Terms of Use

Effective October 18, 2026

Porchlight is not an emergency service, and it is not therapy, medical care, or legal advice. If anyone is in danger, call 911. For thoughts of suicide, call or text 988. Porchlight can't tell whether someone is telling the truth, predict what someone will do, or replace a licensed professional.

These terms are an agreement between you and ResqWare LLC ("Porchlight," "we," "us") about using the Porchlight parent app, the companion app for young people, and this website (together, the "Service"). By using the Service, you agree to these terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you don't agree, please don't use the Service.

1. What Porchlight is

Porchlight offers general educational information and self-help tools for families: crisis steps, an AI guide, a home-agreement tracker, a decision helper, resource listings, and a way for a young person to share check-ins and SOS alerts with family. The guidance is drawn from published, evidence-based approaches such as CRAFT and motivational interviewing, but it is general. It isn't tailored professional advice, and using Porchlight doesn't create a therapist, doctor, lawyer, or other professional relationship.

2. Not for emergencies

Never rely on Porchlight to get help in an emergency. Call 911 or 988 directly.
SOS alerts reach a parent's app only while it's open and connected to the internet, and only if the phones are linked. They may be delayed or not delivered. Porchlight does not contact emergency services for anyone.
The escalation steps in the young person's app open the phone's own calling and texting apps. Porchlight doesn't place calls or send texts automatically.

3. The AI guide

The guide uses artificial intelligence. It can be wrong, incomplete, or out of date, and it can misunderstand your situation. Check anything important with a qualified professional before acting on it, especially decisions about safety, medication, treatment, money, housing, or legal matters. Don't use the guide as your only source of help in a crisis.

4. Resource listings

Listings come from public sources, including the federal FindTreatment.gov directory, and were checked when we added them. Organizations change their phone numbers, hours, services, and eligibility. We don't endorse, operate, or guarantee any listed organization. Confirm details with the organization directly. Notes about the research behind a listing are our general summary, not a rating.

5. Who can use Porchlight

You must be at least 13 to use any part of the Service.
If you're between 13 and 18, use the young person's app with a parent or guardian's knowledge.
The parent app is for adults 18 and older.

6. Family link and consent

The family link is built on consent. The young person links their own app, chooses what to share, and can unlink at any time.
Don't install or link the young person's app on someone else's phone without their knowledge, and don't use Porchlight to secretly monitor, track, or control another person.
Anyone who can unlock a phone can see what Porchlight stores on it. Protect your phone with a screen lock.

7. Acceptable use

Don't use the Service to break the law, harass or harm anyone, get around our security, overload our systems, scrape or resell content, or try to get the AI guide to produce harmful content. We may limit or stop access for anyone who does.

8. Our content

The Service's text, design, and software belong to Porchlight or its licensors. You may use them for your own family's personal, non-commercial purposes. Sharing a tip with someone using the in-app share button is fine. Cited sources and listed organizations' names belong to their owners.

9. Changes to the Service

Porchlight is new, and we'll keep changing it. We may add, change, or remove features, or stop offering the Service, at any time. If we end the Service, we'll try to give notice in the app first.

10. Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THE LAW ALLOWS, WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ACCURACY, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DON'T PROMISE THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR THAT ALERTS WILL BE DELIVERED, OR THAT ANY OUTCOME WILL RESULT FROM USING IT.

11. Limitation of liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THE LAW ALLOWS, PORCHLIGHT AND ITS OWNERS, EMPLOYEES, AND PARTNERS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY LOSS ARISING FROM DECISIONS MADE OR ACTIONS TAKEN BASED ON THE SERVICE. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM RELATED TO THE SERVICE IS LIMITED TO THE GREATER OF $100 OR THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US FOR THE SERVICE IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM. Some places don't allow these limits, so they may not fully apply to you.

12. Indemnity

If you misuse the Service or break these terms and someone brings a claim against us because of it, you agree to cover our reasonable costs of that claim, to the extent the law allows.

13. Governing law and disputes

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of New Hampshire, without regard to its conflict-of-law rules. Before filing a claim, please contact us at support@porchlight.support so we can try to resolve it informally. Any claim must be brought in the state or federal courts located in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, unless the law where you live requires otherwise.

14. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms. We'll change the date at the top and, for significant changes, show a notice in the app before they take effect. If you keep using the Service after that, the new terms apply.

15. Contact

support@porchlight.support
ResqWare LLC, 276 Newport Rd, Suite 205, New London, NH 03257