LIVING MY SHADOWS

Stay connected

New personal-response questions and completed answers appear here. Notifications are private to your signed-in account.

My submitted questions

Questions you intentionally submit for a personal response appear here. Your private AI conversations are not automatically shared.

🔒 This is your private space.

In this prototype, entries are saved in your browser on this device. Production would need stronger security and account controls.

Your story belongs to you

Living My Shadows is designed to minimize unnecessary sharing of sensitive adoption, foster-care, family, and personal-history information.

What the app may store

If you create an account, the app may store your profile, My Story entries, saved Ask answers, saved resources, personal-response questions, notifications, and preferences in the Living My Shadows cloud database. Some prototype preferences and recent conversation history may also be stored in your browser on the device you are using.

What is private

Your ordinary Ask conversations are not automatically sent to the administrator. A question is shared for a personal response only when you intentionally choose Ask for Personal Response. Private story data is protected by account-level database permissions.

What to avoid sharing

Do not enter passwords, Social Security numbers, full financial account numbers, or other secrets. If you are a minor, avoid sharing precise location, school schedule, placement address, or private identifying information with unknown people.

Your choices

You can sign out, export story data, delete local device data, and request deletion of cloud account data. Production release should include a complete published privacy policy, contact process, retention rules, and any legally required parental-consent workflow.

Important use notice

Living My Shadows provides general information, lived-experience support, resource navigation, and AI-assisted guidance. It is not a law firm, medical provider, therapist, child-welfare agency, caseworker, emergency service, or government records office.

Information can vary

Adoption records, foster-care rights, benefits, court processes, and services can vary by state, county, age, case type, and individual circumstances. Verify important decisions with the appropriate official agency or qualified professional.

AI and personal responses

AI-generated answers may be incomplete or incorrect. Administrator personal responses reflect lived experience and general guidance and are not professional legal, medical, mental-health, or case-management advice.

Respectful use

Do not use the app to threaten, exploit, harass, impersonate, solicit minors, expose another person's private information, or encourage unsafe contact. Access may be limited or removed for harmful misuse.

Age

This prototype is intended for people age 13 and older. A public release serving children under 13 would require a dedicated parental-consent and child-privacy compliance process before collecting personal information.

Safety comes before secrecy

If you are in immediate danger, someone is hurting you, or you may hurt yourself, use live help instead of waiting for an app response. In the U.S., call or text 988 for crisis support or call 911 for immediate danger.

If you are currently in foster care

For safety concerns, consider contacting a trusted caseworker, attorney/GAL, CASA, foster-care ombudsman, teacher, counselor, caregiver, relative, or another trusted adult. The best contact depends on your situation and state.

Family searches and reunions

Do not arrange secret in-person meetings with unknown adults. Protect your address, placement location, school, phone number, and other identifying information. When appropriate, use verified agencies, trusted adults, or professional intermediaries.

Photos and private records

Think carefully before uploading documents containing Social Security numbers, medical identifiers, court numbers, addresses, or information about other children. Redact sensitive details when possible.

Mandatory reporting

The app itself is not a mandated reporter or emergency service. People you contact through outside organizations—such as teachers, clinicians, social workers, or other professionals—may have legal reporting duties depending on their role and location.

Install it to your Home Screen or desktop for faster access and a standalone app window.

Safety

Living My Shadows should never replace a licensed professional, attorney, caseworker, or emergency service. Production content should be reviewed for youth safety and legal accuracy.