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Terms & Conditions 

Effective Date: August 2026

1. About These SMS Terms 

These SMS Terms & Conditions (“SMS Terms”) govern Short Message Service (“SMS” or “text message”) communications provided by Little Steps Developmental Services Inc. (“Little Steps,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). 

By enrolling in or using Little Steps’ SMS communication service, you agree to these SMS Terms and our SMS Privacy Policy. 

Little Steps uses SMS for low-volume, one-to-one conversational business communication between individual Little Steps employees and persons with whom Little Steps has an appropriate service, employment, referral, professional, or other business relationship. 

Little Steps does not use its Microsoft Teams SMS service for bulk marketing, mass advertising, automated promotional campaigns, purchased contact lists, or unsolicited promotional messaging. 

2. Types of Messages You May Receive 

Depending on your relationship with Little Steps, SMS communications may include: 

  • Referral and intake communication; 
  • Scheduling and appointment coordination; 
  • Appointment reminders or confirmations; 
  • Service coordination; 
  • Questions and responses; 
  • Administrative communication; 
  • Follow-up regarding services or other Little Steps business; 
  • Communication with clients, parents, guardians, or other authorized representatives; 
  • Employee-related administrative communication; 
  • Applicant or recruiting-related communication; 
  • Communication with case managers, referral sources, service coordinators, or other professional contacts; and 
  • Other appropriate one-to-one conversational communication related to your relationship with Little Steps. 

SMS enrollment does not authorize Little Steps to send unrelated bulk advertising or mass promotional messages. 

3. SMS Enrollment Process 

SMS communication with Little Steps is voluntary. 

When you tell a Little Steps employee during a telephone call or other non-SMS interaction that you would like or prefer to communicate by text, the employee may ask for permission to send you one SMS enrollment message. 

Your permission to receive that enrollment message allows Little Steps to send the initial written enrollment information. It does not, by itself, enroll you in ongoing SMS communication. 

The enrollment message provides written information about Little Steps’ SMS service, including: 

  • The identity of Little Steps; 
  • The types of messages you may receive; 
  • A statement that message frequency varies; 
  • A statement that message and data rates may apply; 
  • Instructions to reply HELP for assistance; 
  • Instructions to reply STOP to opt out; 
  • Information regarding the treatment of mobile opt-in information; 
  • A link to the Little Steps SMS Privacy Policy; 
  • A link to these SMS Terms & Conditions; and 
  • Instructions to reply START if you agree to ongoing SMS communication. 

Little Steps will not continue substantive SMS communication under this enrollment process unless you reply: 

START 

By replying START after receiving and reviewing the SMS enrollment information, you affirmatively consent to receive ongoing one-to-one SMS communications from the applicable Little Steps SMS-enabled number under these SMS Terms. 

If you do not wish to enroll, do not reply START. 

Providing Little Steps with a mobile telephone number alone does not constitute enrollment in ongoing SMS communication. 

4. Electronic Consent and Records 

By replying START and enrolling in Little Steps SMS communication, you agree that your SMS consent may be documented electronically. 

Electronic records may include: 

  • The Little Steps enrollment message; 
  • Your START response; 
  • Dates and timestamps; 
  • Sending and receiving telephone numbers; 
  • Automated SMS system messages; 
  • Subsequent SMS conversation history; 
  • HELP requests; 
  • STOP or other opt-out requests; 
  • Later START responses used to resume communication; and 
  • Other associated electronic communication-system records. 

These electronic records may be used by Little Steps to document your agreement, communication preferences, opt-out requests, and subsequent re-enrollment activity. 

5. Message Frequency 

Message frequency varies. 

The number and frequency of SMS messages you receive will depend on the nature of your relationship and communications with Little Steps. 

Because Little Steps uses SMS for conversational person-to-person communication, the number of messages may increase or decrease depending on the questions asked, services being coordinated, scheduling needs, administrative matters, or other activity within the conversation. 

Little Steps does not guarantee a specific number of messages. 

6. Message and Data Rates 

Message and data rates may apply. 

Little Steps does not charge a separate fee for participating in its SMS service. However, your wireless carrier or mobile service provider may charge you for SMS messages or data according to your service plan. 

You are responsible for any charges assessed by your wireless carrier or mobile service provider. 

7. Help and Support 

For assistance with Little Steps SMS communications, reply: 

HELP 

You may also contact: 

Little Steps Developmental Services Inc. 

1411 Falls Ave E, Suite 600 

Twin Falls, ID 83301 

Phone: (208) 266-7545 

Email: admin@littlestepsdev.org 

8. Opting Out 

You may discontinue SMS communication at any time. 

To opt out of messages from a Little Steps SMS-enabled number, reply: 

STOP 

The messaging system may also recognize other opt-out commands, including: 

  • QUIT; 
  • END; 
  • REVOKE; 
  • OPT OUT; 
  • CANCEL; and 
  • UNSUBSCRIBE. 

Little Steps will also honor other clear requests that SMS communication stop. 

After an opt-out is processed, you will receive no further ongoing SMS messages from the applicable Little Steps SMS-enabled number unless you later re-enroll. 

Because Little Steps SMS communications are individual conversations between you and a Little Steps employee and the employee’s assigned number, an opt-out applies to that applicable conversation and number. 

Little Steps personnel will not attempt to evade your opt-out by contacting you through another Little Steps SMS-enabled number without appropriate independent consent. 

9. Resuming SMS Communication 

If you previously opted out and later wish to resume SMS communication with the applicable Little Steps number, reply: 

START 

Your START response constitutes electronic re-enrollment in SMS communication under the then-current applicable terms. 

The messaging system may automatically provide the Little Steps SMS disclosures again when you reply START. 

10. Responses Other Than START 

Little Steps standardizes its SMS enrollment process around the keyword START. 

Responses such as “YES,” “OK,” “SURE,” or similar conversational responses do not complete Little Steps’ standard electronic SMS enrollment process. 

If you wish to enroll after receiving the Little Steps enrollment message, reply: 

START 

If you reply “NO,” otherwise decline SMS, or do not respond to the enrollment message, Little Steps will not continue substantive SMS communication through that enrollment process. 

Little Steps may contact you through another appropriate communication method when necessary. 

11. Recipient-Initiated Messages 

If you initiate an SMS conversation with a Little Steps employee before completing the standard enrollment process, Little Steps may respond as necessary to provide the SMS enrollment information and disclosures. 

Except where another approved consent process applies, Little Steps may require you to reply START before continuing substantive SMS communication. 

If you initiate the conversation by sending START to an appropriate SMS-enabled Little Steps number after receiving instructions to do so, your START response constitutes affirmative electronic SMS enrollment. 

12. Consent Is Optional 

Consent to SMS communication is optional. 

Declining SMS communication will not, by itself, prevent you from: 

  • Receiving otherwise available Little Steps services; 
  • Seeking or participating in the intake or referral process; 
  • Applying for employment; 
  • Maintaining employment; 
  • Making or receiving a referral; or 
  • Otherwise communicating or doing business with Little Steps, 

when another reasonable and appropriate means of communication is available. 

Little Steps may use telephone, approved email, in-person communication, or another appropriate method when SMS is declined or unavailable. 

13. Privacy 

Little Steps’ collection, use, protection, disclosure, and retention of information associated with SMS communication is described in the Privacy Policy.

Mobile opt-in information will not be shared with third parties for marketing purposes. 

Little Steps does not sell or rent SMS opt-in information or consent information for third-party marketing or promotional purposes. 

Little Steps may use platform providers, telecommunications carriers, technology vendors, and other service providers as reasonably necessary to transmit, receive, secure, maintain, retain, or support SMS communications. 

14. Sensitive Information 

SMS may pass through telecommunications carriers, mobile devices, and other systems that are outside Little Steps’ direct control. 

You should avoid sending highly sensitive information through SMS when another appropriate communication method is available. 

Little Steps may ask that a conversation be moved to telephone, secure electronic communication, in-person communication, or another approved method when SMS is not appropriate for the information involved. 

SMS enrollment does not authorize Little Steps to disclose information to you that Little Steps would otherwise be prohibited from disclosing. 

15. Communications Concerning Minors 

Little Steps provides developmental services that may involve children and their families. 

Enrollment in SMS does not independently establish that a person is authorized to receive confidential or protected information concerning a minor client. 

Little Steps may verify a person’s identity, relationship, guardianship, authorization, or other appropriate authority before discussing information concerning a client through SMS. 

Little Steps may limit or redirect SMS communications when necessary to protect client information or comply with applicable privacy and confidentiality requirements. 

16. Emergencies 

Do not use Little Steps SMS for emergencies or matters requiring immediate assistance. 

Little Steps does not guarantee that SMS messages will be immediately received, read, or responded to. 

For an emergency requiring immediate assistance, contact the appropriate emergency service rather than relying on SMS communication with Little Steps. 

17. Message Delivery and Availability 

SMS delivery depends on wireless carriers, telecommunications networks, mobile devices, Microsoft Teams, and other systems that may be outside Little Steps’ control. 

Little Steps cannot guarantee that: 

  • Every SMS message will be delivered; 
  • Messages will be delivered without delay; 
  • SMS service will always be available; 
  • Every device or carrier will support all messaging functions; or 
  • A Little Steps employee will see or respond to an SMS immediately. 

Wireless carriers are not responsible for delayed or undelivered messages. 

Little Steps may discontinue, suspend, or modify SMS availability when reasonably necessary for technical, operational, security, compliance, or organizational reasons. 

18. Appropriate Use of Little Steps SMS 

Little Steps SMS is intended for legitimate one-to-one conversational business communication. 

You may not use Little Steps SMS communication to transmit content that is unlawful, threatening, abusive, fraudulent, malicious, or otherwise inappropriate. 

Little Steps may discontinue SMS communication when use of the service creates a safety, security, legal, operational, or compliance concern. 

19. Record Retention 

Little Steps may retain SMS communications, electronic consent records, opt-out and re-enrollment records, and associated system records in accordance with applicable organizational record-retention policies. 

Electronic records may be preserved through Little Steps’ approved Microsoft 365 compliance and retention systems. 

Additional preservation may occur when required by law, regulation, legal hold, investigation, audit, contract, or organizational policy. 

20. Relationship to Other Little Steps Terms 

These SMS Terms apply specifically to Little Steps SMS communications. 

They supplement any broader Little Steps Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, authorization, service agreement, employment policy, or other terms that may separately govern your relationship with Little Steps. 

Nothing in these SMS Terms expands your right to receive information that Little Steps would otherwise be prohibited from disclosing or modifies another applicable privacy, confidentiality, legal, regulatory, contractual, or professional obligation. 

21. Changes to These SMS Terms 

Little Steps may update these SMS Terms to reflect changes in: 

  • Our SMS practices; 
  • Technology or messaging systems; 
  • Organizational policies; 
  • Carrier or Microsoft requirements; or 
  • Applicable legal or regulatory requirements. 

The current version will be made publicly available on the Little Steps website and will identify its effective or last-updated date. 

Material changes to Little Steps’ SMS enrollment process will be reviewed for consistency with the applicable SMS campaign and organizational procedures before implementation. 

22. Contact Information 

Questions regarding these SMS Terms or Little Steps’ SMS practices may be directed to: 

Little Steps Developmental Services Inc. 

1411 Falls Ave E, Suite 600 

Twin Falls, ID 83301 

Phone: (208) 266-7545 

Email: admin@littlestepsdev.org