In the fall of 2020, Lizette Olsen, executive director of AWARE, Inc., a domestic violence agency located in Western Pennsylvania, approached Kara Wasser, founder and CEO of Pennsylvania-based technologydevelopment company OhanaLink Technologies™, to inquire about the company’s existing technology platform. Olsen wondered if it could be used to help domestic violence agencies in addressing the overwhelming need for better communication channels that are safe for survivors to use.
Wasser knew it was a definite possibility, so she and her team began their journey to explore and design a secure mobile solution to aid domestic violence victims and agencies.
“Ohana means family, and since domestic violence has touched nearly every member of my team, it fueled our mission for creating a solution that would make a difference in the lives of our users—a true labor of love,” said Wasser. “My sister is a survivor. Watching how it impacted her life and how she moved forward successfully, I knew I needed to find a way to give back in any way we could to provide a safe network for survivors and families.”
In addition to working with AWARE, Inc., OhanaLink Technologies engaged in conversation with the Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center, in Tarentum, PA and five other domestic violence programs in Western Pennsylvania to investigate the potential for a new service delivery solution using OhanaLink’s proprietary communication and support platform.
“The COVID-19 pandemic shed further light on the overwhelming need for better communication channels between community-based agencies providing victims' services,” said Wasser. “As we began to research how to create a solution designed to enhance communication, connectivity, and support, we discovered we had to work side-by-side with these agencies to ensure the resource would meet their needs and the survivors’ needs.”
Through this collaboration, OhanaLink Purple™—a first-in-the-market cloud-based delivery system for better coordination and communication for agencies, victims, and family members—was developed and launched in May of this year.
The customized solution through the proprietary platform enables domestic violence agencies to:
- Streamline agency services and extend reach to serve more clients in real-time.
- Improve operational efficiencies for individuals by providing support when accessing services is more difficult than ever.
- Enhance supportive services such as resources and directories.
- Keep victims connected to family/their network to provide support when they need it most.
“OhanaLink Purple will change the delivery service for domestic violence agencies by providing them with the tools to safely improve communication and expand secure access to resources for victims,” Wasser explained. “As a safe, private mobile communication and support tool, it is delivered through a camouflaged mobile app with proprietary Trackless Safety Features™ that can be used on smartphones or tablets.
The mobile system is free for a domestic violence agency’s client to use and provides the client with immediate access to the following features:
- Traceless Safety Features. Includes a security wrapper.
- Client Profile. The profile summarizes a client’s information, accessible only to agency personnel who are invited into the “room.”
- Updates. Advocates and caseworkers can send updates to a client regarding their case asynchronously by making the information available when it is safe for the client.
- Chat. Clients can securely chat with their support system in a two-way communication channel.
- Planner. Create and assign important tasks, appointments, and reminders.
- Directory. A comprehensive list of organizations and contact information.
- Resources. An all-in-one library of useful resources to help survivors and families.
“We hope that having these safe communication tools and support systems available to domestic violence agencies and victims can make a difference,” said Wasser. “I know OhanaLink Purple would have benefited my sister and our family.”
Learn more about OhanaLink Purple at OhanaLink Purple.
