SOUND OFF INC.

PEER SUPPORTER SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into this _________ day of ____________________, 20___, (the “Effective Date”) by and between Sound Off, Inc., a Texas nonprofit corporation, (“Company”) and ________________________________, whose address is __________________  (“Peer Supporter” or “you”).  Company and Peer Supporter may be referred to in this Agreement collectively as “the Parties” and singularly as a “Party.”

1. Company operates a program for veterans and active duty military service members (“Users”) to obtain on-line peer support services (the “Services”) from persons who have served or are currently serving in the United States armed services and have received training in peer support services (referred to as “Peer Supporter”) by means of a mobile application that has been developed and will be maintained by the Company (the “Application”);

 

1. Peer Supporter identified herein has served or is currently serving in the United States armed services and has received or will pursue training in peer support services validated by the Company;

1. Company wishes to contract with Peer Supporter to provide the Services to Users in accordance with applicable state and federal laws; and

1. Peer Supporter desires to provide the Services to Users in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual agreements contained in this Agreement, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1. Duties and Obligations of Peer Supporter

1.1       Services; Crisis Situations.  Peer Supporter shall provide Services to Users by means of the Application through the mobile application on an anonymous basis.  Peer Supporter agrees not to request or require the name, age, gender, address or any other identifying information from the User, except under the circumstances discussed below.  Peer Supporter shall provide Services to Users only through the Company Application unless the User specifically and voluntarily requests communication in another manner or asks to be seen in person by Peer Supporter.  Peer Supporter shall arrange a schedule for the Services, including the frequency and duration of the communications between Peer Supporter and User, directly with the User based on the Peer Supporter’s judgment and specific needs of the User. Should you as Peer Supporter agree to provide services to a User in person or by means other than through the anonymous online Services arrangements offered by the Company’s Application, which you are entirely free to do in the exercise of your judgment and/or as an accommodation to the perceived needs of such User, then you must discontinue providing any Services thereafter through the Company’s Application to such User and advise such User that such User’s arrangement for services thereafter shall be only directly with you as Peer Supporter and that User’s relationship with the Company shall be thereafter terminated; you agree that under no circumstance will you disclose to the Company any such personally identifying information obtained by you as Peer Supporter concerning such a User. Furthermore, you will notate in the Application that your relationship with that User has been discontinued on the Application and will be continued by other means.

Should Peer Supporter in the course of providing Services to any User encounter a crisis situation in which the Peer Supporter determines based upon the training you have received that there is a probability of imminent physical injury by such User to himself or herself or others or there is a probability of immediate mental or emotional injury to such User, you as Peer Supporter shall exercise your own judgment with respect to such crisis situation, including as to whether and when it becomes appropriate to attempt to elicit personally identifiable information concerning the User (“PII”), contact information of the User, or User’s location, and/or to report such elicited PII information to law enforcement authorities or medical personnel geographically nearer the User, and/or whether to particularly direct or recommend that such User directly access the Veterans’ Administration crisis line link contained within the Application where you as Peer Supporter in the exercise of your judgment and applying your training believe that any one or more of such measures are appropriate or mandated by your ethical or legal responsibilities.

1.2       Peer Supporter’s Affiliated Entities and Agreements. In the event that Peer Supporter is employed by or in any other way affiliated with and performing Services of the type contracted for hereunder on behalf of any entity (a “Peer Supporter’s Affiliated Entity”) with which the Company has a direct organization-to-organization agreement (the “Peer Supporter’s Affiliated Entity Agreement”) for the provision of counseling services of the type contemplated hereby, the terms of such Peer Supporter’s Affiliated Entity Agreement shall control to the extent otherwise inconsistent herewith and each Party hereby in such case undertakes to strictly comply in all respects with such Peer Supporter’s Affiliated Entity Agreement.

 

1.3       Quality.  Peer Supporter shall provide all Services to Users in compliance with all applicable state, federal and local laws and regulations.  Peer Supporter shall exercise independent judgment when providing Services.

1.4       Qualifications.  You as Peer Supporter represents that you have received training in peer support services acceptable to Company and agree to provide Company with proof of same, upon request.  Peer Supporter shall provide Company with other pertinent documentation as reasonably requested by Company, including, but not limited to, the following:  background checks, copies of any professional licenses, if any, or training certifications, proof of competency, and education and experience.  Peer Supporter shall immediately notify Company in the event of any limitation, suspension or termination of any license, certificate or permit required for Peer Supporter to provide Services to Users pursuant to this Agreement.

1.5       Payment.  All Services provided by Peer Supporter to Users pursuant to this Agreement and the Application shall be free to the User.  Neither Company nor User shall have any financial obligation to Peer Supporter or to any Peer Supporter’s Affiliated Entity for the performance of Services or for any other purpose.

1.6       Documentation; Surveys.  Peer Supporter shall maintain complete and accurate documentation of all Services provided to Users.  Peer Supporter shall prepare such  documentation in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, and Company policies and procedures.  Peer Supporter’s records of Services provided to Users shall remain the property of Peer Supporter or, as applicable, any Peer Supporter’s Affiliated Entity. Peer Supporter shall also complete and provide to the Company such survey information (which will be designed not to elicit personal identifying information concerning Users) with respect to Peer Supporter’s counseling of and interaction with Users as the Company may reasonably require from time to time.

1.7       Legal Compliance.  Peer Supporter shall provide Services to Users pursuant to this Agreement in compliance with all applicable laws.

1.8       Adoption of Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.  Peer Supporter represents and acknowledges that Peer Supporter has carefully reviewed the “Terms of Use” (including without limitation the “Privacy Policy”, “Proprietary Content” and “User Conduct” provisions thereof) and the “Privacy Policy” posted on the Application and undertakes hereby to strictly comply with such “Terms of Use” and “Privacy Policy” in all respects as though applicable to Peer Supporter, including without limitation with respect to preserving the confidentiality of User information to the extent provided therein, except under the crisis circumstances or other exceptions addressed under Section 1.1. hereof. Peer Supporter acknowledges that the Company may update the “Terms of Use” from time to time and may amend them at any time to incorporate additional terms specific to additional features, materials, products, opportunities, or services that the Company may make available on or through the Application. All such updates and amendments are effective immediately upon notice thereof, which the Company may give by any means, including, but not limited to, by posting a revised version of such “Terms of Use” or other notice on the Application. Peer Supporter should view such “Terms of Use” often to stay informed of changes that may affect Peer Supporter.  Peer Supporter’s continued use of the Application and delivery of Services pursuant thereto indicates Peer Supporter’s ongoing consent to be bound by such “Terms of Use”, as amended. The Company expressly reserves the right to make any changes to such “Terms of Use”, or to the Application and its content, which in each case are not inconsistent with the express terms of this Agreement, at any time without prior notice to Peer Supporter. In addition, the Company may terminate, change, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Application at any time or restrict access to parts or all of the Application without notice to Peer Supporter or liability to the Company. The Company may terminate the authorization, rights, and license given in such “Terms of Use” at any time.

Furthermore, Peer Supporter acknowledges that the Company has expended substantial time, effort and funds to create the Application and to provide the services that are available on or through the Application. Sound Off reserves all rights to the Application. Peer Supporter understands and agrees that the Company owns or has been licensed by third parties to use all right, title, and interest in and to the Application and all information, text, data,  software, and other materials contained therein, and the compilation, collection, design, selection, and arrangement thereof. Peer Supporter acknowledges that the Application contains valuable proprietary information that is protected by applicable intellectual property and other proprietary rights and laws of the United States and that Peer Supporter acquires no ownership interest or rights by accessing and using the Application.

In addition, Peer Supporter particularly agrees to comply with the provisions of the “Terms of Use-User Conduct” as though Peer Supporterwere a User for purposes thereof.

2. Duties and Obligations of Company

2.1       Maintenance of Application.  Company shall establish and maintain a mobile Application through which the User may obtain and the Peer Supporter may provide Services.

2.2       Policies and Procedures.  Company shall develop policies and procedures for use of the Application by Peer Supporter and Users, including policies on terms of use and privacy.  Both Company and Peer Supporter shall abide by any Company policies and procedures. Company shall provide Peer Supporter with instructions for use of the Application on an as needed basis.

2.3       Company Insurance Coverage. The Company will at all times maintain an  E&O liability insurance policy with aggregate $5 million coverage, and the Company will provide coverage to clinicians and Peer Supporter non-professional peer counselors as additional named insureds thereon and shall provide Peer Supporter with proof of same upon execution of this Agreement and periodically as requested.

3. Confidentiality

3.1       Confidentiality.  Peer Supporter shall maintain and preserve the confidentiality of any User confidential and proprietary information, including, but not limited to, User health information, medical history, or treatment notes or any information about the User’s military service. Except as otherwise provided herein, Peer Supporter agrees to keep confidential and not to use or disclose, except as expressly consented to in writing by Company, User or as required by law, any secret or confidential technology, proprietary information, or trade secret of Company, data and discussions related to this Agreement, or any matter or thing ascertained by Peer Supporter through Peer Supporter’s affiliation with Company.  Peer Supporter shall protect the confidentiality of all User health information, including without limitation, medical history and treatment notes, and any information about the User’s military service.  Peer Supporter shall also comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations protecting the confidentiality of personal health information. v represents and acknowledges that Peer Supporter has carefully reviewed the Privacy Policy posted on the Application and undertakes hereby to strictly comply with such Privacy Policy with respect to all matters concerning the privacy and confidentiality of information relating to the Users.

3.2      Injunctive Relief.  If any action is brought by Company for Peer Supporter’s violation of Section 3.1 of this Agreement, Peer Supporter agrees that because of the immediate and irreparable injury that would be sustained by Company if such violation were to continue, an order may be entered enjoining Peer Supporter from violating any such covenant, either temporarily, preliminarily or as part of a final judgment, all without a requirement that Company post bond.  Company’s application for injunctive relief will not prejudice any other claim or cause of action that it or its assignees may pursue by reason of the violation of these covenants, nor will it prejudice Company’s right to maintain any other claim or cause of action under this Agreement.

3.3       Survival.  The terms of this Section 3 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

4. [RESERVED].

5. Indemnification. Peer Supporter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless and defend Company, its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, and agents from and against any and all claims, suits, damages, fines, penalties, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs) resulting from or arising out of any claimed willful or negligent act or omission of Peer Supporter or the Peer Supporter’s Affiliated Entity, if any, and their own respective employees and affiliates pertaining to the Party’s performance under this Agreement.  This indemnification provision shall survive termination or expiration of the Agreement. The terms of this Section 5 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

6. Term and Termination.

6.1       Term.  This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until terminated as provided in Section 6.2.

6.2       Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time and for any reason upon written notice to the Peer Supporter. This Agreement may be terminated at any time and for any reason by the Peer Supporter but only upon written notice from the Peer Supporter to the Company given at least thirty (30) days prior to the intended date of termination. In addition, this Agreement shall terminate immediately upon the breach by Peer Supporter of your obligation of confidentiality.

7. General Terms

7.1       Independent Contractors.  It is expressly agreed and understood by Company and Peer Supporter that Peer Supporter, by entering into and performing your obligations under this Agreement, is an independent contractor. Nothing in this Agreement or the actions of the Parties shall be construed to characterize the relationship between the Parties as that of employer/employee, partnership or co-venture, or agency.  Company shall treat Peer Supporter as an independent contractor for all purposes, including control over the Services delivered by Peer Supporter, federal or state tax purposes, if any, and workers’ compensation laws.  Peer Supporter shall be solely responsible for all filings and reports required for Peer Supporter to make relating the Services performed pursuant to this Agreement.

7.2       Entire Agreement; Coordination with Peer Supporter’s Affiliated Entity Agreement.  This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the Parties and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements or understandings, subject if applicable to the provisions of any Peer Supporter’s Affiliated Entity Agreement pursuant to Section 1.2 hereof. The Agreement may be modified or amended only in a writing signed by the Parties.

7.3       Assignment.  This Agreement may not be assigned in whole or in part by either Party without prior written consent by the other Party.

7.4       Nondiscrimination.  Peer Supporter shall not discriminate in the provision of Services on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, color, disability or other basis prohibited by law.  Further, Peer Supporter shall respect Users’ rights, as set forth under applicable law and regulations, in providing Services.

7.5       Controlling Law.  The rights and obligations of the Parties under this Agreement, and any claims or disputes relating to the Agreement, shall be governed by the laws of Texas.

7.6       Partial Invalidity.  Each provision of this Agreement shall be deemed independent and terminable.  The exclusion of any provision herein found to be invalid or illegal shall not affect enforcement of the remaining provisions of the Agreement.

7.7       Notices.  Any notice required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing addressed to the Parties and sent to the addresses provided in this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties or their duly authorized representatives have executed this Agreement on the date first set forth above.

 

SOUND OFF, INC.                                                   PEER SUPPORTER                                                                                                                             

By: _______________________________               By: ______________________________

Name: _____________________________

Its: ________________________________