Treehouse Communities was established in 2002 by Judy Cockerton, a foster/adoptive parent with a vision: to improve conditions for children in our public foster care system. Treehouse is building model programs that provide foster children with enduring family relationships and supportive community connections. Their flagship program is the Treehouse community, a multigenerational community where families who are adopting children from foster care live with neighbors who invest in their lives daily. Hundreds of young people in our region are not at high risk for homelessness, incarceration, teen parenting, leaving school without a diploma and unemployment because they are surrounded by a cadre of caring people who are invested in their success. A Step Up raised over $3,000 which supported the Suitcase Project and provided many children with a new suitcase and much deserved dignity and respect as they enter foster care.