Meet Kayla Lauderdale

Program Director, Tree House Child and Family Center

Compassion with a backbone. Determination with a purpose. Building safer futures for Walworth County’s children and families.

Kayla Lauderdale believes meaningful change happens when people come together with the courage to tackle difficult problems. As Program Director at the Tree House Child and Family Center and coordinator of the Walworth County Sensitive Crimes Team, she brings compassion, expertise, and relentless determination to protecting children and supporting families.

With more than a decade of experience in child welfare, advocacy, and forensic interviewing, Kayla has conducted approximately 1,600 forensic interviews with children impacted by abuse and trauma. Since joining Tree House in 2023, she has helped strengthen prevention programs, expand community education, and improve how local agencies work together to protect vulnerable children and families.

One of Kayla’s most significant contributions has been bringing professionals from law enforcement, human services, healthcare, the legal system, and advocacy organizations together to improve Walworth County’s response to abuse and neglect. She facilitated an extensive, 18-month effort to review and update the countywide protocol, coordinating input from more than 27 agencies. The resulting agreement created clearer roles, stronger collaboration, and a more coordinated, trauma-informed approach to protecting those who need it most.

Kayla has also led efforts to establish Walworth County’s Child Abduction Response Team, bringing together local professionals to prepare for the urgent, complex work of responding when a child goes missing. Through specialized training, professional presentations, and statewide collaboration, she continues to share knowledge that helps communities respond more effectively to child maltreatment.

While her work involves difficult realities, Kayla brings warmth, humor, and an adventurous spirit to everything she does. A devoted mom, outdoor enthusiast, avid reader, and serial hobbyist, she is just as likely to be gardening or restoring a vintage steamer trunk as she is researching a new idea. Her family knows that when Kayla says, “I have an idea,” an adventure—or a DIY project of questionable scope—is probably on the way.

Kayla’s leadership is rooted in the belief that lasting change takes compassion, collaboration, and the willingness to challenge the status quo. She may not seek the spotlight, but her work is helping build stronger partnerships, better systems, and safer futures for children throughout Walworth County. Her impact reaches far beyond any single program or title, creating change that will continue to benefit families for years to come.