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Nonprofit Treehouse Safe Exchange seeks partnership with Taylor County to expand parenting and exchange services
Summary
Treehouse Safe Exchange founder Maria Rodriguez asked the court for county partnership and support to expand hands-on parenting sessions designed to prevent child removal and assist families; she said the organization currently operates with volunteers and limited paid hours and is building outcome data to support funding requests.
Maria Rodriguez, founder and executive director of Treehouse Safe Exchange and Training Center, told the court she founded the nonprofit five years ago to provide hands‑on parenting instruction and safe-exchange services to reduce child‑removal cases and support families involved with CPS.
Rodriguez described the organization’s current needs: trained supervisors for one‑on‑one parenting sessions, funding to expand hands‑on intervention, and staffing to retain qualified professionals. "I really want to be able to partner with our county, and be on the other side, and that prevention and intervention," she said. She told commissioners she has success stories but currently lacks compiled statistical outcomes and is working to document results for potential grant funders.
Rodriguez listed partner agencies and service providers she works with, including local family‑court judges and regional service organizations, and said that a child was recently removed while at the center — an event she described as devastating and illustrative of the program’s mission.
Commissioners asked whether Treehouse receives state funding and about outcome data; Rodriguez said the organization is nonprofit and receives no ongoing state operating funds and is developing measurement capacity. The court thanked Rodriguez and encouraged staff follow‑up about partnership options.
Next steps: county staff will evaluate partnership options and follow up with Treehouse staff about potential support and grant opportunities.
