In March 2020, as COVID-19 cases started to increase across the nation and “Stay at Home” orders began in response to stop the spread of the virus, domestic violence agencies in Western Pennsylvania were concerned that this “forced” social isolation would increase calls to crisis lines.
Agencies prepared and redesigned services to prepare for increased calls, but, surprisingly, those calls did not come. Early in the pandemic, agencies realized a need to shift focus and quickly create online and virtual services using social media, text/chat options, and telehealth platforms. However, the strength of the state’s domestic violence services has been its seamless service delivery that creates a state-wide safety net. While initial efforts provided the desired access to services, the fragmented nature of these early modifications presented some barriers to services for survivors.
The pandemic spotlighted the challenges faced by domestic violence victims and shed light on the need for improved communication tools between victims and domestic violence agencies.
In the fall of 2020, OhanaLink Technologies™, a woman-owned technology development company based in Pennsylvania, was approached by Lizette Olsen, executive director of Mercer County AWARE, Inc., a domestic violence agency. She inquired about the company’s existing technology platform, wondering if it could help domestic violence agencies address the overwhelming need for better communication channels that are safe for survivors to use.
“For many of my younger staff, their lifestyles are directed by their feeds and cell phones. Agency structures need to catch up to where people consume and deliver services,” explained Olsen. “To help meet our victims’ needs, we needed to propel our agency forward, embrace technology, and provide the technology they expect.”
In addition to working with AWARE, Inc., OhanaLink Technologies engaged in conversation with the Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center and five additional domestic violence programs in Pennsylvania to explore the potential for a cloud-based service using OhanaLink’s proprietary communication and support platform.
“When the pandemic began, we jumped on the technology bandwagon and tried making something outside work, like a Zoom. The team from OhanaLink couldn’t have approached us at a better time,” said Michelle Gibb, Executive Director of the Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center.
OhanaLink and the seven agencies brainstormed and strategized what features would most benefit the agencies and their client’s needs to create a solution designed to enhance communication, connectivity, and support. OhanaLink Purple™—a first-in-the-market cloud-based, agency-driven services delivery system for better coordination and collaboration for agencies, victims, and family members—was developed from this collaboration.
“The OhanaLink Purple mobile solution is a true game-changer for the domestic violence industry,” said Olsen.
OhanaLink Purple provides domestic violence agencies with a series of tools to safely enhance communication and improve secure access to resources for victims. As a safe, private mobile communication and support tool, OhanaLink Purple is delivered through a concealed 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 making it accessible to only those invited into the “room,” and also provides traceless communication.
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.
“OhanaLink Purple allows us to directly connect to clients when it is safe to do so, and knowing isolation is one of the greatest tools an abuser uses, Purple will provide connection to family and friends safely. Another benefit of OhanaLink Purple is a client interacts with a human being, NOT an automated app–nothing automated, and we can provide services in real-time and at times that suit our client’s needs,” said Gibb. “OhanaLink Purple is a true game-changer for domestic violence agencies and survivors.”
Learn more about OhanaLink Purple at ohanalink.tech.
