Question 1

How is my child’s information protected?

Accepted Answer

You decide what goes on your child’s profile. Profile fields default to vague and sharpen only when you choose. The local directory never lists a child; messaging threads stay between the adults; moderators review anything that crosses the line.

Question 2

Can I opt out, delete my account, or take a break?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and quietly. You can hide your profile from suggestions at any time, set messaging to adults-only, or request full account and data deletion. Parents stepping away for a season do not lose their place in the groups they have already joined.

Question 3

What does the free Community tier actually include?

Accepted Answer

A real profile, moderated public diagnosis- and therapy-specific groups, RSVP access to local events, and the curated directory of vetted local resources. Most families start on Community and live there for months. That is by design — the paid tiers exist to support the longer arc, not to gate the platform.

Question 4

How is Connect different from Community?

Accepted Answer

Connect unlocks unlimited private messaging to parents and mentors, advanced parent and mentor matching (not just groups), hostable playdates at your home or a chosen venue, favorites for the families and mentors you want to keep close, and personalized activity recommendations ranked your child’s needs.

Question 5

What does Thrive add beyond Connect?

Accepted Answer

Thrive keeps every Connect feature — unlimited private messaging, advanced parent and mentor matching, hostable playdates, favorites, and personalized activity recommendations — and lays the longer arc on top. Family-milestone tracking is shipped now. Scheduled video mentor sessions, monthly virtual workshops, and partner discounts with therapy providers and adaptive-equipment brands are on the roadmap and will go live one at a time. Thrive members get early access to each as we ship it.

Question 6

Is there a family-to-family hardship program?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cost is not the reason a family stays away. Our donations program covers hardship sponsorships across both Connect and Thrive. Email us and we will quietly cover it — same front door, no questions asked.

Question 7

Can I cancel a paid plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can cancel from the account page at any time — your family keeps its profile on Community and any groups you joined stay joined. Paid features expire at the end of the current billing period.

Question 8

Are these prices recurring?

Accepted Answer

Connect and Thrive are monthly subscriptions. You can cancel anytime; there is no annual lock-in. We chose monthly so families can stay or step away as the season changes.

Question 9

Where is Hearthkin available?

Accepted Answer

Hearthkin is opening in seven U.S. regions first so local matching, events, and the curated directory feel real rather than theoretical. New regions open as we reach a critical mass of families in each one.

Question 10

What signals does matching actually use?

Accepted Answer

Location and region first, then signals beyond distance — your child’s age band, diagnosis or diagnostic question, therapy categories (OT, speech, AAC, sensory), and your parent journey stage. The matching is strict, not a feed: you are paired with the right family, not ranked against an endless scroll.

Question 11

How many matches will I see?

Accepted Answer

Connect members see unlimited suggested connections over time — the right families surface as they join your area. Community members see matches through the diagnosis- and therapy-specific groups you join, which is where most early connections happen anyway.

Question 12

What does the first week on Hearthkin look like?

Accepted Answer

The same four steps we walk every family through: Tell us who you love — a short profile with your area, your child’s age, where you’re at in the journey, and what kind of support would actually land right now. We pair you with care — members are matched by what they share, not by category, and your first three suggested connections are human-reviewed before they reach you. Find a local rhythm — drop into a diagnosis-specific group, RSVP to a moderated event, or message a mentor who has already walked this stretch. Stay a while — as your child grows, the platform shifts your feed; older parents and bereaved mentors surface later when perspective matters more than tactics.

Question 13

Do my matches change as my child grows?

Accepted Answer

Yes. As your child grows, the platform shifts your feed — older caregivers and bereaved mentors surface when perspective matters more than tactics. You are not locked into a single season of the journey; the matching follows where you actually are.

Question 14

Can I opt out of mentor matching?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Mentor matching always preserves your choice — you can hide mentor suggestions, set messaging to parents-only, or turn off mentor outreach entirely. Opting out never removes you from parent-to-parent matching or from the groups you have already joined.

Question 15

What does a “mentor” actually mean?

Accepted Answer

A mentor is an experienced parent who has volunteered for that label. Every mentor started as a Hearthkin member — there is no external pipeline. Some are three years ahead of you; others are parents of adults; a smaller number are bereaved parents who choose to support newer families.

Question 16

Are mentors background-checked?

Accepted Answer

Mentors with an optional, completed background check can carry a badge that signals added trust. The badge is opt-in for qualifying mentors. Bereaved-parent mentors opt in separately and are surfaced only when the match is relevant to the family on the other side.

Question 17

Do mentors give medical or therapeutic advice?

Accepted Answer

No. Mentors share lived experience — what their own weeks looked like, what worked in their house, who they called when. They do not diagnose, prescribe, or replace a clinician. Anything medical stays with your child’s care team; mentors hold the human side of the journey.

The questions parents ask us first — answered plainly.