Did you know that 2025 marks 20 years of our Domestic Abuse Response Team (D.A.R.T.)?

In 2003, a double homicide in Towamencin Township occurred, where a woman and her 4-year-old daughter lost their lives. Responding officers were so shocked by the case that they decided to develop a task force to work towards preventing domestic violence fatalities from happening again in their community. They reached out to neighboring police departments and victim service organizations, including Laurel House.

This group, consisting of local victim service organizations and the Towamencin Township Police, Lansdale Borough Police, Upper Gwynedd Township Police, Montgomery Township Police, North Wales Borough Police and Hatfield Township Police, was ultimately responsible for the creation of Laurel House’s Domestic Abuse Response Team, also known as D.A.R.T., in 2005. The program started with these 6 police departments and one part-time advocate.

Today, the DART program has grown to include 50 local police departments, 4 full time staff, 2 interns, 8 volunteers, and countless Emergency Rooms and medical offices throughout Montgomery County. Last year alone, the D.A.R.T. program responded to 746 referrals from law enforcement and medical professionals.

The D.A.R.T. program educates law enforcement on the signs of abuse and provides an advocate immediately on-scene to victims of domestic abuse that are in need of safety planning, counseling, emergency shelter, and more.

The D.A.R.T. program has stood as a symbol of community collaboration for the last twenty years. Without the support of countless community members, D.A.R.T. would not have been able to serve survivors of domestic violence throughout Montgomery County.

Did you know?

When you give to support our Domestic Abuse Response Team or any of our other programs, your donation supports those in our community impacted by domestic abuse.

Your donation will...

• Allow us to purchase gift cards for families in our shelter
  • $56,600 in gift cards raised in 2024
• Support community education in our schools, colleges, businesses, and civic groups
  • 6,915 students educated on domestic violence prevention from 2023-2024
• Help provide individual and group counseling to clients struggling with the aftermath of domestic abuse
  • 9,456 hours of individual and group counseling from 2023-2024
• Help offer crisis response in the immediate aftermath of a domestic violence incident
  • 746 crisis response calls referred to our Domestic Abuse Response Team from 2023-2024

Tips and Tricks:

Here are some tips to maximize your donation:

• Turn your gift into a monthly donation! Giving monthly impacts daily and is one of the easiest ways to make a meaningful impact.
• Encourage your community to participate! Invite your coworkers, family, friends and more to put the "fun" in "fundraising" and start their own campaigns!

All proceeds raised will support Laurel House's domestic violence programs and services. 

For questions, contact development@laurel-house.org.