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 awards, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) has launched Broadening Engagement and Connection Through Digital Advocacy. NDVH has strengthened their capacity by adding staff and using their interactive website to improve the triage of chatters. NDVH is addressing the problem of victims who are not seeking help or services by spreading awareness and conducting a formal public awareness campaign, including printed materials, an online toolkit, and use of social media about the expanded digital services and alternative ways to get help.
With the proposed FY 2016 continuation funding NDVH and loveisrespect.org plan to continue to support telephonic interpretation services to assist digital services contacts; continue to create and refresh online content on thehotline.org and loveisrespect.org, internally identifying critical pages, working with the vendor, and piloting the triaging/queuing program; and will explore and evaluate the effectiveness of a hybrid phone/digital model. NDVH will also work to increase web traffic and continue to spread awareness about resources and services through activities including identifying best practices based on the year two social media campaign and metrics; expanding the social media campaign beyond the five targeted areas that were identified in years one and two and continuing the implementation of the year two communications strategy in an effort to increase awareness of digital services; and continuing to run the Google AdWords campaign, monitoring and making changes as necessary. They will continue strategizing with the technology workgroup of industry experts and with the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) to expand capacity to share technology and explore currently available technology strategies to lay the groundwork for eventual digital hand-off capability among service providers. NDVH will also use $750,000 of the recommended funding to pass through in a subaward to their partners at Abused Deaf Womens Advocacy Services (ADWAS), which operates the National Deaf Hotline (NDH), to support increasing capacity to serve Deaf victims twenty four hours a day seven days a week.
NCA/NCF
