Mission, Vision, Values

COVOST Mission:

The mission of the Colorado Virtual Operations Support Team (COVOST) is to lead and support the State of Colorado and our local Colorado communities through the innovative use of social media and other online tools.

COVOST Vision:

The vision of the Colorado Virtual Operations Support Team (COVOST) is to provide the State of Colorado and our local Colorado communities a powerful and effective team of trusted agents whose mission is to support public information, operations, and information gathering efforts through an innovatively effective, efficient and elegant use of social media and other online or ‘virtual’ tools.

COVOST Values:

The Colorado Virtual Operations Support Team’s continues to subscribe to the original values held by the preceding JeffcoVOST.  These values closely mirror the values of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Integrity - COVOST members will act in a manner that reflects the highest integrity – this includes behavior and actions taken in the real world as well as in the virtual world.

Innovation - COVOST members will engage the virtual world in an innovatively effective, efficient and elegant manner thereby offering the State of Colorado and our local communities the ability to fully benefit from the continuously changing virtual landscape.

Partnership - COVOST members will remain in close partnership with the State of Colorado (via the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management). The team will also maintain a close partnership with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and any other local community that requests the activation of the COVOST. Finally, the COVOST will remain in close partnership with the broader VOST and SMEM communities.

Service - COVOST members will remember that their primary responsibility is to lead and support the State of Colorado and our local communities.  In this vein the COVOST will never act alone but will always act out of service to, and in direct partnership with, the State of Colorado and any local community for which it may be activated to support. 

Accountability - COVOST members will remain accountable for the information that they share or pass on. COVOST members will remain accountable to policies held by the State of Colorado and any local community that is being supported.  The COVOST will likewise remain accountable to established public information and Incident Command System (ICS) best practices, rules and regulations.

COVOST Handbook

This handbook is meant to guide members of the Colorado Virtual Operations Support Team (COVOST) as they complete the mission of leading and supporting the State of Colorado and our local Colorado communities through the innovative use of social media and other online tools.

It is important to remember that the social media landscape is fluid and constantly changing.  The guidelines shared in this guide are current as of the date listed below.  It is the job of each VOST member, however, to ensure that they stay up to date and knowledgeable of the many changes that will inevitably occur as the ‘virtual’ social media and digital landscape continues to evolve.

Nothing written in this handbook supersedes any preexisting rules or guidelines provide by the State of Colorado or any local community for which the COVOST is activated to support. Likewise, nothing written in this handbook supersedes standard Incident Command System (ICS) practices, rules set forth via any delegation of authority, or any rules or guidelines provided by any agency having jurisdiction.

In the fast moving world of social media adherence to rules and policies is all the more important.  When in doubt, check with the COVOST Manager or Coordinator, lead PIO and/or Incident Commander.

Direct Link to the COVOST Handbook

Reality requires virtual support. Reality requires responsibility.

Virtual Support demands great responsibility grounded by reality.