Terms, Privacy & Accessibility

Terms & Conditions

Last updated: May 24, 2026

Welcome to Sam's OATH

By using the Sam's OATH website (samsoath.org), submitting content, or participating in any of our programs, you agree to these terms and conditions. Please read them carefully.

1. About Sam's OATH

Sam's OATH is a 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 39-5101030, and a national movement working to break the silence around substance use and mental health challenges. We provide a platform for people to take Sam's OATH (Openness, Authenticity, Togetherness, Healing), share their stories, and connect with a community of support. Sam's OATH is not a treatment provider, crisis service, or substitute for professional help.

2. Participation and Recognition

Sam's OATH allows participants to join the movement using the participation options made available on the site. The People page names the person standing beside someone, not the person being supported. We will never put the name of the person you are supporting on this site because that person has not consented to be publicly associated with these struggles. Only you can consent to your own name being shown.

When you participate through Sam's OATH, you agree that:

• The name you submit is your own — your first name, initials, or a nickname you choose.
• You will not submit the name of any other person without their explicit permission. Submissions appearing to name a third party (without consent) may be removed.
• You provide a city and state, and an approximate (city-level) map location will appear on our community map. Your exact address is never displayed and is not collected.
• Your email address is required. You authorize Sam's OATH to use it solely for occasional quiet check-ins, community updates, and acknowledgement of your participation. We do not spam. We never publish your email on this site. We never share, sell, or rent your email or any personal information to any third party. You may unsubscribe at any time via the link in every email or by contacting us at hello@samsoath.org.
• You may request removal of your participation record, map location, and email at any time by contacting hello@samsoath.org. We honor those requests promptly.

3. Taking Sam's OATH

Sam's OATH is a personal pledge of commitment to openness, authenticity, togetherness, and healing. Taking the OATH is a symbolic act of solidarity. It is not a contract, membership agreement, or binding obligation. You may withdraw your OATH submission at any time.

When you take Sam's OATH, you agree that:

• The information you provide (name, city, state, category) is accurate.
• Your city and state will be displayed on our public community map. Map locations are approximate (city-level) and do not represent your exact address or precise location.
• Your name will appear on the map according to your display preference (first name only, initials, a nickname, or anonymous).
• You may request removal of your information at any time by contacting us.

4. Sharing Stories

When you submit a story, you agree that:

• Your story is your own experience, told truthfully and in good faith.
• You will not name specific individuals (other than yourself and your own family members who have consented) in a way that could identify or harm them.
• Sam's OATH may edit your story for clarity, length, or sensitivity before publication, and will notify you of significant changes.
• You grant Sam's OATH a non-exclusive license to publish your story on our website and in community-related materials.
• You may request removal of your published story at any time.
• Stories are reviewed by our moderation team before publication. We reserve the right to decline to publish any submission.

Editorial Adaptation of Stories and Featured Content

To protect the integrity of voices represented on this website, Sam's OATH discloses the following:

• Some featured content is composed from real conversations and discussions. Quotes attributed to the Sheeder family, advisory board members, community supporters, and other named or relationally-described voices (for example, “A parent in Texas”) may be drafted, composed, or refined by the Sam's OATH editorial team based on actual conversations, interviews, written exchanges, or paraphrased discussions, rather than verbatim transcripts.
• User-submitted stories may be edited for clarity, length, sensitivity, or to advance the educational and awareness goals of the Sam's OATH movement. We do not change the substance of what an author intends to say. We will notify a submitter of significant edits before publication.
• Any person whose voice is represented in featured content can request removal or revision at any time by emailing hello@samsoath.org. We honor those requests promptly.
• Where content is anonymized or attributed only by relation (parent, sibling, friend) and city, it represents a real human experience shared with us, even when specific identifying details have been removed or altered for privacy.

Story Guidelines

Stories submitted to Sam's OATH should reflect the spirit of this community. We do not publish stories that:

• Contain hate speech, threats, or harassment.
• Name individuals without their consent in a negative context.
• Include graphic descriptions of self-harm or substance use.
• Promote specific treatment facilities or products.
• Contain spam, advertising, or unrelated content.
• Violate any person's privacy or legal rights.

5. User Conduct

When using our website, you agree not to:

• Submit false, misleading, or harmful information.
• Use the website for any commercial or promotional purpose.
• Attempt to access restricted areas of the website.
• Interfere with the website's operation or security.
• Scrape, harvest, or collect other users' information.

6. Not a Crisis Service

Sam's OATH is a community platform, not a crisis service, treatment provider, counseling service, or substitute for professional help of any kind. We do not provide medical advice, mental health treatment, substance use treatment, or clinical services. Content on this website, including stories, resources, and community materials, is for informational and inspirational purposes only.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis:

• Call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
• Text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line)
• Call 911 for emergencies
• SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, free, confidential, 24/7)

Nothing on this website should delay or replace seeking professional help. Sam's OATH is not liable for any actions taken or not taken based on content found on this site.

7. Intellectual Property

All content on the Sam's OATH website, including text, images, music references, design, and the Sam's OATH framework, is the property of Sam's OATH and is protected by copyright. You may share links to our content and use our shareable graphics for community-related purposes. You may not reproduce, modify, or distribute our content for commercial purposes without permission.

8. Music

The music featured on our website is available through third-party streaming platforms (Apple Music, Spotify, etc.). Streaming is subject to each platform's own terms of service. Sam's OATH embeds players for convenience but does not host or distribute the music directly.

9. Limitation of Liability

Sam's OATH provides this website and its content "as is." We make no warranties about the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of any information on the site. Sam's OATH is not liable for any decisions made or actions taken based on content published on this website. User-submitted stories represent the views and experiences of their authors, not of Sam's OATH.

10. Changes to These Terms

We may update these terms from time to time. Continued use of the website after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

11. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas. Any disputes will be resolved in the state and federal courts located in Dallas County, Texas.

Contact Us

If you have questions about these terms, please contact us:

• Email: info@samsoath.org
• Or use our contact form

Privacy Policy

Last updated: February 2026

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

At Sam's OATH, we understand that the information you share with us is deeply personal. Many of our community members are sharing experiences related to substance use, mental health, and family challenges. We treat your privacy with the care and respect it deserves.

Information We Collect

When You Take Sam's OATH

We collect the information you provide in Sam's OATH form:

• Name: The name, initials, or nickname you choose to provide. You choose how your name appears publicly (first name, initials, a nickname, or anonymous).
• Location: City and state, used to place your map location on our community map. We do not collect your street address.
• Category: Participation selections that may be available through the site at the time of submission.
• Email (required): Used for your confirmation and certificate, and for community updates only if you opt in.

When You Share a Story

We collect your name, email, location, and the story content you submit. Stories are reviewed by our team before being published. You may choose whether your name appears with your published story.

When You Contact Us

We collect the information you provide in our contact forms, including your name, email, and message content. This information is used solely to respond to your inquiry.

Automatically Collected Information

Like most websites, we may collect basic technical information such as IP addresses, browser type, and pages visited. We use this information to improve the website and ensure security.

How We Use Your Information

• To display approved participation information on the OATH map (OATH submissions).
• To review and publish community stories.
• To respond to your messages and inquiries.
• To send occasional community updates, if you provided an email address.
• To generate aggregate statistics about Sam's OATH.
• To improve the website and user experience.

What We Never Do

• We never sell your information to third parties.
• We never share your email with other organizations.
• We never publish your full name without your explicit consent.
• We never display your exact address. Only city and state.
• We never use your story for purposes other than what you consented to.

Data Security

We use industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), secure database hosting, and access controls. Only authorized team members can access personal information, and they do so only for the purposes described in this policy.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you.
• Correct any inaccurate information.
• Delete your information from our systems.
• Withdraw consent for email communications.
• Request removal of your map location from the map.
• Request removal of your published story.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@samsoath.org.

Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services:

• Supabase: Database hosting (data stored securely in the United States)
• Mapbox: Map rendering and geocoding (converts city/state to map coordinates)
• Cloudflare: Website hosting and bot protection (Turnstile). See Cloudflare's Turnstile Privacy Addendum.
• Resend: Email delivery
• PostHog: Website analytics used to understand site usage and improve the visitor experience.
• Stripe: Donation payment processing. Sam's OATH does not store payment-card information.

Each of these services has their own privacy policies and security practices. We have selected them for their strong privacy and security standards.

Children's Privacy

Our website is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. The "last updated" date above indicates when the policy was most recently revised.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your information, please contact us:

• Email: privacy@samsoath.org
• Or use our contact form

Accessibility Commitment

Last updated: March 2026

Our Accessibility Goal

We strive to meet or exceed the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. These guidelines help us ensure that our website is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users, regardless of ability or the technology they use to access it.

What We Do

We have taken the following steps to support accessibility across samsoath.org:

• Semantic HTML structure: We use proper heading hierarchy, landmark regions, and meaningful markup so assistive technologies can interpret page content accurately.
• Keyboard navigation support: All interactive elements, including forms, links, buttons, and menus, can be accessed and operated using a keyboard alone.
• Screen reader compatibility: We test with common screen readers to ensure content is read aloud in a logical and complete manner.
• Sufficient color contrast: Text and interactive elements meet WCAG contrast ratio requirements against their backgrounds, ensuring readability for people with low vision or color vision differences.
• Text resizing support: The site layout responds gracefully when users increase text size up to 200% through browser settings.
• Alt text on images: All meaningful images include descriptive alternative text. Decorative images are marked so screen readers skip them appropriately.
• Skip-to-content link: A skip navigation link is provided so keyboard users can bypass repeated navigation and go directly to the main content.
• Form labels and error messages: All form fields have visible labels and associated descriptions. Validation errors are communicated clearly with guidance on how to correct them.

Known Limitations

We are continuously working to improve our accessibility. There are some areas where we recognize limitations and are actively working toward solutions:

• Interactive map: Our community map uses a third-party mapping service. While we provide alternative text and summary information, the full interactive map experience may not be fully accessible to all assistive technologies. We provide a text-based alternative for viewing OATH data.
• Embedded video content: Some video content may not yet have complete captions or audio descriptions. We are working to add these as content is published.
• PDF documents: Older PDF documents may not be fully accessible. We are working to remediate existing documents and ensure all new documents meet accessibility standards.

How to Report an Issue

If you experience any difficulty accessing content on samsoath.org, or if you have suggestions for how we can improve accessibility, we want to hear from you. Your feedback helps us serve everyone better.

You can reach us by:

• Emailing accessibility@samsoath.org
• Using our contact form and selecting "Accessibility" as the topic

When reporting an issue, please include the page URL, a description of the problem you encountered, and the assistive technology or browser you were using. We will do our best to respond within two business days and work toward a resolution.

Third-Party Content

Our website includes content and services from third-party providers, such as embedded maps, analytics tools, and payment processing. While we select partners that share our commitment to accessibility, we cannot guarantee full compliance for content we do not directly control. If you encounter an accessibility barrier related to third-party content on our site, please let us know and we will work with the provider or find an alternative solution.

Our Ongoing Commitment

Accessibility is not a one-time project. It is an ongoing practice that we integrate into our design, development, and content processes. We regularly review our site, train our team on accessibility best practices, and test with assistive technologies to ensure we are meeting the needs of all visitors.

Sam's OATH exists because everyone deserves to be heard and supported. That principle guides everything we build, including this website.