This program will provide continuation funding to eligible invited nonprofit organizations that propose to use technology creatively to interact directly with crime victims and provide information, referral, crisis assistance, and longer term help. This continuation funding is for the eight successful applications funded through the competitive FY 2014 Vision 21: Using Technology to Expand National and International Access to Victim Services solicitation, under the three following categories of victim service projects:
I. National scope initiatives for all crime victims, or specifically focusing on sexual violence, domestic violence (including stalking associated with domestic violence), and/or child and/or youth victimization;
II. National scope initiatives for underserved victims; and
III. Initiatives for American victims of domestic violence (including stalking associated with domestic violence) and/or sexual assault, abroad (including on cruise ships).
With their initial and first supplemental awards under cooperative agreement 2014-XV-BX-K004, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) is using funding to increase staffing capacity of the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline to serve more victims. The National Sexual Assault Hotline (NSAH) also helps telephonic callers who are unable to connect to local resources by closing geographic gaps. RAINN has adjusted the routing infrastructure to direct these calls to the 24/7 call center where staff can provide a variety of crisis intervention services to callers. In addition, RAINN continues to maintain a data management site that makes updating the database of service providers quick and easy and is working to create an application interface that allows other organizations and government agencies to access the expanded database at no cost.
RAINN has been able to expand capacity through this funding with over 40 new NSAH staff, all of whom speak both Spanish and English. As of December 2015, RAINN has documented a 40-percent increase in hotline sessions over the same time period in 2014, and served almost 50,000 users in 2015, their highest year ever. In April 2015 RAINN implemented a new routing structure and launched the new NSAH call center which has assisted thousands of callers who were unable to connect with a local service provider. With the FY 2016 continuation funding, RAINN will continue to provide these services and keep their systems and resources up-to-date.
NCA/NCF
