The Tree House Child Assessment Center of Montgomery County MD

seeking truth, healing abused children 

Mission and Vision
Our mission is to coordinate a timely, comprehensive, and multidisciplinary response to children who may have suffered physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect, in a safe, neutral, culturally-sensitive, child-focused setting. The Center will provide the highest standard of care through best practices for victims of child maltreatment to break the cycle of child maltreatment and to assure that children live in a healthy, safe environment where they can develop to their full potential.

Our vision is to break the cycle of child maltreatment.

About Us
Modeled after the National Children’s Alliance’s child advocacy centers, The Tree House Child Assessment Center of Montgomery County Maryland (CAC) provides an integrated continuum of medical, mental health, and victim advocacy services to children with allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect. The Tree House, which first opened in 2002, is a private/public partnership between the Primary Care Coalition, a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit, and Montgomery County.

To realize our mission, staff at The Tree House work closely with Montgomery County's Department of Police, Child Welfare Services, Office of County Attorneys, and State's Attorney's Office.  On site in our Rockville offices, The Tree House provides forensic medical examinations, mental health assessments, ongoing mental health therapies for child victims and their non-offending family members, and child and family advocacy services.  Between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007, The Tree House provided services to more than 950 clients.

The Tree House is dedicated to reducing trauma and promoting healing for child victims through an innovative collaborative process where key professionals come together on behalf of the best interests of the victim. This effective early intervention is essential to ensure that an abused child or adolescent develops into a healthy and productive adult capable of forming trusting and loving relationships. Underpinning the work of The Tree House is the belief that the cycle of child maltreatment can be broken and, in fact, the knowledge that child abuse and neglect is preventable!

Services provided at The Tree House are made possible through federal, state, and local monies; as well as, foundation support, private and business donations, and through fundraising campaigns.

Program Evaluation
A program evaluation by Donna D. Klagholz, Ph.D. & Associates, LLC is underway, and preliminary results will be available in 2008. The evaluation ensures the program is benefiting the people it is designed to help. It identifies strengths and weaknesses and suggests effective strategies for correcting weaknesses.

Tree House Staff

Awards
2006    Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services Public/Private Partnership Award

2006    Primary Care Coalition’s Mary C. Jackson Award “Good Works Done Well”

2007    Montgomery’s Best Honor Award—Partnership

How You Can Help
The wider we grow the circle of people working together on behalf of every child victim, the closer we get to one day breaking the cycle of child abuse. Child abuse is preventable—help us help child victims! Check out our new website at http://www.treehousecac.org. Send your tax-deductible donations to The Tree House, 7300 Calhoun Place, Suite 600, Rockville, MD 20855 or volunteer at the Center by contacting the Volunteer Coordinator at 240.777.4344.

Want to Learn More
To see an animated tour about The Tree House or to learn more about what we do or our upcoming events, please visit us online at http://www.treehousecac.org.