The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University Privacy Policy
Last Updated: July 16, 2009
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse ("CASA")* at Columbia University respects your privacy and we are committed to protecting the privacy of the information you provide to us while using our web sites and their services.
This Privacy Policy governs and describes the type of personal information that CASA may collect on any one or more of its web sites (collectively the "Site"), how we may use that information, and with whom we may share it. The Privacy Policy also describes the measures we take to protect the security of this information. By accessing or using the Site, you expressly accept and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy and any revisions to the same. The Privacy Policy is effective as of the date at the top of this page. However, we reserve the right to revise this Privacy Policy from time to time. Although we will make a reasonable effort to provide notice of any revisions to this Privacy Policy, any such revisions will be posted here, and we suggest that you periodically consult this page for updates. Your use of this site following notice or the posting of any revisions to the Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.
Your use of this Site is also governed by the Terms of Use.
Technologies that Allow Us to Customize Your Experience
To collect information about your visit to our Site that will enable us to enhance and customize your experience on our Site, we use various technologies, including the following:
Information Collected by Web Servers
CASA web servers and, in certain instances, web servers of third party service providers performing business functions on our behalf (discussed below) may automatically collect certain non-personal information, such as the pages you visit and the domain name of your Internet service provider. This information is used to measure traffic and usage patterns. The servers also may log Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, or the location of your computer on the Internet, for systems administration and troubleshooting purposes, as well as for aggregate site usage statistics. Also, in some instances, we may use IP address logs to anonymously track session and web site usage and behaviors. Your IP address may be linked to your personally identifiable information for limited purposes, such as to enforce Site usage quotas and to track financial transactions conducted on the Site. We do not release this information to other organizations except for certain third party service providers performing business functions on our behalf (discussed below).
With respect to the third party service providers referenced in the paragraph above and in other sections below, we may retain or utilize third party service providers to perform business functions on our behalf consistent with this Privacy Policy. Examples include consultants and web hosting and payment processing companies. Such service providers may be provided with access to personal information needed to perform their functions but may not use such information other than on our behalf and in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Use of Cookies
A "cookie" is a piece of information that a web server may place on your computer when you visit a web site. Cookies are commonly used by web sites to improve the user experience. Many cookies last only through a single web site session or visit (session cookies). Others may have an expiration date or may remain on your computer until you delete them (persistent cookies).
We employ anonymous browser "cookies" to track Site usage of visitors. We do not employ third party cookies from any outside organization, except for the cookies of certain third party service providers acting on our behalf to provide web traffic analytics data. You may adjust your Internet settings to refuse cookies. Users who do not accept cookies from our Site may still access the Site, but in some instances may not be able to sign up for or manage an online account, or use certain web site features that require the user to be logged in under that account.
Information Collected and How We Use It
Some parts of our Site may allow users to choose to provide us with personal information. For example, if you post comments or engage in discussions on certain interactive sections of our Site, send a letter to an elected official through our Site, or sign up for email updates or newsletters, you may be asked to provide information such as your contact information (name, email address, mailing address, etc.). Also, in some instances, you may be asked to create an account and submit personal information to create such an account. If you prefer that we not collect any personal information from you, please do not provide us with such information. Also, if you prefer that we not contact you in the future through use of this contact information, please do not provide us with such information.
The information that you provide to CASA may be used to complete and support the immediate activity requested, administer and run the Site, improve the Site, contact you if necessary or if requested, and comply with any requirements of law. The information may also be used to contact you in the future about CASA news as well as various events, reports, publications, functions, activities and opportunities.
Unless you give express consent, and except as otherwise provided for in this Privacy Policy, your email address and other personal information will not be released to any organization outside of CASA and certain third party service providers performing business functions on our behalf (as discussed above). You may use our contact information below to inform us at any time if you would like to cancel a subscription and/or have your contact information deleted from our records.
Contributing to or Becoming a Member of CASA & Making Purchases
Some parts of our Site may have e-commerce or online donation and membership features that allow you to use your credit card. We recognize the importance of respecting the integrity of the credit card and related contact information that you provide and limit access to such information only to personnel authorized to process your request and/or certain third parties who provide services on our behalf (as discussed above). Also, we utilize software to encrypt e-commerce transactions, which works to protect credit card numbers and other confidential information. We may use the contact information provided to contact you in the future in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
You may also choose to make a donation in honor/memory of someone or give a gift membership on certain parts of our Site. The person or family you designate will receive a notification in your name if you choose to send one. If you make a donation in honor/memory of someone, any contact information that you provide about the person or family you designate will only be used to honor your request to send a notification. If you give a gift membership, any contact information that you provide about the person or family receiving the gift membership will be used to honor your request to send a notification and will also be used to send future communications from CASA to that individual or family in accordance with this Privacy Policy. We do not release this contact information to other organizations except for certain third party service providers performing business functions on our behalf (as discussed above).
Tell a Friend, Encourage a Friend to Help Support CASA, Email an Article
Some parts of our Site may allow a user to utilize our referral service to inform a friend about a web site, program, article, email newsletter, opportunity or event, or refer a friend for purposes of supporting CASA. As part of the referral process, we ask the user for certain personal information as well as the friend's name and/or email address. CASA will automatically send the friend a one-time email inviting him or her to support CASA or learn about the relevant web site, program, article, email newsletter, opportunity or event. We may provide your name and email address to the friend to identify the source of the recommendation or referral and we may also utilize your email address to notify you of any transmission errors. CASA stores your friend's information for purposes of sending this one-time email, and the friend's information will be protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy. We will not add your friend to our email broadcast lists unless your friend separately opts to receive such email communications from us.
Online Continuing Education Activities
Some parts of our Site may offer online continuing education activities that require participants to complete a multiple-choice knowledge test in order to qualify for continuing education units (CEUs). Responses to individual test questions are processed in real time to calculate a percent-correct score to determine eligibility for CEUs, but this information is not stored. For each online education activity, we store only the successful completion status only in the user's database record. This personal information is not shared with other organizations except for certain third party service providers performing business functions on our behalf (as discussed above) or if the individual requests that we verify his or her successful completion of a continuing education course to an accrediting body. If we publicly release any data about online education activities, it will be in aggregate (group) form and will not contain any personally identifiable information.
Email Subscriptions
Some parts of our Site may offer users the opportunity to subscribe to email updates. In some instances, the user must register for a free online account. Registration is required to protect the privacy and security of individualized settings required for these services, and includes the solicitation of certain information from you. Your self-chosen password is stored on a secure server and will not be divulged except to the email address associated with it in the subscription account. Following registration, we employ browser cookies to recognize a subscriber and his or her online account access privileges. You may opt-out of receiving email updates or delete your account by using our contact information below.
Online Advocacy Messages and Petitions
Some parts of our Site may offer users the opportunity to transmit an electronic letter or fax to a public official or other third party recipient, or sign an online petition. As part of such opportunities, you may be invited to submit personal information such as your name, email address, or street address. Any personal information you submit may be transmitted on your behalf to the recipient(s) named on the submission form, but will otherwise be subject to the provisions of this Privacy Policy.
Information We Share and With Whom We Share It
Third Parties
We will not provide your personal information to unaffiliated third parties for their use in marketing their products or service to you without your express consent.
Service Providers
With respect to the third party service providers referenced in the paragraph above and in other sections below, we may retain or utilize third party service providers to perform business functions on our behalf consistent with this Privacy Policy. Examples include consultants and web hosting and payment processing companies. Such service providers may be provided with access to personal information needed to perform their functions but may not use such information other than on our behalf and in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Business Transfers
In the event that CASA undergoes a transaction in which its assets or activities are merged, sold or transferred, any user information which CASA has collected, including personal information, may be among the transferred business assets. By submitting your information on the Site, you agree that your data may be transferred to outside parties as part of such a transaction or as part of the preparation for such a transition.
Compliance with Law and Fraud Protection
We may disclose any information we deem necessary, in our sole discretion, to comply with any applicable law, regulation, legal process or governmental request. In addition, we may disclose any information when we believe, in our sole discretion, disclosure is necessary or appropriate to prevent physical harm or financial loss or in connection with suspected or actual illegal activity.
Children's Privacy
If you are under thirteen years of age, you may browse our Site. However, you may not provide personal information to us. This Site is not directed to children under the age of thirteen and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of thirteen on the Site. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received personal information from a visitor under the age of thirteen on the Site, we will delete the information from our records.
How We Protect Personal Information
We maintain reasonable safeguards for this Site to protect against unauthorized disclosure, use, alteration or destruction of the personal information you provide on the Site.
Updating Your Information
If you would like to update your contact information, you may do so by contacting us at (212) 841-5200 or by email at [email protected].
Opt-Out
You may choose not to receive mail or email communications from us by emailing us at [email protected] and including the word "remove" or unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Contact Information
If you have questions, concerns, or comments about our privacy policies or practices, we would like to know what they are so we can address them. Please contact us at (212) 841-5200 or email us at [email protected].
*The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University is neither affiliated with, nor sponsored by, the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (also known as "CASA") or any of its member organizations with the name of "CASA."
