Privacy Policy

Effective Date: February 1, 2026
Last Updated: February 1, 2026

Introduction

ADAT Helpline - Mental Health & Behavioral Advisors ("ADAT Helpline," "we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of every individual who visits our website, contacts our admissions team, or receives treatment services at our facility. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information and protected health information when you interact with us through our website at adtrhelpline.website, by telephone, in person at our treatment center, or through any other communication channels.

As a licensed addiction treatment center and behavioral health facility located at 5178 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60632, we understand the sensitive nature of the information entrusted to us. We are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of privacy and data protection in accordance with federal and state laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), 42 CFR Part 2, and applicable Illinois state privacy regulations.

By using our website, submitting information through our online forms, or engaging with our services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the practices described herein, please discontinue use of our website and contact us directly with any questions or concerns.

Information We Collect

We collect various types of information depending on how you interact with ADAT Helpline. The categories of information we may collect include:

Personal Information

When you contact us via phone, email, or through forms on our website, we may collect personal information such as:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Email address
• Mailing address
• Date of birth
• Emergency contact information
• Insurance provider and policy details

Health Information

During the admissions process and throughout the course of treatment at our Chicago facility, we may collect health-related information, including:

• Substance use history and patterns
• Mental health diagnoses and treatment history
• Medical history, current medications, and allergies
• Assessment and evaluation results
• Treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries
• Insurance pre-authorization and claims data

Website Usage Data

When you visit adtrhelpline.website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, including:

• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Browser type, version, and language preferences
• Operating system and device type
• Pages visited, time spent on each page, and navigation paths
• Referring website or search terms used to find our site
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (described further below)

Device and Browser Information

We may collect information about the device you use to access our website, including hardware model, screen resolution, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information. This data helps us optimize the user experience and ensure our website functions correctly across different platforms and devices.

How We Use Your Information

ADAT Helpline uses the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To Provide Treatment Services: Your personal and health information is used to develop individualized treatment plans, coordinate care among our clinical team, administer medications, and deliver evidence-based addiction treatment and mental health services at our Chicago facility.
• To Respond to Inquiries: When you contact us by phone at (217) 216-8088, by email at [email protected], or through our website contact forms, we use your information to respond to your questions, provide requested information about our programs, and facilitate the admissions process.
• To Verify Insurance Coverage: We use your insurance information to verify benefits, obtain pre-authorization for treatment, and process claims with your insurance provider. Insurance verification is conducted only with your explicit consent.
• To Improve Our Website and Services: Aggregated and anonymized website usage data helps us understand how visitors interact with our site, identify areas for improvement, and enhance the overall user experience on adtrhelpline.website.
• To Comply with Legal Obligations: We may use or disclose your information as required by federal, state, or local law, including mandatory reporting requirements, court orders, and regulatory compliance obligations.
• To Ensure Safety: In limited circumstances, we may use information to protect the health and safety of our patients, staff, and the public, as permitted by applicable law.

HIPAA Compliance

As a healthcare provider, ADAT Helpline is required to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and its implementing regulations. HIPAA establishes national standards for the protection of individually identifiable health information, known as Protected Health Information (PHI).

Protected Health Information (PHI)

PHI includes any information that relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health condition, the provision of healthcare services to you, or past, present, or future payment for healthcare services, when that information can be used to identify you. At ADAT Helpline, we implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all PHI in our possession.

42 CFR Part 2 Compliance

Because ADAT Helpline provides substance use disorder treatment services, your records are additionally protected under the federal regulation 42 CFR Part 2 (Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records). This regulation provides heightened privacy protections for information related to substance use disorder diagnosis, treatment, or referral for treatment. Under 42 CFR Part 2:

• Your substance use disorder treatment records cannot be disclosed without your specific written consent, except in limited circumstances defined by law.
• Your records are protected from use in criminal, civil, administrative, and legislative proceedings against you, with very narrow exceptions.
• Any disclosure of your substance use disorder records must be accompanied by a written prohibition against re-disclosure by the recipient.
• Violations of 42 CFR Part 2 may be reported to appropriate authorities and are subject to criminal penalties.

Extra Protections for Addiction Treatment Records

We recognize that individuals seeking addiction treatment are particularly vulnerable and that unauthorized disclosure of treatment records can cause significant harm. For this reason, ADAT Helpline applies the strictest applicable standard of privacy protection to all substance use disorder records. Our staff receive specialized training on the unique confidentiality requirements applicable to addiction treatment records, and all systems that store or transmit such records are subject to enhanced security controls.

Your Rights Under HIPAA

As a patient of ADAT Helpline, you have the following rights with respect to your PHI:

• Right to Access: You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI maintained by our facility.
• Right to Amend: You may request corrections to your PHI if you believe the information is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You may request a list of certain disclosures of your PHI made by ADAT Helpline.
• Right to Request Restrictions: You may ask us to restrict certain uses or disclosures of your PHI, though we are not required to agree to all restriction requests.
• Right to Confidential Communications: You may request that we communicate with you about your health information through alternative means or at alternative locations.
• Right to a Paper Copy: You have the right to obtain a paper copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices upon request.
• Right to File a Complaint: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with ADAT Helpline or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights.

Information Sharing

ADAT Helpline is committed to limiting the disclosure of your information to only what is necessary and permitted by law. We want you to understand exactly how and when your information may be shared.

We Do NOT Sell Your Personal Information

ADAT Helpline does not sell, rent, lease, or trade your personal information or health records to any third party for marketing, advertising, or any other commercial purpose. Your trust is fundamental to our mission, and we will never monetize your data.

Permitted Disclosures

We may share your information in the following circumstances, and only to the extent permitted by HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and applicable state law:

• Treatment Team: Your clinical information is shared among the members of your treatment team at our facility, including physicians, therapists, counselors, nurses, and other clinical staff directly involved in your care, as necessary to provide coordinated treatment services.
• Insurance and Payment (With Consent): With your written authorization, we may share necessary information with your health insurance provider to verify coverage, obtain pre-authorization, and process claims for treatment services rendered at our facility.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information when required by federal, state, or local law, including in response to a valid court order, subpoena, or regulatory inquiry. In such cases, disclosures are limited to the minimum information necessary to satisfy the legal requirement.
• Health and Safety: In limited emergency situations, we may disclose information to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public, as permitted by applicable law.

Business Associates

ADAT Helpline may engage third-party service providers ("Business Associates") who perform certain functions on our behalf, such as billing, IT support, or data storage. All Business Associates are required to enter into Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) that obligate them to safeguard your information in accordance with HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 requirements. Business Associates are prohibited from using or disclosing your information for any purpose other than the services they provide to ADAT Helpline.

Cookies & Tracking

Our website at adtrhelpline.website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience and help us understand how our site is used. This section explains what cookies are, the types we use, and how you can manage your preferences.

Essential Cookies

Essential cookies are necessary for the basic functionality of our website. They enable core features such as page navigation, secure access to protected areas, and remembering your preferences within a single browsing session. These cookies do not collect personal information and cannot be disabled without affecting site functionality.

Analytics Cookies

We may use analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, to collect anonymized data about how visitors use our website. Analytics cookies help us understand which pages are most popular, how visitors navigate the site, and where users may encounter issues. The data collected through analytics cookies is aggregated and anonymized, meaning it cannot be used to identify individual visitors. This information is used solely to improve the content, structure, and performance of adtrhelpline.website.

How to Manage Cookies

You can manage or disable cookies through your web browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies, set preferences for specific websites, or receive notifications when a cookie is being placed. Please note that disabling essential cookies may impair your ability to use certain features of our website. For more information on managing cookies, consult your browser's help documentation or visit the browser manufacturer's support website.

Your Rights

In addition to the HIPAA rights described above, you have the following rights regarding the personal information we collect through our website and other non-clinical interactions:

• Access Your Data: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you, including information collected through our website, contact forms, and telephone interactions.
• Request Corrections: If you believe any personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated, you may request that we update or correct that information.
• Request Deletion: You may request that we delete your personal information from our systems, subject to legal retention requirements. Please note that certain information may need to be retained to comply with federal and state recordkeeping obligations for healthcare providers.
• Opt Out of Communications: If you have subscribed to newsletters, email updates, or other marketing communications from ADAT Helpline, you may opt out at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions included in each communication or by contacting us directly.
• File Complaints with HHS: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights. Filing a complaint will not result in any retaliation or negative impact on your treatment or relationship with ADAT Helpline. Complaints can be filed online at hhs.gov/ocr/complaints or by calling the OCR hotline.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Privacy Officer using the information provided at the end of this policy.

Data Security

ADAT Helpline takes the security of your personal and health information seriously. We implement a comprehensive set of administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your data from unauthorized access, use, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

Encryption and Secure Systems

All data transmitted between your browser and our website is encrypted using industry-standard TLS (Transport Layer Security) encryption. Our electronic health record systems and databases are protected by enterprise-grade encryption both in transit and at rest. Access to systems containing PHI is restricted through multi-factor authentication and role-based access controls.

Secure Servers and Infrastructure

Our digital infrastructure is hosted on secure servers maintained by reputable service providers that comply with HIPAA security requirements. Physical access to server facilities is restricted, monitored, and logged. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing are conducted to identify and remediate potential security weaknesses.

Staff Training on Privacy

All ADAT Helpline employees, contractors, and volunteers receive mandatory privacy and security training upon hiring and on an annual basis thereafter. Training covers HIPAA requirements, 42 CFR Part 2 regulations, proper handling of PHI, recognizing and reporting security incidents, and our internal privacy policies and procedures. Staff members who handle substance use disorder records receive additional specialized training on the heightened protections applicable to those records.

Incident Response Procedures

ADAT Helpline maintains a formal incident response plan to address any suspected or confirmed breach of personal or health information. In the event of a data breach, we will promptly investigate the incident, take steps to mitigate any harm, notify affected individuals as required by law, and report the breach to relevant regulatory authorities, including the HHS Office for Civil Rights when applicable. Our incident response team conducts regular drills and reviews to ensure preparedness.

Children's Privacy

Our website and online services are not directed at individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 without the consent of a parent or legal guardian. If a minor is seeking treatment at our facility, all communications, consent forms, and information collection will be conducted through or with the explicit involvement and authorization of a parent or legal guardian, in accordance with applicable state and federal law.

If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 18 without appropriate parental consent, we will take prompt steps to delete that information from our systems. If you believe that a minor's information has been submitted to us without proper authorization, please contact our Privacy Officer immediately.

Changes to This Policy

ADAT Helpline reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or regulatory guidance. When we make material changes to this policy, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, provide additional notice through our website or other communication channels.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we collect, use, and protect your information. Your continued use of our website or services after any changes to this policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.

Contact for Privacy Concerns

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, your personal information, or our privacy practices, please contact our Privacy Officer:

Privacy Officer
ADAT Helpline - Mental Health & Behavioral Advisors
5178 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60632

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (217) 216-8088

Our Privacy Officer will respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe. If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to escalate your concern to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.