DC Domestic Violence Organization Equips Staff with Silent Beacon Safety Technology

My Sister's Place, Washington D.C.'s oldest domestic violence organization, has partnered with Maryland-based Silent Beacon to equip its staff with wearable safety devices that can call 911 and share live GPS location at the touch of a button. This collaboration represents a significant advancement in protecting frontline workers who regularly face challenging and high-risk situations while serving domestic violence survivors in shelters, during home visits, and through community outreach programs.

Krista McDaniel, Interim Executive Director of My Sister's Place, emphasized the critical nature of this technology for staff safety. "Our staff works with survivors of domestic violence every day in challenging or high-risk situations," McDaniel stated. "It's critical that our team can reach help the moment a problem arises, because every second matters in an emergency. Silent Beacon's wearable panic button provides a simple, discreet way to alert emergency contacts or 911, giving our team greater peace of mind as they carry out this vital work."

The Silent Beacon device features a "Silent Mode" that allows users to send alerts without making any sound, preventing potential attackers from realizing that help has been summoned. This discreet functionality is particularly important in domestic violence situations where alerting an abuser could escalate danger. The technology addresses urgent safety needs in a field where domestic violence remains a national crisis, affecting 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men in the United States according to national statistics.

Recent data shows that 24 people per minute experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner, totaling more than 12 million people annually. While most violent crime rates are declining, domestic violence incidents have increased by 3% in the first half of the year, highlighting the growing need for innovative safety measures for both survivors and those who serve them.

McDaniel reported that staff members have expressed increased confidence in conducting their work since receiving the Silent Beacon devices. "After equipping our staff with Silent Beacon, they've said they feel more confident conducting home visits, outreach, and community work with survivors of domestic violence," she noted. "Knowing they have a discreet, reliable way to reach help allows them to focus fully on supporting survivors, rather than worrying about their own safety."

Silent Beacon was founded by entrepreneur Kenny Kelley, who developed the technology after surviving a near-fatal motorcycle crash that left him unable to call for help. Kelley explained the company's mission: "Technology has the power to save lives, but only if it's simple enough to use in an emergency. We designed Silent Beacon to help people feel safer and more connected, whether they're a survivor, a social worker, or someone walking to their car late at night." The technology is now used across multiple industries including healthcare, education, government, and construction.

My Sister's Place hopes this partnership will serve as a model for other social service organizations. McDaniel emphasized that "prioritizing staff safety is essential" for frontline workers who are often the first to respond in crisis situations. By investing in safety technology like Silent Beacon, the organization demonstrates that caring for staff who work directly with survivors is central to their mission, showing how innovation can enhance safety and support efforts to combat domestic violence.