Building Capacity - StrongHearts Native Helpline

The applicant is StrongHearts Native Helpline, a national  Native-centered national helpline, built by and for our AI/AN relatives that have been impacted by domestic, dating and sexual violence.  Services are free, confidential and anonymous.  We recently celebrated our 6th anniversary of providing services, and have reached nearly 40,000 contacts through telephone, chat and text advocacy. 

The purpose of the application is to support building the infrastructure and capacity of StrongHearts to increase access to the lifesaving services provided by our staff of highly trained advocates.  Goals and objectives will be met through increased staffing, enhanced training and Native-centered, targeted outreach activities.  StrongHearts will undertake a more detailed analysis of data collected to determine the needs of our relatives and the effectiveness of services provided.  Further, StrongHearts will develop and implement a quality assurance program to ensure that our services are meeting the needs of our relatives.  StrongHearts will work collaboratively with the National Hotline Consortium (NHC) to share best practices, technology advances and operational improvements to best meet the needs of those we serve.  Annual reports will be developed to highlight the work of the NHC.  Finally, StrongHearts will work closely with OVC, NHC and partner hotlines to host listening sessions to determine the needs of survivors of cyber or technology facilitated crimes and how best to support their healing journey.  A public facing report will be developed and distributed that highlights the results of  the listening sessions with recommendations for improved service delivery for survivors of cyber crime. 

As a culturally specific helpline, StrongHearts has a national service area benefiting American Indian and Alaska Natives; however it is important to note that StrongHearts does serve all persons that contact the helpline. 

Additionally, through the collaboration with the National Hotline Consortium and partner hotlines, this project has the potential to improve the services for all persons contacting any of the partner hotlines across the country.