DomesticShelters.org is proud to partner with Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh and Vodafone Americas Foundation on the launch of the U.S. version of Bright Sky. The free, safe, and easy-to-use mobile app and website connects those impacted by domestic violence to practical information to educate, detect warning signs, deliver life-saving information, and importantly, provide access to the most comprehensive database of programs and shelters in the U.S. that DomesticShelters.org pioneered in 2014 and has managed since.
“It’s wonderful to see organizations pool resources and collaborate rather than using the precious financial resources available in the domestic violence field on potentially duplicating efforts. We are so pleased to have been able to bring to the project our database of 2,395 programs and shelters in the U.S., which is built and updated through the active participation of the programs and shelters,” said Ashley Rumschlag, CEO & President of Theresa’s Fund and DomesticShelters.org.
According to the data from the CDC, more than ten million adults experience domestic violence annually in the U.S. One in four women and one in seven men aged 18 and older in the U.S. have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, and on a typical day, nearly 20,000 phone calls are placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide. Additionally, the American Psychological Association estimates that intimate partner violence victims lose 8,000,000 days of paid work each year, the equivalent of more than 32,000 full-time jobs.
“Domestic violence is a public health issue that impacts more than 10 million women, men, and children across the U.S. each year, and we see first-hand the resultant daily impact and devastation,” said Nicole Molinaro, President/CEO, Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. “The Bright Sky app will be instrumental in offering a safe path to support those impacted by domestic violence and those who may be concerned that a loved one, friend or colleague may be experiencing abuse. Offering a range of accessible risk assessment tools, life-saving safety and planning resources, and connections to help and hope, Bright Sky will positively impact the lives of many,” added Molinaro.
Launched in the U.S with the support of NO MORE, DomesticShelters.org and Aspirant, Bright Sky is the only multinational domestic violence support mobile app available. The Bright Sky app, available for download on iOS or Android or accessible via the website, enables users to:
- Identify the types and signs of domestic violence
- Assess the safety of their relationship or that of a friend or loved one
- Access information about different forms of abuse and how to help a friend that may be affected
- Locate local resources and support services.
“I find the Bright Sky app to be a crucial tool for people who are dealing with an abusive relationship. Overall, I think the app is a big step forward for persons experiencing any type of abuse and will create opportunities for them to get help, so they are not alone,” shared an anonymous survivor.
“The Vodafone Americas Foundation believes that technology and connectivity are fundamental in addressing the most pressing issues in our global and local communities,” said June Sugiyama, Director, Vodafone Americas Foundation. “It’s at the heart of our mission to create and invest in partnerships committed to using technology to empower women and girls as well as in the local communities where our employees live and work.”
Bright Sky was founded in 2018 by Vodafone Group Foundation and UK-based crisis support charity Hestia. With the addition of the U.S. launch, Vodafone Group Foundation has now expanded the app to 13 countries, including Albania, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
The app was formally launched in the U.S. as part of the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 2023), a UN-sponsored global meeting seeking to identify challenges to and establish global standards on gender equality and the rights of women and girls. Rumschlag joined a panel discussion on the role of technology in ending gender-based violence. During panel she shared, “Experiencing abuse isn’t something that is easy to open up about, and technology has the potential to create a safe space where people can get answers to their questions when they don’t feel comfortable reaching out to friends and family or a trained DV advocate.”