Treehouse Safe Exchange seeks partnership with Taylor County to reduce CPS cases

TAYLOR COUNTY, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – Child Protective Services cases can have a long-term impact not only on the families involved but also on county resources. Treehouse Safe Exchange and Training Center , a local nonprofit organization, is aiming to reduce county costs and decrease the overall number of CPS cases.

Rhea Rodriguez, Founder and Executive Director of Treehouse, said their services take a more hands-on approach that is more effective. They offer parenting classes, offer a safe space for exchanges and visitations, and provide other resources.

“More people across the US and other countries really don’t realize the significance of safe exchange, supervised visitation and how important that is, especially when it comes to domestic violence,” Rodriguez said.

Mia Graham was required to participate in a program at the age of 19 when her daughter was 13 months old. She completed a year of parenting classes and graduated from the course. Graham says she was transformed by the experience and would recommend it to any new moms.

“They actually go out of their way to teach parents instead of just throwing them out into the world and going, ‘Well, this is what you’re supposed to do. So do it, or else you’re a bad parent,’” Graham explained.

Rodriguez presented a proposal during the Commissioners Court meeting on July 30, suggesting a collaboration with the county to secure funding for a more significant impact on the area.

Taylor County spends about $2 million a year providing legal aid to CPS cases. County Judge Phil Crowley sees the potential impact that Treehouse can have with a county partnership.

“They’ve shown that they have been able to cut down on CPS recidivism from parents being back in the CPS system by teaching them how to parent and how to utilize services in the community,” Judge Crowley said.

Treehouse will find out if they received county funding on August 6 once the county budget is voted on.

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