Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Child Protection topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Treetop Child Advocacy Center outlines services, seeks sustained county support
Summary
Treetop, the Fifth Judicial District’s child advocacy center, told Lake County commissioners it has expanded services, opened a new location in Breckenridge and is seeking continued local funding after federal Victims of Crime Act grants were sharply cut.
Treetop Child Advocacy Center leaders told the Lake County Board of County Commissioners on June 1 that the nonprofit has expanded its staff and services since 2023 and is asking the county to continue financial support for 2026.
The presentation explained what Treetop does and why local funding matters: forensic interviews for children who disclose abuse, multilingual advocates to help families through investigations and access to medical and mental-health services.
Treetop serves the Fifth Judicial District, which includes Clear Creek, Lake, Eagle and Summit counties, Amy Olivera, executive director, said. "Our mission is to support child victims of abuse and their families through intervention, advocacy, and support services," Olivera said. The center moved into a new location next to Breckenridge Town Hall in February and added an operations manager and bilingual case manager in late 2023 and 2024.
Why it matters: Treetop’s leaders said federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding — a significant portion of the center’s budget — was cut dramatically: by about 50% in 2024 and by roughly an additional 30–33% in 2025, narrowing the nonprofit’s operating margin. Olivera said that reduction has forced the center to diversify funding sources, pursue grants and request sustained local government contributions.
What Treetop does: presenters described the center’s process. When a child makes an outcry, referrals come through law enforcement or child welfare; Treetop coordinates a forensic interview in a child-friendly, nonpolice setting, connects families with forensic nurse exam (FNE) services and provides long-term advocacy and case coordination with the district attorney and other partners. The center reported that in 2024 it served 53 direct child victims and 87 secondary victims; in the current year to date it had completed 40 direct forensic interviews.
Staffing and language access were emphasized as operational strengths. Staff now include an operations manager/family victim advocate and a bilingual family victim advocate and case manager; Treetop said about two-thirds of cases have Spanish-speaking families. The center also described a mobile interview unit and upgraded recording and evidence-transfer systems intended to streamline investigations and reduce travel burdens for families in winter months.
Funding and local ask: Treetop leaders thanked Lake County for a 2025 contribution of $15,000 and asked that the county consider continuing similar support in 2026. They said local partnerships and fundraising are now essential after federal cuts and noted they had an in‑kind grant writer from the Town of Breckenridge but need additional unrestricted funding for operations.
Next steps and follow-up: commissioners asked for contact information and said the county’s formal community funding requests are reviewed beginning in August in the budget cycle. Treetop left printed materials and said it will provide follow-up contact details for commissioners and staff.
Ending: Treetop leaders asked to be included in the county’s upcoming budgeting and outreach and offered to provide additional materials and a written request for FY2026 funding when the county releases its community-request process.
