The mission of the Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team (DVERT) is to create a community free from domestic violence by providing an effective collaborative, multi-agency response through intervention and education focused on safety and accountability.
We believe that DVERT represents a model of inter-agency collaboration. Through the collaborative process, DVERT has made possible several forms of intervention with domestic violence victims and offenders.
DVERT's primary service is providing a multidisciplinary response to families throughout El Paso and Teller Counties in Colorado. Cases enter DVERT through referrals, outreach, and requests for immediate response to a domestic violence crisis. Referred cases are reviewed by law enforcement, victim advocacy, and child welfare/child advocacy professionals. DVERT only serves cases with active elements of domestic violence. Cases that do no seem appropriate for DVERT may receive no follow-up. When no follow-up is to occur, the referring party will be notified and given the opportunity to present addtional information that may be brought back to DVERT for further consideration.
Cases that are accepted by DVERT are managed on the Intensive caseload. Cases assigned to this caseload receive a response including full team contact with the victim, child, and offender. During this process assessment for additional charges, enhancement of charges, or other legal interventions are explored. The victim will have the opportunity to receive confidential advocacy and safety planning from a community based victim advocate and referral to services. Department of Human Service caseworkers will assess the safety and welfare of the children and make referrals and recommendations to assist the non-offending parent and child. The non-systems child advocate is involved in safety planning and referrals to services such as supervised exchange and parenting time and advocacy for children in Dependency and Neglect court proceedings.
DVERT is nationally recognized for its innovations in addressing domestic violence. To more comprehensively address the issue of domestic violence in the Pikes Peak Region, DVERT has developed several programs outside of the traditional, multidisciplinary response.
Download DVERT Program Description (Brief)
Download DVERT Program Description (Full)
