Legal Notice

Terms of Service

Effective Date: August 25, 2025

Welcome to dearthoughtsgs.org, a website developed as part of a Girl Scout Silver Award project. By accessing or engaging with this platform—through our website, social media accounts, digital materials, or printed resources—you agree to the following Terms of Service and Legal Notice. If you do not agree, please do not use this platform.

Purpose and Disclaimer

Dear Thoughts is intended for educational, personal reflection, and advocacy purposes only. It is not operated by licensed clinicians and does not provide psychological treatment, mental health diagnosis, or crisis support services. All content is offered in good faith to support positive coping strategies and emotional wellness. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, please seek professional help immediately. In the United States, you can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

Your Use

As a user of Dear Thoughts, you are expected to engage respectfully, legally, and in alignment with the project’s mission. You agree to use the platform only for personal, non-commercial, and educational purposes, and to refrain from misrepresenting yourself or the purpose of the platform. You may not misuse our content, impersonate the project team, or use the platform in a way that undermines the values of respect, inclusion, and safety.

Prohibited Uses

Prohibited uses of the Dear Thoughts platform include any activity that violates applicable laws or regulations, harasses or threatens others, promotes hate speech or harmful behavior, or infringes upon intellectual property rights. You may not use the site to distribute offensive, defamatory, or obscene material; upload malicious software; attempt to interfere with the functionality or security of the platform; collect personal data without permission; impersonate the Dear Thoughts team; or exploit the content for personal or financial gain. These actions are strictly prohibited and may result in suspension, termination, or legal action.

Ownership of Content

Unless otherwise noted, all content created and published by Dear Thoughts—including text, visuals, graphics, downloadable materials, and branding—is the intellectual property of the project and is protected under applicable copyright laws. You may share our materials for personal or educational use with appropriate credit, but you may not copy, alter, reproduce, sell, or redistribute any content for commercial purposes without written permission. The integrity of the work and its attribution must be preserved in all cases

Limitation of Liability

Dear Thoughts is provided “as is” and makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of its content. To the fullest extent allowed by law, the project and its contributors disclaim all liability for any harm, loss, or inconvenience resulting from your use of the platform, including reliance on any content or interruptions in service. You agree to use the platform at your own risk.

Dispute Resolution

If a dispute arises from your use of the platform, we encourage informal resolution first. If a resolution cannot be reached, the matter will be subject to binding arbitration in the state of Illinois. If arbitration is not possible, disputes will be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Cook County/Illinois, under the laws of that jurisdiction.

Termination Clause

Dear Thoughts reserves the right to restrict or terminate access to the platform at any time, without prior notice, for any violation of these terms or for conduct deemed harmful to the mission of the project. We also reserve the right to remove or modify content, suspend services, or update policies as needed without liability.

Modifications to Terms

These terms may be revised from time to time. Continued use of the Dear Thoughts platform after updates are made constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. Users are responsible for reviewing the most current version periodically.

Contact Information

If you have any questions about these terms or wish to request permission to use Dear Thoughts content beyond what is allowed here, you may contact the project team at dearthoughts.gs@gmail.com