DART, the Kirkland Police Department’s Domestic Abuse Response Team, is seeking volunteers to provide crisis intervention and support to victims of domestic violence. Volunteer duties include helping the Family/Youth Advocate with follow-up phone calls to victims, assisting victims brought to the police station after a domestic violence incident and occasionally aiding officers, on-scene, to provide immediate support.

There will be a 20-hour, free training required to become a DART volunteer. Training will cover providing emotional support, the dynamics of domestic violence, safety planning, the criminal justice system and referring community support services. The training is scheduled to begin in early October 2015 and the application deadline is Aug. 27.

Volunteers are needed for weekday and weekend evenings and must commit to one shift plus one meeting per month, for a minimum of one year. To be considered, volunteers must pass an application, interview, background check and screening, including a C.V.S.A (similar to a polygraph).

For more information, or to begin the volunteer registration and screening process, please contact Patrick Tefft, Volunteer Services Coordinator at 425-587-3012 or ptefft@kirklandwa.gov.