Indigenous hotline - stronghearts native helpline proposes to continue serving as the national indigenous domestic violence hotline

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded Stronghearts Native Helpline, Inc. a $9.294 million cooperative agreement on September 30, 2025, under the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act / State Domestic Violence Coalitions program (CFDA 93.591) to operate the nation's first and only Native-centered national domestic violence hotline.

Stronghearts will operate a 24/7/365 toll-free phone, text, and chat service and website serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The organization will deliver culturally honoring peer support, crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, safety planning, and referral services to all contacts. Services extend to youth contacts, self-identified perpetrators, and victims seeking family counseling and faith-based support resources.

Stronghearts will publicize the hotline throughout Indian Country and the United States via social media, television, public awareness campaigns, written materials, and digital channels. The recipient will deliver nationwide training and technical assistance to Office of Victims of Crime grant recipients, Family Violence Prevention and Services Act funded network partners, and other national hotlines serving Indigenous victims and survivors to expand their capacity to provide culturally appropriate hotline services. Stronghearts will develop collaborative relationships with state, local, and tribal authorities, state and tribal coalitions, and other service provider organizations, and will continue wellness initiatives to support service quality.

Performance occurs in Minnesota with a period extending through September 29, 2030.

The purpose is to maintain and improve current operations of the nation's first and only native centered national helpline serving the american indian and alaska native community, a community that historically and continues to experience limited access to resources and services. Project objectives and expected outcomes include: ● use all funds received to operate a national toll-free 24/7/365 phone, text and chat services and operate an existing website; ● continue to provide culturally honoring peer support, crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, safety planning and referral services to all contacts each year; ● continue to publicize the indigenous hotline throughout indian country and the united states through various channels, including: social media; television; public awareness campaigns; website; written materials; etc.; ● deliver a comprehensive array of nationwide training and/or technical assistance to ofvps grant recipients, ofvps fvpsa funded network partners and other national hotlines that serve ofvps constituents to expand their capacity to provide culturally appropriate hotline services for indigenous victims/survivors; ● continue to develop collaborative and responsive relationships with state, local, and tribal authorities, as well as state and tribal coalitions, and other service provider organizations; ● continue to ensure that quality, confidential, anonymous and accessible services are provided to every contact, including youth contacts, self-identified perpetrators, and victims/survivors requesting family counseling resources and faith-based support services; and ● continue wellness initiatives to ensure quality services are provided to every contact.