W4063 County Rd NN, Elkhorn, WI 53121 // CONTACT US
About Tree House Child and Family Center
Our Mission
To promote safe, strong, and healthy environments for children and families through equitable access to child abuse prevention, education, and resource support.
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Please consider making a monetary donation, or donating supplies.
Our History
In 1989, a Children's Court Advisory Board was created to bring together professionals from diverse disciplines, along with caring citizens, to open up communication and provide education and awareness for the public to address the growing concern of child maltreatment. The group met monthly for 20 years, changing laws that affected children who had been abused, and developing and strengthening policies and protocols to better serve the needs of the community.
In 2009, the Walworth County Alliance for Children (WCAC) was formally established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
In 2013, the WCAC held a grand opening for its newly constructed stand-alone facility to house Children’s Wisconsin Walworth County Child Advocacy Center (CAC) and Child & Family Counseling (CFC). The facility was designed to bring professional services providers together in a non-threatening, compassionate environment to discuss abuse allegations with children and families of all races and economic status. Complete with therapeutic playgrounds, healing gardens, and self-care spaces, the facility looks like a home because it was designed to create a sense of safety and security for children and their families.
In 2017, the WCAC name was changed to the Tree House Child and Family Center to reflect our expansion of programs and services that support and strengthen families in order to help stop child maltreatment before it starts.
In 2020, the facility was named the Margaret C. Downing Tree House and Family Center in memory of the former Tree House Board President and longtime supporter.
In 2021, more than 50 children were on the waiting list for therapy services provided by the Walworth County Child & Family Counseling. In response to this need, the Tree House moved our staff out of the facility and rented administrative space within the Lakeland/Aurora building (formerly the Walworth County Department of Health & Human Services building).
Today, the Tree House annually reaches 7,000+ parents and primary caregivers, children, educators, and professional service providers throughout Walworth County and surrounding areas with upstream information and programs to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to all types of abuse.
Our Goals
1. To provide accessible supports to children and families throughout Walworth County that stop actions or behaviors related to child maltreatment from occurring.
2. To support a model community response to allegations of abuse.
3. To understand the needs of children and families who have been affected by child maltreatment, identify gaps and expand/adapt/create our programs, services, resources, and partnerships in order to meet these needs.
4. To be a vital, trusted, and enduring child abuse prevention and education resource for Walworth County and surrounding communities.