myPlan App: A Digital Tool Helping Survivors Prioritize Safety on Their Own Terms
When someone is experiencing toxic or abusive behavior, the responsibility lies solely with the person causing harm. People who are experiencing abuse deserve access to tools and support that help them prioritize safety and regain control over their decisions.
myPlan is a free, private, and secure safety planning app developed by survivors for survivors. It discreetly supports individuals who are (or may be) in abusive relationships by helping them assess their unique situation and plan next steps with greater clarity and safety.
In this powerful conversation, Rise & Thrive Women’s Susie Miller Wendel and Heather Hart invite Amber Clough, MSW, program director of myPlan, to discuss one of the most important digital tools available for those navigating relationship abuse. If you or someone you care about may be in a toxic relationship, this article/podcast offers guidance, validation, and hope.
Transcript: How the myPlan App Secretly Supports DV Survivors in Planning a Safe Exit from Abuse
Note: This transcript is automatically transcribed.
Susie Miller Wendel (00:00):
Welcome to Rise and Thrive, women journeying from surviving to thriving after abuse. We're your hosts, Susie and Heather, and we are so glad you're here. If you've experienced the heartache of toxic relationships, the feeling of being lost, broken, and unsure of where to turn next, then the show is for you.
Heather Hart (00:17):
We're here to inspire, educate, and empower women like you, no matter where you are on your healing journey. Together we'll challenge the misconceptions surrounding domestic abuse, explore practical solutions, and listen to incredible survivor stories that remind us all that there is a brighter, better future waiting for you. It's time to rise, thrive, and choose yourself. Let's begin this healing journey together.
Susie Miller Wendel (00:39):
Yay, and we're thrilled today to welcome Amber Clough. She is the program director of the myPlan App, one of the most important digital tools available to individuals navigating abuse in relationships. myPlan is a free, evidence-based app created by the researchers of Johns Hopkins University to help people in abusive relationships assess their situation and make safe, informed decisions about what to do next.
We're so happy to have you here, Amber, and I'm just so excited to be able to feature some information about this app. I actually was made aware of it in a 40-hour domestic violence training that I was taking, and I was like, number one, how have I not heard of this? Number two, I've got to be sure that Heather and I talk about it on our show because it really is such a great tool for people who are in abusive relationships. So we're excited to just spend some time talking about that today. But first, I just wanted to give you a chance to maybe introduce yourself, maybe tell us a little bit about your background, what drew you to this work, and why you're so passionate about this.
Amber Clough (01:45):
Yeah, thank you so much, Susie and Heather, for having me here today. I appreciate being invited. Yeah, I think before I talk about myPlan, I'll just kind of start with a quick introduction about me. So I've worked in the gender-based violence field for over 20 years. I started as a volunteer domestic violence advocate in a police department, and then, while getting a master's in social work, I interned at a shelter. I worked on child welfare and family court policy projects, and that's when I really started to become interested in evidence-based interventions, which led me to a career in research. I've worked at Johns Hopkins University's School of Nursing for the past 15 years. I have managed all sorts of different projects to develop and evaluate lots of different interventions and technology-based interventions that all prevent and respond to intimate partner violence and its hideous consequences.
(02:55):
So that's kind of where my career has led me, but I think a lot of people who work in this field, my connection to this work is really personal. I grew up in a home where my dad abused my mom. My mom, brother, and I were able to escape when I was about five, and we were really only able to do that with the support of my mom's family. I think without that, I can't even imagine what would have happened. She has a big family and brothers who came over, and financial assistance, and we had a place to go to live. And yeah, I don't know what would've happened without that. And it was the early ‘80s, and there just wasn't nearly as much awareness, and shelters had kind of just started. And so my mom is my absolute hero. She's a survivor in every sense of the word, and she's really the reason why I dedicated my career to kind of chipping away at, again, the devastating impacts of relationship violence.
Susie Miller Wendel (04:12):
Yeah, thank you for the work that you're doing. I didn't realize you had been with John Hopkins for 15 years. That's amazing.
Amber Clough (04:19):
I started on one grant, which eventually became myPlan. So, myPlan really started– The early pilot phase was in something like 2006, so it was before this existed. As we talk more about it, it's really an intervention that has evolved to be delivered in the way that people use technology the most. We didn't develop an app for that, as they say. So yeah, it's been in the works for a long time.
Susie Miller Wendel (05:00):
That's awesome. Well, good. Thank you for giving us a little more information about yourself. We're going to jump into some questions here in a second, but before we do that, Heather and I always like to just mention our membership program that we're really excited about, and just kind of speaking to supporting people who are in abusive relationships. We have a membership program called Rise and Thrive Women. Heather, do you want to share a little bit more about that?
Heather Hart (05:23):
Yeah, it's private off social media space for women healing from narcissistic abuse, course of control, and toxic relationships, whether you're still in it, working to leave, or rebuilding your life, doing some self-discovery after there is a place for you there.
Susie Miller Wendel (05:41):
Yes, and there are tons of resources in there. Anything from the workshops we've done, we have bi-monthly live coaching calls, educational materials, and a really great and supportive community forum. So you can get in there and try it out for free for seven days. Right now, it's only 1999, $19 a month. That purse is going to be increasing at the end of September. So if you're interested in getting in there now, Heather and I also offer individual coaching in there as well at a deeply discounted rate. So it definitely pays for itself if coaching is something that you're interested in. So check it out. But with that, I just wanted to start jumping in and talking about myPlan. So first, let's just start with the basics. Amber, can you just explain a little bit more about what the app is and what makes it different from other domestic violence resources?
Amber Clough (06:37):
Yeah. Well, so myPlan is a digital tool. It's an app for people who are experiencing toxic or abusive behavior from a partner or for anyone who's also concerned about a friend or family member with an abusive partner. And the app really assists people to assess the health and safety of their own or a loved one's relationship, and then get personalized strategies in order to make safety decisions and to make a safety plan, regardless of what people's situations are, and also connect to local and national resources. As you had said, it was developed and tested by Johns Hopkins University through research with thousands of survivors and advocates. Experts. Again, it's not an app; it's an intervention that is delivered through mobile devices. And we always say we don't know where it will go next. Maybe it'll be a chip in your head or whatever, weird technology is going to happen, or AI something, but it's for all genders.
Amber Clough (07:46):
It's available in English and Spanish. It's available on Apple devices, Android, and on web browsers as well, and it's free. So that's a little bit about that. Let's see. I think just kind of talking about why myPlan was developed, a little bit in talking about what makes it unique, is that I think we know that the vast majority of people who are being abused by a partner don't reach out for formal services or help. They don't, don't call hotlines, they don't go to shelters. They don't access DV programs. It's a very small number of people who are experiencing abuse who do. And even though the research shows that DV survivors consistently report that accessing safety planning from trained advocates and providers is really effective at reducing violence and increasing well-being. But again, we know that most people don't do this. And so this is where digital resources, myPlan, can help to reach more survivors and empower more people to reach out for support.
(09:00):
I think in that space, some of what makes it unique is that it's not a replacement for a DV advocate or an actual DV service. And so when we kind of think about what makes it unique, I think about it in terms of other online resources or other websites, and there are a lot of websites that have static safety planning information, which is great, just there are tons of information out there. But really, how myPlan is different is that it tailors the safety planning information to the user's specific situation. So if I have children, I'm going to receive in myPlan information about safety for my kids, but if I don't have children, then I won't receive that information, and I won't have to sift through this laundry list of information that doesn't apply to me. Or if I'm L-G-B-T-Q and I have different risk factors that need to be accounted for when assessing for my safety, then different than someone in a heterosexual relationship, then myPlan delivers personalized information based on the user's input.
(10:15):
And what research has shown is that what we've done is tailoring, that is, what really helps survivors to make decisions about their safety. And that's what an advocate does: they do an individualized safety plan, which most static online information or, honestly, some of the other domestic violence apps that are out there, there aren't many. The information isn't tailored to the user. So I think that's the biggest kind of factor, that it's meant to really be more, again, it is nothing like an actual DV advocate, but more mimics that kind of individualized safety plan. So that's one piece. Oh, sorry, I have more. I could talk about it all day. So
Susie Miller Wendel (11:04):
No, we want to hear it; all the details
Heather Hart (11:07):
As you're talking. It sounds incredible. And I mean the amount of value, the amount of time and effort to make it just right for users, and still be a free app, completely blows my mind if needed. It's necessary, but it is blowing my mind. Sorry, please continue the question, but if you want to pivot it to the science behind decision making, or you can keep talking, it's up to you.
Amber Clough (11:41):
Yeah, I mean, I think the other things that make it unique are that it is evidence-based, and it was developed with survivors and advocates, but it's also been rigorously effectiveness tested in research trials. This is not something that is done with a lot of resources, and definitely not digital resources. I was looking recently, and I think digital health apps are less than 1%. There are hundreds of thousands, and it's something like less than 1% have been effectiveness tested. So we followed over a thousand people with abusive partners over a year and measured outcomes. And to see how myPlan helps, does it help, does it hurt? What does it do? And this is super unique among interventions, particularly again, any sort of digital health or behavioral health intervention. We have this research backing it, which again is pretty unique. And I think the other thing is that even though this isn't unique to DV advocacy, we do see a lot of online content for survivors that is hyper-focused on leaving a relationship. And myPlan really focuses on safety and well-being rather than leaving. There's so much messaging to survivors that leaving is the goal, and obviously, that is likely the ideal outcome eventually, but it's not realistic. It's not safe for everyone. So we really try to be mindful of language and have myPlan be for people who are in all phases of a relationship, and to increase safety while still in the relationship or contemplating. So I think that's another piece as well.
Susie Miller Wendel (13:34):
That's great. Yeah, it's really clear that so much time and effort and care went into the development of the app, so it's really, really neat to see. So I thought next we could just kind of walk our viewers through what they can expect when they open the app. So if you can just kind of cover what some of the key features are. I'll pull up, I know you shared a little screenshot with me of what it looks like when you open the app. So could you just walk us through some of those key features?
Amber Clough (14:04):
Yeah, sure. So the first thing that happens when users come in, and kind of get a little introduction, is that they set a pin code, which keeps the app contents private. And then the first thing to do is that users won't answer questions about themselves, their relationship, and their situation. And this is used to tailor the contents of the rest of the app. So again, questions like, do you have kids where the answer will deliver different information for people who answer that yes versus people who answer that no. And then from there, the user can explore sections. But my relationship section contains a series of different assessments and exercises that really help a user to see their relationship more clearly. Are they seeing red flags for abuse? Is their relationship dangerous? What does a healthy relationship look like? What are their priorities when making decisions about their relationship?
(15:09):
One of the key features of myPlan in how it was developed is that it was developed based on the science of decision making. And so it is really meant to help people to move forward in making safety decisions. And that I can talk a whole bunch about the weird science about that more, but it's really meant to help people make decisions about their relationship and about their safety. And one of the components of that, my relationship section, is the danger assessment. So this is a super important component. It's an assessment developed through research by Dr. Jackie Campbell at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. It's been around for a lot of years. It was developed to really educate survivors about the risk factors for serious injury or homicide. So that can be really hard and scary to think about, but again, we've done tons and tons of testing with thousands of people with this app.
(16:18):
And survivors always say that it's more important to have that information, even though it's scary. So really, this section kind of gives people the ability to think through, are these things that I'm seeing, are they toxic? Are they dangerous? What's happening? And kind of gives some language and validating language and information about that. So that's kind of that section. And then there's my strategies section. So this is where users get strategies that are tailored based on their answers to the other assessments. And the more assessments you answer, the more tailored the app content becomes to you. And the strategies are really tailored options for people to try to increase their safety and well-being. So strategy might be something, a common safety planning strategy, like developing a code if you're in danger to let other people know. And that strategy includes a video example of what making a code and telling people using the code looks like, or there are strategies like where to find emergency contraception or for STI testing for users who indicate they've experienced sexual assault or coercion, and there are strategies about how to make a self-care plan.
(17:49):
So it's kind of varied and again, based on the user's input. The other section that's also based on user input is the my resources section. This contains a list of national resources, as well as the ability to enter a zip code to get a list of local domestic violence organizations. And we have a connection. The resources that are delivered are directly from the National Domestic Violence Hotline. We have a partnership with them. And so their resources, their resource database, is what is populated for local resources. And then the last section is called My learning, and this has options for learning more about just about relationship violence. This really came from our users. We did not start with this section, and they're like, whoa, we're taking all these scary assessments that are telling us about how toxic our relationship is, but we also want some education about it in general. So we have activities to go through myths and facts or definitions of abuse, frequently asked questions, things like that. And again, all of this really came from development with survivors. So those are the main sections of the app and what people can get and expect in there.
Susie Miller Wendel (19:19):
Awesome. So many great features.
Heather Hart (19:21):
Yeah, I just want to say, so all of the things that you're talking about are the main struggles, even asking questions to get very specific about their experience, that's helping just for folks listening, that helps people who are in abusive relationships, this experience becomes normal for them. They become immune to the chaos that happens, and it's almost like a normal day for them, whereas someone from the outside could walk in and be like, oh my God, what are you doing? And so I love that this app asks all of those questions because it takes most of the people who are in active abuse, even if they suspect they're in abuse, and they can't do anything about it, they are unaware, consciously unaware. And I really love that this app helps get to the bottom of finding that clarity and checking off boxes to help them very clearly say, yes, this is abuse. This isn't healthy. But it also says, here's some education so that you can learn about what this means. And that's a really big piece of validation. A lot of people who are subjected to abuse are isolated, so they don't even realize that there are so many other people. Well, one, that there are terms for the things that they're experiencing, but I love that it encompasses all of that, the clarity, the safety assessment, and the validation behind the learning and the education.
Susie Miller Wendel (21:01):
Wow, so great. Yeah.
Amber Clough (21:04):
Yeah. It's in doing research with survivors for so long, I mean, sitting down with people and just having them say, if you are asking me these questions, this means this is happening to other people. This means that these are things that other people are experiencing. I mean, this is things that I've had survivors say a billion times, is, oh my God, this is not just happening to me. Or just by virtue of being asked the question. So going through the questions alone can be super, super powerful for people. For some people, they're like, yeah, I know this is awful, and he's so dangerous. Tell me something. I don't know for sure. But for a lot of people, where you guys know by design, an abusive partner is making you think it's normal or it's your fault or all the things.
Susie Miller Wendel (22:03):
Absolutely.
Heather Hart (22:04):
So myPlan is intentionally designed with safety in mind. What are some of the built-in safety mechanisms that help survivors avoid risk while they're using this app? Right? Because a lot, and I can't wait to share this on my other social platforms because I get comments constantly. I can't have a Zoom call or whatever because they're not even allowed. Their phones are being monitored constantly. And so with this myPlan app, obviously, it's on a phone, and if they're with abusive people, a lot of them through the phone. So, could you help us understand what kind of safety mechanisms are in place to avoid those sorts of risks?
Amber Clough (22:47):
Yes. Yeah, thank you for asking this. I mean, it's super important, like you said, to talk about survivors accessing any content on a device safely, as it is more common than not for people to monitor their partner's devices and online activity by abusive partners. So first of all, we know that myPlan will not be safe or accessible for everyone. We have worked super closely with survivors advocates and tech safety experts to mitigate as much of the risk as possible, but there will always be risk. So I'll talk a little bit about the built-in safety features to mitigate that risk, but again, knowing that if somebody is monitoring a device, it's not going to be completely safe. So I mean, the first thing is that myPlan use is anonymous. There's no account set up, there's no identifying information requested, and no data is ever shared, so you're not putting your name or any information into anything.
(24:02):
We have safety information in the app stores, not our website, prior to downloading or use and tech safety information. So we think about safety as before, during, and after use, basically. And so, users, another safety feature is accessibility: it's available as a downloadable app or in a web browser. So in our initial research, when we were testing with survivors, some survivors are like, I have a secret phone work phone that I can totally use that he has no access to. Or survivors are like, oh, I could never use a phone, but I have a friend's computer that I can use. And so having both options allows for more people to be able to
(25:00):
Use IT. Safety, it's more expensive for us to have three versions of the app, basically as far as Android, Apple, and a web browser version, but it really is a safety feature. There are a couple of built-in things, like we have the pin code to keep the contents private, and then when users go in, they are also told about a dummy pin. So if the app is discovered and somebody is forced to log in, they can enter in a specific code, and the contents of the app are innocuous and don't talk about abusive partners. So there's a quick exit button on all the pages, and there are a couple of other safety features, like on an Apple device. You can change the home screen icon so it looks different. Again, just one more little thing that can kind of distance the connection between what it is. Again, it's not hard to look up myPlan and see our logo and all of these things, which is the same as the domestic violence hotline if you were accessing their website or anything online on a device that's being monitored.
(26:21):
So, trying to just have as many of those kinds of built-in features as possible, but we really recommend that people use myPlan on a device that their partner doesn't and won't have access to. Again, this certainly also isn't a guarantee that your partner won't discover your activity. There are all sorts of creepy, creepy that abuse people do to get access to devices and cloning and all the things. And there's actually this really amazing company called Loop Solutions. They have developed a way for survivors to secretly communicate and to look at content on their device through this hidden feature, but you have to get access through a DV program. That's kind of the only way to ensure that it's a survivor and not an abuser that's getting access to it. But they have really solved this problem, and we have a partnership with them. So myPlan is behind their secret wall that they have developed, but again, you have to be working with a DV program and a DV program that has subscribed to their service. But anyway, Loop Solutions, if you're a DV program watching this, look into them; they're incredible, and they've really solved this problem.
Heather Hart (27:40):
Okay. Actually, I wouldn't mind getting that information from you whenever we
Amber Clough (27:43):
Yeah,
Susie Miller Wendel (27:45):
I haven't heard of that either.
Heather Hart (27:47):
Yeah, I've been part of my local chamber and talking to different domestic abuse advocates, I'll say that, and some nonprofits, so I'd love to learn more.
Amber Clough (27:59):
Yeah, yeah, they're really, really amazing, and I can definitely put you in touch with them. And again, they have solved the problem. They have figured it out.
Susie Miller Wendel (28:09):
That's awesome. Great. Well, I'm sure as diligent as John Hopkins was and you were in developing the app, I'm assuming they're as diligent in tracking the success rate or the metrics of how this app has helped people in planning their escape safely. Is there anything that you're able to share there, just in terms of how the app has been helping survivors?
Amber Clough (28:39):
So again, we have these randomized controlled trials where we really compared myPlan with users to people who use more online static safety planning. And some of the main outcomes were that people who use MyPlan had again, this whole science of decision-making involved in the creation of the app, and that people had reduced decisional conflict, which increases our ability to move forward with decisions. And so we had found that it really did what it was designed to do, which is reduce that uncertainty and how to move forward next, and be able to move forward with safety decisions. It increased the number of safety strategies that survivors use and was helpful for their safety and well-being. This was not an intended outcome, but it did increase the likelihood of leaving an abusive partner safely. So that was incredible and again, not expected. And then for younger people in our samples, it reduced the risk of suicidality, which is humongous.
(29:57):
Again, it's so connected to such a huge correlation with abuse. So that was also an unexpected and good, promising outcome. And then I think besides the data we hear from users all the time, and the most common words that we hear, and this is something you had said, Heather, is that we hear that myPlan gave me clarity or it opened my eyes. We have users who say they didn't know about making a safety plan, and they never thought about it before. They stumbled across myPlan, or it gave them the courage to make a change. And we absolutely have people who say that it saved their life, and again, it's not going to do that for everybody, but it's one kind of tool in the toolbox that we're trying to reach more people with. Absolutely.
Heather Hart (30:53):
Well, and at their leisure, I mean, it really is, sorry, it's incredible, but it's like when you are in active abuse and one, how could you take the time out of your day and really think clearly about how the hell do I get out of this when all you're doing is dealing with not stepping on those landmines every day, but two, it's like you download the app and you answer the questions and it almost at their fingertips when they need it, so they don't have to be in it all the time, but it is almost like a constant reminder of when something happens, they have this myPlan app that can be disguised as anything, and they can go to it when they feel like they need resources and it's at their leisure, so they're not pressured by a person to get out right now because it doesn't feel safe. And I think it's incredible, but I love that it provides that clarity, and it just gives them the safety of knowing it's there when they need it, when they're ready to leave, they can. And even if they don't leave, they still have some form of resources to feel safe in their body and figure out how to survive while they're in this relationship. So
Susie Miller Wendel (32:25):
Yeah, a hundred percent.
Heather Hart (32:28):
So in terms of domestic violence advocates, they're such a crucial part of healing journeys. How can advocates use myPlan in their work with clients? I think we talked about it a little bit, but if there's any other information you have to share, we'd love to hear it.
Amber Clough (32:49):
Yeah, again, we develop myPlan. It's really intended to encourage survivors who are not going to seek services to reach out, to train advocates for support. I really want to acknowledge that an app is absolutely AI or whatever. It's absolutely not a replacement for a DV advocate, the care and knowledge that the advocates provide, and that individualized support that they can provide. So it was quite surprising, I think when we started to hear from DV agencies who were using MyPlan in their work, and we've heard that people have used it. There are so many different kinds of advocates that are co-located in police stations and health centers, and things where they might really have just very limited engagement with clients who they only see briefly, where they're not able to sit down and do individualized safety planning. So we've heard from a lot of DV organizations that they'll hand myPlan as a quick resource to survivors who don't have the ability to spend the time with.
(34:02):
Some are going through myPlan with clients together, they're using the assessments to facilitate their discussions, especially we've heard the danger assessment questions, those can be really difficult, and having survivors be able to go through it on their own, we have heard has been useful. Some agencies are using it to train new advocates, and then we've also heard that people are suggesting it to their community partners. So when they work with folks in the community who aren't trained DV advocates, they're like, here's something that you can use as a quick hand to people resources if they're not interested or ready and connecting to us. So we have a toolkit. We worked with a number of advocates to develop a toolkit. It's on our website that has, again, kind of free resources to help integrate myPlan into their existing services, and where it makes sense.
Susie Miller Wendel (35:15):
Very cool. What about at the beginning of the episode, we talked about potentially family members and friends being able to benefit from this app if they have a loved one that they're concerned about. Anything additional you'd want to say there, and how this app can be a resource for those types of individuals?
Amber Clough (35:32):
Yeah, again, the majority of people do not reach out to services. They tell a friend, they tell a family member, we know this very, very clearly. And so the first question that you are asked when you go into myPlan is if you're using it for yourself or a friend or family member, and then you're taken to the friends and family version of the app. And so those strategies there are really more focused on how best to support someone, like how to bring up that you're concerned, how to be an active listener using validating, nonjudgmental language, taking care of yourself, those sorts of things. The research on friends and supporters is that they more often than not don't know how to be an effective support, and they have difficulty deciding if and how to intervene. And so that's where myPlan can help with that decision-making and preparedness.
(36:31):
And again, we did a randomized control trial where we tested this, and that is exactly what happened. It is also a prevention component in that when you are educating more people, so I'm not in an abusive relationship, but my friend is, and when you're educating folks about it, another piece of an outcome from that research is that the friends felt more prepared. If I were in an abusive relationship, I would know where to turn. I would know what to do for myself, and I would be more comfortable reaching out for help. So yeah, just the more people who also know how to be nonjudgmental and validating is so hard, and especially in these situations where you care about somebody so much. And so really trying to help people understand how to be that support without alienating their friend or family member.
Susie Miller Wendel (37:33):
Oh, that's really amazing too. Very cool.
Heather Hart (37:38):
Yeah, I actually get that question a lot, too. When I'm networking, everyone knows someone, right? Everyone. Someone who is stuck in a situation and they're like, what do I do? A lot of mothers, too, they're like, what do I do? And then one thing that I always say is, you need to let 'em know that you believe them and you need to validate them and do everything you can to avoid sounding judgmental. I mean, that's the number one thing, is say, “I believe you,” and don't say, “Why don't you just leave?” That's the worst thing to say to someone who's in active abuse is why don't you just leave?
Amber Clough (38:22):
Yeah, for sure. Yeah, really letting people come to their own decisions in their own time. And again, the DV advocacy community is that they treat survivors like they're the experts on their own lives, and that's the way.
Heather Hart (38:43):
So we know not every tool works for every person. What are some of the limitations of myPlan? I think we talked about some of this, but in terms of limitations of myPlan, the people who should be aware of,
Amber Clough (38:56):
Yeah. Yes. myPlan is not accessible, or safe, or right for everyone. And again, this is true of any resource or service, just like a shelter isn't accessible, or safe, or right for everyone. Again, it's limited in that users need to have access to a device with internet access that is safe for them to use. Not everybody has that. I think we've continued to iterate myPlan to include all genders to be available in Spanish, but we have a wishlist. I am not even joking, it's a mile long of how we would like to expand access. There's more that we could do for low literacy or people with disabilities, and it's all just a matter of resources. Maintaining an app is unbelievably expensive, which is a thing that people do not realize. So there's so much that can be done. I think also, I would say that again, hearing from users and that myPlan also isn't going to be useful for survivors who are very clear that their partner is abusive and they have called hotlines.
(40:11):
They have access to resources. They know about safety planning. They know they need safe housing, financial resources, and legal help to take that next step. This is, I think, a tool for really people who are earlier in the process, who might not be clear or kind of contemplating, is this behavior I'm seeing toxic or dangerous, and what do I do next? Or maybe they aren't aware that there are resources. We definitely hear from people who are like, yeah, I've called the hotline 15 times, or I've worked with my local DV advocates. I need a safe place to live, and this isn't going to do that.
(40:47):
So, really getting more for that, more pre-contemplation kind of contemplation time.
Susie Miller Wendel (40:56):
Yeah, that makes sense. Awesome. Well, this was such great information. I think it's going to be helpful to so many, so I'm so glad we were able to spend some time talking about it. Is there anything that we didn't touch on that you want to mention before we wrap up and tell people how to find myPlan?
Amber Clough (41:15):
Oh, I forgot to mention, I feel like this is important that I did not come up with myPlan. This was all developed by and started with the genius idea of Dr. Nancy Glass. She's a global gender-based violence expert, and my boss at Johns Hopkins University, and she really had the foresight before iPhones existed to build this digital resource. And I just get to kind of execute the vision. Yeah, just want to shout out to her.
Susie Miller Wendel (41:50):
Awesome. Good. Well, can you just share if people do want to learn more information or access the app? I'm assuming App Store, but any other places people could look for just more general information about myPlan?
Amber Clough (42:04):
Yeah. Yeah. Our website is myPlan app.org. You can go there to get information and to get the app, the links to all the different platforms. We have a blog where we put out information. There's kind of all sorts of stuff on there. You can follow us on social media at myPlan app on all the things, and can definitely email us with any questions or feedback. We love to get feedback, and we are constantly iterating and incorporating feedback. And there's a contact form on our website, or our email address is info@myplanapp.org.
Heather Hart (42:43):
Great. What about support efforts? I used to work in technology implementation, so in the back of my mind, I'm like, how is this funded? Is there a way that we can support the effort? I mean, this is a really amazing tool. Is there a way to support the initiative?
Amber Clough (43:04):
Yes, yes. Oh my gosh. And again, this is another two hours of conversation about our very unsustainable funding. Very not sustainable. So we have a donation link on our website, which goes through Johns Hopkins, but comes directly to us. And so we do get donor support, which is very helpful. And other than that, we have grants and various other slap-together things trying to keep it going. But it, it's interesting, the funding landscape, people love to fund things that are new and innovative, and less so on things that are established and maintenance turns out. So yes. But yes, we have donor support, and there's a link on our website, and we would be thrilled for any amount of support.
Heather Hart (44:07):
Awesome. I know that wasn't on the questions, but good question. I think it's important that we push that these sorts of things, these nonprofits, these free things, they are paid somehow, some way, some form, and it takes people who actually personally cares deeply about the work and in making sure it's accessible to people. So I just wanted to make sure we got that out there.
Amber Clough (44:31):
Yes, thank you. It is an ongoing struggle.
Heather Hart (44:36):
I'm sure.
Susie Miller Wendel (44:37):
Labor of love.
Heather Hart (44:38):
Yeah. Well, we are going to go ahead and close up. I'm assuming we don't have any questions on your end. Susie,
Susie Miller Wendel (44:43):
I didn't see any come through. I was going to ask you the same, no questions from your side.
Heather Hart (44:46):
We just want to comment from Hillary. I thank you, Hillary, for tuning in, and I saw Amy join, too. Amy, we've missed you. Hi, Amy. So, Hillary was just praising the tool and thanking you for the work and having it available for people to use.
Amber Clough (45:06):
Awesome.
Susie Miller Wendel (45:06):
Yeah.
Heather Hart (45:07):
So thank you all for joining us on this episode of Rise and Thrive Women. We hope today's conversation has inspired you to take charge of your healing journey. Whether it's a new perspective, renewed hope, or the courage to move forward, it is something worth celebrating.
Susie Miller Wendel (45:22):
And remember, your story is still unfolding in your past. Does not define you within your life, strength, power, and limitless potential. So embrace it, trust, and follow your intuition with courage. Be bold, be brave, and always trust yourself. Until we meet again, take care, rise above, and thrive. You've got this. Bye everybody. Thank you, Amber.
Amber Clough (45:42):
Thank you so much.
Find and connect with myPlan!
