal and recordkeeping requirements. Retention periods may differ by record type. Confidential client records are subject to separate retention requirements.

Children’s Privacy

Our website provides information for the community, including families and young people. Our general website contact and donation forms are not intended to collect personal information from children under 13.

A parent or guardian who believes a child under 13 has provided information through these forms may contact us so we can review and address the situation. This statement does not limit a child’s ability to seek assistance or describe the separate requirements that apply to client services.

Your Questions and Choices

You may contact us to ask about information you submitted through the website or request a correction or deletion. We will review requests consistent with applicable law, confidentiality protections, and recordkeeping obligations.

We may need to verify your identity using an appropriate method. Please do not email sensitive identification documents unless we have arranged a suitable method with you.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our website practices or applicable requirements. We will post the revised policy on this page and update the effective date.

Contact Us

Victims Assistance Center of Jefferson County
418 Washington Street
Watertown, NY 13601

Office: (315) 782-1823
Email: victimsassistancecenter@vacjc.com
Website: https://vacjc.com/

24-Hour Hotline: (315) 782-1855
In an emergency, call 911.