October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a national effort to bring awareness and unite efforts to end domestic violence. To kick off the month, Hollie Reinhart, Denver Children’s Advocacy Center’s Director of Rapid Response and Forensic Interviewer, will be speaking at the Rose Andom Center’s DVAM Walk on October 1st, 2025.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to highlight the shared mission of DCAC and the Rose Andom Center: Protecting children and families impacted by violence,” Hollie said, pictured left. “At DCAC, my daily work is centered on children who experience the ripple effects of abuse. Being able to speak at this event gives me the opportunity to highlight their voices and remind the community that children are always part of the story and show how partnerships like ours create healing and justice.”
Domestic violence is defined as abuse that takes place among people involved in a romantic relationship together. The abuse can be sexual, physical, emotional, and can include psychological aggression and stalking.
Hollie’s speech will focus on how domestic violence impacts everyone in a family. As many as 10 million children witness domestic violence among their caregivers annually, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Children who are exposed to violence are more likely to be abused themselves. They are also more likely to suffer from depression, have poor overall health, may exhibit more behavioral problems, and are more likely to struggle in school.
DCAC has a long-standing partnership with the Rose Andom Center, Denver’s leading resource center for survivors of domestic violence, to ensure children exposed to domestic violence receive the care and treatment they need. Both DCAC’s Rapid Response and Treatment teams work closely with the Rose Andom Center.
“DCAC provides a lens that many partner agencies lack—that of the lens of the children who have been impacted by witnessing or experiencing violence in the home,” said Natasha Adler, Rose Andom Center Program Director. “DCAC reminds us that domestic violence impacts the entire family and carries generational harm, so the holistic, collaborative approach we take as a family justice center is deeply important to serving survivors.”
DCAC’s Rapid Response Team’s Partnership with the Rose Andom Center
DCAC’s Rapid Response Team works in conjunction with the Rose Andom Center and Denver Police Department detectives who investigate crimes associated with domestic violence and sexual assault.
“Our team responds to the Rose Andom Center when a child has witnessed the domestic violence or sexual assault of their caregiver,” Hollie said. “We can assist in the gathering of details about what has occurred criminally to the victim and also help with connecting the survivor of the crime to all the additional resources housed at the Rose Andom Center as part of our advocacy support during their child’s forensic interview.”
Children who witness domestic violence or sexual assault often participate in forensic interviews with DCAC. This process is part of gathering information and insights for the case and also to assess what supports and treatments may be beneficial to the child.
In addition, the DCAC Rapid Response Team often supports survivors with starting their intake process with the Rose Andom Center and helps connect them to vital services needed to navigate their path forward.
“DCAC has been critical in supporting our other partner Denver Police Department’s forensic interviews,” Natasha said. “Having an agency that is trained to use trauma-informed motivational interviewing techniques to support minors who have witnessed violent crimes is invaluable.”
DCAC’s Treatment Team’s Involvement with Domestic Violence Cases
DCAC’s Treatment Team works with several community partners as part of our effort to ensure any child who is witness to or involved in a domestic violence case receives resources. Specifically, DCAC’s Treatment Team is part of the Triage Team, which includes Rose Andom community team members and government partners.
“Every day the Triage Team discusses domestic violence cases in Denver where the police were called and there is a police report,” said Cathy Hay, DCAC’s Director of Treatment and Assessment. “If there is a child involved in the case, DCAC is given a referral to reach out to the non-offending caregiver to offer therapy and/or resources.”
DCAC’s Treatment Team provides therapy for children at our facility.
“DCAC fills the gap of serving children and families,” Natasha said. “Many of our services [at the Rose Andom Center] focus on adults or those experiencing domestic violence. But domestic violence impacts an entire household, and DCAC helps us serve that entire household.”
Ways to Support DCAC and Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Partnerships like DCAC’s with the Rose Andom Center underscore our commitment to ensuring our services wraparound children and families in our community, however they experience abuse either directly or indirectly. You can support our vital work in two ways this October:
- Join DCAC at Rose Andom Center’s DVAM Walk on October 1st, 2025. The walk kicks off at 10 a.m. Hollie will be among the speakers talking at 10:30 a.m. Others speaking at the event include: Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser; Jody Curl, Executive Director, Project Safeguard; Whitney Woods, Executive Director, Rose Andom Center; and MILCK, Survivor and Artist.
- “I am looking forward to being part of a crowd who is coming together with a shared vision – where survivors and children are believed, supported, and able to heal,” Hollie said. “Events like this are powerful reminders that none of us can do this work alone. It takes collaboration, community investment, and united commitment to safety.”
- Then, later that week on October 3rd, DCAC is hosting our annual Clays for Kids event to raise funds for our vital programs, including for our Rapid Response and Treatment work. Register today!