Evaluation of Technology-Based Services 

The Evaluation of Technology-Based Services, funded by the National Institute of Justice, is a collaboration between the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas, the University of Texas Medical Branch Center for Violence Prevention, and SAFE Alliance. This project encompasses a formative evaluation of SAFEline call/chat/text advocacy services for victims of violence. SAFEline, a service of SAFE Alliance that provides phone/chat/text based-advocacy related to intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual assault (SA), human trafficking (HT), and child abuse and neglect (CAN).   

This evaluation explores how technology expands SAFE’s capacity to provide services, provide insight into SAFEline’s current service delivery, and better understand user experiences. Given the small, but growing, number of agencies in Texas and across the nation looking to implement technology-based advocacy, more information is needed about how chat and text services are implemented, who they serve, and how the service models are adapted for these platforms. 

Specific project questions include: 

• How technology-based advocacy is being implemented at SAFEline and used by SAFE Alliance to provide support to service users. 
• How advocacy models to support crime victims are being adapted for different technological platforms. 
• Who are the users of technology-facilitated advocacy, what are their needs, and experiences seeking services? 
• What agency and community supports and resources are needed to implement technology-based advocacy and conduct subsequent process and outcome evaluations?

For more information, contact Leila Wood at [email protected]