Over the past fourteen months, AT&T has hosted nearly 30 events across Massachusetts and Rhode Island to share invaluable digital safety resources with domestic violence survivors and advocates. 

Launched in February 2025 at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, the AT&T domestic violence digital safety initiative covers important digital safety information related to wireless accounts, devices, apps, hardware and software for survivors and those who serve them. 

Through both in-person and virtual presentations, the initiative has reached more than 700 first responders, prosecutors, government officials, elected officials, health care providers, social workers, advocates and more. Engagement at each event has been thorough, overwhelmingly positive and has led to requests for additional presentations. 

Presentations have been held across both states, including Newport and Warwick, Rhode Island, Roger Williams University, Boston, Lowell, Gardner, Needham, Worcester and more. 

Supplementing the initiative, AT&T provided 50 refurbished laptops at the end of last year to Jane Doe Inc. (JDI), Alianza DV Services, Inc., and other regional domestic violence advocacy organizations in Western Massachusetts to distribute to survivors in need.

The effort has even led to statewide recognition for AT&T and Edmund Donnelly, Director of External Affairs who led the creation and execution of the initiative. The statewide Massachusetts advocacy organization Jane Doe Inc. presented Ed and AT&T with their Corporate Ally Award on May 5, 2026, to recognize the digital safety program’s continued impact. We are grateful to Ed for his innovative thinking and dedication to the issue, which drove the development of the initiative and has made its implementation so impactful for so many communities.

AT&T hosted its most recent domestic violence digital safety initiative presentation in Central Falls, Rhode Island for that community’s domestic violence task force and local leaders. Both the Mayor and Police Chief attended and provided opening remarks to the group of more than 25 people, which included CFPD detectives, social workers, religious leaders and representatives from the school department. AT&T was invited to come back to the city in October to speak at a Domestic Violence Awareness Month event.

Numerous additional presentations are scheduled for this year, including upcoming events on the South Shore of Massachusetts. 

Through presentations and related digital and handout materials, AT&T’s domestic violence digital safety initiative addresses the operation of shared accounts, settings on a device that are relevant in domestic violence situations, and information concerning app usage. The presentations also highlight The Safe Connections Act, a recently-enacted federal law that makes it easier for survivors on a shared cell phone account to remove themselves or an alleged abuser from an account.

The initiative was created in collaboration with the regional domestic violence survivor advocacy community and public safety. We thank all the advocates, organizations and first responders who worked with us to bring this information together. 

“As the Massachusetts coalition against sexual assault and domestic violence, you will hear us say again and again that abuse thrives in isolation. Connection is the antidote – and one key to a survivor’s ability to foster their own resilience and to thrive,” said Hema Sarang-Sieminski, Executive Director of Jane Doe Inc. “Technology should be a tool for connection – to loved ones and services, to work and school – not an instrument of violence. We are grateful to AT&T for so thoughtfully responding to the needs of survivors and advocates through the development of this initiative.”

AT&T has a longstanding relationship with public safety and public health through FirstNet®, Built with AT&T, the only wireless network built with and for America’s first responders. With FirstNet, the company works closely with first responders and the extended public safety community and provides a variety of innovative resources, technology and training.

More information can be found at: https://www.attconnects.com/getting-digital-safety-resources-in-more-hands/ 

Additional resources can be found at:

• Passageway: https://www.brighamandwomens.org/about-bwh/community-health-equity/passageway-domestic-abuse-intervention-and-prevention 

• HAVEN: https://www.massgeneral.org/social-service/haven 

• Jane Doe, Inc.: https://www.janedoe.org/ 

• National Network to End Domestic Violence: https://nnedv.org/content/technology-safety/  

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
• Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center: https://www.ebccenter.org/