Thank you for visiting the Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (WCPCAN) web site and reviewing our Privacy Notice. This statement addresses collection, use and security of and access to information that may be obtained through use of the WCPCAN website. This notice covers the following topics:

• Information Collected and How it is Used
• Personal Information and Choice
• Public Access to Information
• Review and Correction of Personally Identifiable Information
• Cookies
• Security
• Disclaimer
• Contact Information

Information collected if you only browse this site

If you do nothing during your visit to our web site but browse, read pages, or download information, we will gather and store certain information about your visit. This information does not identify you personally. We automatically collect and store the following information about your visit:

1. The Internet Protocol Address and domain name used. The Internet Protocol address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly to your computer. We use the Internet Protocol Address to direct Internet traffic to you. This address can be translated to determine the domain name of your service provider (e.g. xcompany.com or yourschool.edu);
2. The type of browser and operating system you used;
3. The date and time you visited this site;
4. The web pages or services you accessed at this site; and
5. The web site you visited prior to coming to this web site.

The information we automatically collect or store is logged and used by WCPCAN only to improve the content of our web services and to help us understand how people are using our services. WCPCAN analyzes this information to determine how our web site is being used, so that we may continually improve the site's usefulness to the public.

What we collect if you volunteer information

If during your visit to our web site you participate in a survey, send an email, or perform some other transaction on-line, the following additional information will be collected:

1. The email address, and contents of email, for those who communicate with us via email.
2. Information volunteered in response to a survey.
3. Information volunteered through an on-line form for any other purpose.

The information collected is not limited to text characters and may include audio, video, and graphic information formats you send us.

We use your email to respond appropriately. This may be to respond to you, to address issues you may identify, to further improve our web site, or to forward the email to another agency for appropriate action.

If you participate in a survey, information we collect is used to make improvements to the web site and collect demographic information on web site use.

If you perform some other transaction online, information we collect will be used solely for the purpose outlined on the form.

Personal Information and Choice

You may choose whether to provide personal information on-line

“Personal information” is information about a natural person that is readily identifiable to that specific individual. Personal information includes such things as an individual's name, address, and phone number. A domain name or Internet Protocol address is not considered personal information.

We collect no personal information about you unless you voluntarily provide it to us by sending us email, participating in a survey, or completing an on-line form. You may choose not to contact us by email, participate in a survey or to provide any personal information using an online form. Your choice to not participate in these activities will not impair your ability to browse the WCPCAN website and read or download any information provided on the site. For viewers choosing not to use email, participate in a survey or use an on-line form, information is still available by mail, fax or telephone.

If personal information is requested on the web site or volunteered by the user, state law and the federal Privacy Act of 1974 may protect it. However, this information is a public record once you provide it, and may be subject to public inspection and copying if not protected by federal or state law.

If you believe that your personal information is being used for a purpose other than what was intended when submitted, you may contact the Executive Director as shown in the Contact Information Section of this statement.

WCPCAN is a general audience site and we do not knowingly collect any personal information from children. Users are cautioned that the collection of personal information requested from or volunteered by children on-line or by email will be treated the same as information given by an adult, and may be subject to public access.

Public Access to Information

In the State Of Washington, laws exist to ensure that government is open and that the public has a right to access appropriate records and information possessed by state government. At the same time, there are exceptions to the public's right to access public records that serve various needs including the privacy of individuals. Exceptions are provided by both state and federal laws.

All of the information collected at this site becomes public records that may be subject to inspection and copying by members of the public, unless an exemption in law exists. RCW 42.17. 260(1) states that

Each agency, in accordance with published rules, shall make available for public inspection and copying all public records, unless the record falls within the specific exemptions of subsection (6) of this section [RCW 42.17.260(6)], RCW 42.17.310, 42.17.315, or other statute which exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific information or records. To the extent required to prevent an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy interests protected by RCW 42.17.310 and 42.17.315, an agency shall delete identifying details in a manner consistent with RCW 42.17.310 and 42.17.315 when it makes available or publishes any public record; however, in each case, the justification for the deletion shall be explained fully in writing.

In the event of a conflict between this Privacy Notice and the Public Records Act or other law governing the agency’s disclosure of records, the Public Records Act or other applicable law will control.

Review and Correction of Personally Identifiable Information

You can review any personally identifiable information we collect about you by using the information in the Contact Information Section at the end of this Notice. You may recommend changes to your personally identifiable information you believe to be inaccurate by submitting an email request that credibly shows the inaccuracy. We will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections. (RCW 43.105.310)

Cookies

To better serve our users we are now using "cookies" to customize your browsing experience with the WCPCAN website. Cookies are simple text files stored on your computer by your web browser.

Cookies created on your computer by using this web site do not contain personally identifying information and do not compromise your privacy or security. We use the cookie feature only to store a randomly generated identifying tag on your computer. You can refuse the cookie or delete the cookie file from your computer by using any of the widely available methods.

Security

WCPCAN, as developer and manager of its website, has taken several steps to safeguard the integrity of its data and prevent unauthorized access to information maintained by WCPCAN. For site security purposes and to ensure that this website remains available to all users, WCPCAN employs software to monitor traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise cause damage to this website. This agency takes precautions to safeguard personal information you provide through our web services.

This information should not be construed in any way as giving business, legal, or other advice, or warranting as fail proof, the security of information provided via the WCPCAN web site.

Disclaimer

The WCPCAN web site has many links to other web sites. These include links to web sites operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private businesses. When you link to another site, you are no longer on the WCPCAN web site and this Privacy Notice will not apply. When you link to another web site, you are subject to the privacy policy of that new site.

Reference in this web site to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the State of Washington, WCPCAN, or its officers, employees or agents.

Neither the State of Washington, nor any agency, officer, or employee of the State of Washington warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information published by this system, nor endorses any content, viewpoints, products, or services linked from this system, and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at its own risk.

WCPCAN reserves the right to revise and update this Privacy Notice at any time without notice by posting such revised Privacy Notice at the WCPCAN home page.

WCPCAN Contact Information

You may contact WCPCAN as follows:

To review your personal information, or request correction of your personal information:

Executive Director
Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
318 1^st Ave. S, Suite 310
Seattle, WA  98104
Fax 206-464-6642
Phone 206-464-6151
E-mail wcpcan@dshs.wa.gov

To offer comments about WCPCAN's web site, or about the information presented in this Privacy Notice:

WCPCAN Webmaster
Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
318 1^st Ave. S, Suite 310
Seattle, WA  98104
Fax 206-464-6642
Phone 206-464-6151
E-mail wcpcan@dshs.wa.gov