Study shows digital hotlines make it easier for survivors to reach out

Use of chat and text services has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Rachel Joy Voth Schrag, a UT Arlington professor of social work. Understanding how survivors use these digital channels, she said, is critical for ensuring hotline advocates have the tools they need to support survivor and family safety. New research from The University of Texas at Arlington shows that these digital hotlines are changing how survivors of domestic and sexual violence access safety planning and support.