Coaware

About Coaware

Our application, Coaware, has two simple tabs designed for child abuse: Signs and Symptoms, along with Emergency Contacts.

Signs and Symptoms is a simple tab that uses a layout to detail the various red flags that may be evident during situations of child abuse. The idea here is that individuals, such as neighbors, will be able to have an emergency ‘pocketbook’ that they can refer to if they are ever suspicious. Although it may seem trivial, having a resource as accessible as a mobile application can help individuals raise awareness to prevent further abuse and neglect. All of the signs of symptoms on the mobile app are from the Mayo Clinic. (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/child-abuse/symptoms-causes/syc-20370864).

The second tab, Emergency Contacts, shows a plethora of emergency contacts and hotlines that specialize in the abuse and neglect of children. In a case study that we performed, we found that the majority of individuals that we surveyed did not know who to contact in cases and situations to report child abuse. The lack of awareness of these resources hinders the ability of the public to effectively address the problem. The public is often unsure or unaware as to what to even do in the appropriate situation, so we linked to various National Child Abuse hotlines in the app. Hence, individuals know exactly where to contact in a critical condition. The vast majority of the time, individuals can reach out to these hotlines in an anonymous fashion, for added privacy.