We Come To You - 24/7
Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team (DVERT™) is an advocate-initiated response that responds 24/7/365 to survivors on scene of Domestic Violence Incidents (DVI). Through DVERT, survivors are met on scene, in the moment of danger, with a trauma-informed crisis intervention response from a trained advocate.
DVERT focuses on the survivor and often their children, to map them to immediate safety and wrap-around services for support. When a survivor meets with a DVERT advocate, at least 12 other WHW services can be initiated to provide additional support.
DVERT advocates provide real, tangible support to survivors including immediate safety planning, immediate connection to shelter and hotels or other relocation, showing up on scene with supplies for survivors and their families as well as food cards/financial assistance, connecting survivors to referring to emergency services like shelter and food, court assistance, helping survivors access victim notification services (system when abusers are released from jail), and therapy.
Survivors who work with an advocate experience less violence over time, report a higher quality of life and social support, and have less difficulty obtaining community resources.
In its first year of the program in 2018, CPD’s use of DVERT Advocates increased from 6% to over 90% (typically 100%), which spotlights a clear cultural shift within law enforcement agencies to partner with advocates to provide more services to survivors. Our program is independently evaluated by researchers at the University of Cincinnati, and in its first year, it was deemed as an innovative, evidence-based best practice that should be taken to scale nationally.
Facts & Statistics
Identify as African American
Identify as Female
Identify as Male
Identify as LGBTQIA+
Of responses are to a woman with 1 or more children in the home
Of the survivors that DVERT met on scene had never worked with a victim service agency before, even though many had dealt with law enforcement in the past
DVERT In the News
Statement from Women Helping Women in Response to the Tragedy in Shreveport, Louisiana
Statement from Women Helping Women in Response to the Tragedy in Shreveport, Louisiana
Read More
Women Helping Women’s Journey to Joy
Women Helping Women’s Journey to Joy
Read More
Women Helping Women offers survivors autonomy, empowerment
