A new application developed by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s App Brewery has given Sojourner Family Peace Center one more outlet to help individuals impacted by domestic violence cases connect with emergency help.
The Sojourner Peace app, announced on Thursday, features links and phone numbers for resource centers where abuse victims can seek help “discreetly and quickly,” according to UWM officials.
The new app, available for free for both Apple and Android devices, also includes special privacy features that ensure the protection of users. One capability allows users to fade their screen to black and clear browsing history with a quick touch.
The app’s icon can also be hidden behind a more generic app button.
“We know that the information and support that a survivor can get by talking to an advocate saves lives,” Carmen Pitre, executive director of Sojourner Family Peace Center, said in a press release. “This is one more tool to make information easily available.”
The nonprofit, which centers its mission on helping survivors of family abuse through the recovery process, has started sharing the new app with its clients.
Beyond emergency contact capabilities, the app jumps on the front end of domestic abuse by allowing users to take a confidential quiz on the health of their relationship.
While the app is currently available in English and Spanish, a Russian version may soon make a debut as Sojourner Family Peace Center works to make the app accessible to as many people as possible.
“When we found out what Sojourner does and how their work affects those who’ve been abused, we thought it was a project that could really make a difference,” said UWM App Brewery manager Dustin Hahn.
