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SMS Messaging Program & Guardian Ring Consent

Effective Date: July 16, 2026 · The Fires Within™ / GUIDO™ · Contact: info@the-fires-within.com

The Fires Within™ operates the GUIDO™ behavioral companion, a peer-support tool for people in recovery. This page explains, in full, how our SMS text messaging works: who receives messages, exactly how each person opts in and gives consent, how often messages are sent, and how to opt out or get help. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency is low and event-driven.

Who receives messages, and for what

We send SMS for safety and support only — never for marketing or promotion. There are two types of recipient:

  • The enrolled participant — the person using GUIDO, who has provided and confirmed their own mobile number, for account and safety messages related to their own care.
  • "Support Team" (Guardian Ring) members — the family members, friends, or a sponsor that a participant has personally chosen and who have opted in, so those supporters can be there during difficult moments in the participant's recovery.

There are exactly two ways a phone number is ever enrolled to receive text messages from The Fires Within (GUIDO). Both take place on public pages that can be visited and verified without signing in. No one is ever opted in by another person — every person consents for themselves.

Method 1 — Website sign-up form (the participant opts in for themselves)

Anyone may opt in from our public sign-up form at www.the-fires-within.com/connect. The visitor types their own mobile number, then actively checks an SMS consent box that is unchecked by default and remains disabled until a phone number has been entered. Submitting the form without checking that box does not enroll the number for SMS. This is the call to action, and it can be reviewed at that URL at any time.

Exact consent statement shown at www.the-fires-within.com/connect
"Yes, I consent to receive SMS text messages from The Fires Within™ — account and service notifications, and GUIDO recovery-support and Guardian Ring alerts — at the phone number provided. Up to 5 messages per month. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. See our Messaging Terms, Privacy Policy and Terms."

Method 2 — A Support Team member opts in for themselves (double opt-in)

Being nominated is not the same as being enrolled. Inside the app a participant may nominate a supporter by entering that person's mobile number. That entry does one thing only: it generates an invitation. It does not enroll the supporter, it does not constitute the supporter's consent, and no support alerts are ever sent to that number on the basis of it.

When nominating a supporter, the participant must also tick an attestation checkbox that is unchecked by default:

Attestation shown to the participant when adding a supporter
"I have this person's permission to send them one text invitation from GUIDO. They will be asked to confirm for themselves before they ever receive an alert."

That attestation is a safeguard only. It is not treated as the supporter's consent — the supporter's own opt-in below is the operative consent in every case.

Before that number receives any alert, the supporter must opt in themselves, in both of the following ways:

  1. They receive one invitation text that identifies The Fires Within / GUIDO, and they must reply YES to enroll (double opt-in). A supporter who does not reply YES is never sent alerts.
  2. That invitation also links them to a public consent screen where they read the Guardian Agreement in full and choose Accept or Decline: www.the-fires-within.com/guardian. That screen can be opened and reviewed without signing in.

If the supporter declines, replies STOP, or simply does not reply, no further messages are sent to that number.

Sample messages

Guardian invitation (opt-in)
The Fires Within (GUIDO): You've been added as a Support Team member for someone in recovery. Reply YES to receive occasional support alerts on their behalf, or STOP to decline. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help.
Support alert
GUIDO alert from The Fires Within: someone on your Support Team may need you right now. Please reach out to them when you can. Reply STOP to unsubscribe, HELP for help.
Reassurance / check-in
GuardianAngel from GUIDO (The Fires Within): just letting you know your Support Team member is doing okay tonight. No action needed. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.

Message frequency

Low and event-driven. Guardian Ring alerts are triggered only by behavioral-escalation events meeting the participant's care thresholds; most numbers receive between 0 and 5 messages per month.

Opt out (STOP) and help (HELP)

Reply STOP (or UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, QUIT) to any message to opt out of further texts to that number. Reply HELP (or INFO) for assistance, or email info@the-fires-within.com. You may also email us at any time to change or withdraw consent for a number, and we will remove it.

Privacy

We do not sell or share mobile numbers or SMS opt-in data with any third parties for marketing purposes. All SMS is transactional or safety-related; we send no promotional, marketing, or advertising SMS. Message content is delivered via Twilio and processed under their security terms. Full details are in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

The Fires Within™ is a sole proprietorship based in New Jersey, USA. Questions about this messaging program: info@the-fires-within.com.