History, Mission & Goals

History:

In 1998, a series of particularly violent domestic assaults occurred in Longmont in which victims had not sought help in leaving or changing a long standing abusive relationship. These assaults significantly impacted our community. As a direct result, a coordinated community-wide awareness and response to domestic violence was developed. The result was LEVI (Longmont Ending Violence Initiative), a collaborative group of over 30 agencies that provide resources to combat domestic violence.

Mission, Vision & Goals

MISSION STATEMENT: To establish a coordinated community-wide awareness and response to domestic violence in the boundaries of the St. Vrain School District, primarily Longmont.

VISION: LEVI acknowledges domestic violence is a serious and prevalent social problem affecting the quality of life in the City of Longmont. We desire to provide our residents with easy access to quality services as well as the tools to aid friends, relatives and co-workers when signs of domestic violence exist. We firmly believe, working in unison, we can work effectively to bring attention to domestic violence in our neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces.

GOALS:
• PREVENTION/EDUCATION. Empower the community to end domestic violence through educational and informative presentations, trainings and public events.
• ACCESS/REFERRALS. Identify resources and respond to gaps in order to provide access to services for those seeking assistance in understanding, or stopping domestic violence.
• PUBLIC INFORMATION. Heighten community awareness and action, as well as change public opinion and social behavior toward domestic violence through one-way communication methods.

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Longmont Research:

After a series of extremely violent domestic assaults that took place in 1998 and 1999 in Longmont, LEVI began a comprehensive study in order to address the issue of domestic violence. Much information was gathered by this study, and the report formulated the direction LEVI was to take in our community:

Information gathered by the study:

  • Over half of the Longmont community has had some personal experience that has impacted their attitude about domestic violence.
  • Community believes the police can’t solve the problem alone nor should they.
  • One-third of the Longmont community has witnessed a domestic violence incident.
  • People don’t help because they believe it is someone else’s responsibility.
  • Most domestic violence victims first look to friends and relatives for help.
  • People do help when they are directly asked to help, or because the situation is so serious that they feel they must do something.

LEVI wants you as a friend, relative, or a co-worker to know how to effectively intervene early on and direct a victim or abuser to the resources which can help stop this behavioral pattern. LEVI currently provides the Longmont community with several resources: 1) a one-stop referral point for non-emergency access to domestic violence resources, 2) prevention/education materials for friends, relatives, and co-workers to assist a victim or an abuser to seek help and 3) public information to heighten community awareness and change public opinion and social behavior toward domestic violence.

Through our combined efforts LEVI can help anyone find a path to effective resources and services for themselves or others they care about.