Expanding the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline for Underserved Spanish-Speaking Victims

The Vision 21: Using Technology to Expand National and International Access to Victim Services initiative supports projects using technology to interact directly with crime victims, providing support for improved assistance to victims, including information, referrals, and online and hotline services.

Through this project the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) will continue expanded services by providing culturally appropriate crisis assistance and referral services in Spanish through the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline, including maintenance of a referral database of culturally and linquistically appropriate referrals for in-person long-term support. RAINN will also continue to facilitate HelpRoom online peer support in Spanish.

NCA/NCF

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 award under cooperative agreement 2014-XV-BX-K005, RAINN has initiated a project to expand the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline for underserved Spanish-speaking victims by increasing capacity to provide referral services in Spanish through the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline; developing a referral database of culturally and linguistically appropriate referrals for in-person, long-term support by engaging their existing network and developing new partnerships; and by utilizing HelpRoom, an online peer support platform for continued services. Through this funding, RAINN has the online hotline staffed at all times with trained bilingual staff ready to provide culturally appropriate services and Spanish language information is being expanded on the website, including a database of national and local sexual assault service providers who serve Spanish-speaking victims. There have been over 350 Spanish online sessions since the launch of the line in April 2015 and over 23,500 hits on the new Spanish language web content. In early February 2016, RAINN officially launched the Spanish HelpRoom, La Sala de Ayuda, a brand-new peer-support service available as part of RAINN’s commitment to supporting Spanish-speaking survivors of sexual assault. La Sala de Ayuda is a confidential chat room service that offers survivors another way to get help and support. With the FY 2016 continuation funding, RAINN will continue to provide these services and keep their systems and resources up-to-date.

NCA/NCF