When we talk about technology in healthcare, we often picture robots assisting in surgery, AI helping diagnose, or advanced imaging equipment. But sometimes the most transformative innovations aren’t about the most expensive machines; they’re about giving people in crisis a framework of structure, safety and trust.
That’s exactly what we’re building in Phoenix through the partnership between Where Hope Lives, a recovery center for human trafficking survivors, and Cyber Dive, the technology company specializing in modern transparent screens. Together, we’re creating the nation’s first technology-integrated inpatient treatment center management system — a digital backbone that connects every aspect of resident care.
For trafficking survivors, recovery isn’t just about therapy sessions or safe housing. It’s about rebuilding a life in a world dominated by screens and constant connectivity that are often a large part of controlling and exploiting these people. Phones, laptops and apps can be both a lifeline and a landmine. For providers, that means an impossible balancing act: How do we let survivors reconnect with technology without opening the door to re-traumatization, predators or relapse?
Historically, the answer was restriction: Confiscate phones. Block internet access. Limit communication. But restriction alone doesn’t teach someone how to live freely in the digital world — it teaches them how to live without it, and it causes 60% of trafficking victims to refuse getting rescued, all because they want to keep their phone rather than give it up.
Our system flips that model. Every resident at Where Hope Lives receives a carefully structured set of devices: a Cyber Dive Aqua One smartphone, a laptop or tablet, a biometric device like an Oura ring, and a smart TV.
The Aqua One smartphone, tablet and TV come equipped with Instant Replay, which records everything happening on the device — every message, search, watch, like, comment or app interaction. Staff can review activity — not to shame but to guide and mentor survivors. When a resident stumbles, counselors don’t see just the result but also the process, the trigger and every digital breadcrumb that led there.
Biometric devices track sleep and stress levels, giving clinicians insight into a resident’s overall well-being. TVs and laptops are restricted in ways that align with recovery phases, creating a rhythm of freedom and accountability.
But the most incredible innovation is that all this data flows into a centralized dashboard, which functions like a hospital command center. Staff can view progress on where each resident is in their recovery phase, what daily tasks they’ve completed, and whether any red flags have appeared.
Medical providers see health records in real time. Behavioral health staff see usage patterns that reveal moments of crisis. Case managers see daily checklists that measure progress. Everyone, from therapists to administrators, works from the same exact source of truth.
That kind of integration means fewer gaps, faster interventions and more personalized care.
Of course, when working with survivors of trafficking, security is non-negotiable. Every detail of this system is built with trauma-informed design: encryption for sensitive data, role-based access for staff, and HIPAA compliance at every level.
Just as importantly, the design is built for dignity. Survivors aren’t stripped of technology; they’re empowered with it. Instead of feeling like control is taken from them, they’re shown how to navigate technology in healthy, safe and transparent ways.
The model we’re building at Where Hope Lives can be replicated in treatment facilities nationwide — whether for trafficking survivors, substance recovery or youth in crisis. It’s scalable, exportable and ready to evolve with AI-driven insights that can help predict risks before they escalate.
At its heart, this project is about more than software or devices. It’s about rewriting the story for survivors — proving that technology can be a partner in healing, not a threat to it. Because for the residents of Where Hope Lives, technology isn’t just a tool. It’s a bridge. A bridge from fear to freedom. From isolation to connection. From surviving to truly living.
Derek Jackson is COO of Cyber Dive.
