The Tree House Child Advocacy Center Montgomery County

What is a Child Advocacy Center?

When police or child protective services believe a child may be experiencing abuse, the child is brought to the CAC, a safe and child-focused environment, by a caregiver or other safe adult. At the CAC, the child tells their story once to a trained interviewer who knows the right questions to ask in a way that does not retraumatize the child.

Then a team that includes medical professionals, law enforcement, mental health, prosecution, child protective services, and victim advocacy makes decisions together about how to help the child.

CACs offer therapy and medical exams, plus courtroom preparation, victim advocacy, and case management. This coordinated approach is called the multidisciplinary team (MDT) response, and it is a core part of the work of CACs.

Our Story

The Tree House began in 2002 as a partnership between Montgomery County and the community, created so that child survivors in our area would have one safe place to turn.

We have been continuously accredited by the National Children's Alliance since 2008, a national standard for quality care. In 2023, the Tree House moved into its own dedicated office space for the first time since we were founded.

The only agency of its kind in Montgomery County, Tree House CAC provides a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to the investigation, prosecution, and treatment of child abuse cases and cases where a child has witnessed a violent crime. The Tree House's partner agencies include the Montgomery County Department of Police, the DHHS Montgomery County Department of Child Welfare Services (CWS), the Montgomery County Office of the State's Attorney, and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

Through it all, our mission has not changed. We are here to help children heal, free of charge, with dignity and care, and to support non-offending caregivers whenever possible.

Community and clinical partners

Beyond our core team, the Tree House works with schools, medical and mental-health professionals, allied agencies, and respected clinical institutions that help us provide the best possible care.

Our clinical consultation partners include the Yale Child Study Center, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and the University of Oklahoma Center on Child Abuse and Neglect.

We are also grateful to the corporations and philanthropic organizations whose generous support helps us heal abused children in Montgomery County.



If your company or organization would like to help, we would love to hear from you.