Leadership

The Treehouse Children’s Advocacy Center Announces Heather Irvin as Executive Director

Thomasville, GA (April 30, 2026) – The board of directors of The Treehouse Children’s Advocacy Center of Thomas County is pleased to announce Heather Irvin as the organization’s next executive director. Irvin began in this new role on April 22 after serving for seven years as a therapist and client advocate for the organization.

A mission-driven leader with nearly 20 years of experience in child welfare, nonprofit leadership, and program development, Irvin has a proven track record in building programs, supervising multidisciplinary teams, and strengthening community partnerships. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

“Since 2019, I have been part of the Treehouse Children’s Advocacy Center, serving as both a client advocate and therapist. During that time, I created and grew our mental health program before stepping into the role of executive director. This work has always been my mission field, and I feel called to it,” Irvin says.

Prior to her time at The Treehouse, Irvin served as program director at Clements Care and volunteer coordinator for Twin Cedars Youth and Family Services. She has also worked for the Department of Family and Children Services in Muscogee, Irwin, and Berrien counties. She enters the executive director position at The Treehouse with a strong understanding of rural South Georgia’s child protection needs and a clear direction for the future of The Treehouse.

“I’ve had the opportunity to walk alongside children and families in some of their hardest moments, build and develop programs that meet real needs, and lead teams committed to making a difference. These experiences have deeply shaped how I lead today,” says Irvin.

Olivia Sanders, board chair for The Treehouse, adds, “Heather’s experience, combined with her passion for serving vulnerable children and families, makes her uniquely qualified to lead The Treehouse into its next chapter. The Board is confident that under her leadership, the organization will continue to grow and impact Thomasville in a tremendous way.”

In her first year as executive director, the Board looks forward to Irvin strengthening the organization and deepening community partnerships.

“My vision for The Treehouse is to continue growing a place where children feel safe, families feel supported, and our community comes together to protect and advocate for those who need it most, ensuring every child has access to healing, hope, and a stronger/safer future,” Irvin says.

“We are confident she will focus on sustainable growth, enhanced program impact, and increased community awareness to further The Treehouse’s mission,” says Sanders.

Irvin succeeds previous executive director Jackla Lawson, who led The Treehouse for 14 years.

The community is invited to a Meet & Greet to welcome Heather Irvin as the new executive director of The Treehouse on Tuesday, May 19 at 1:30 pm at the organization’s new Clinical and Outreach Services building, located at 119 West Hansell Street. At that time, Imagine Thomasville will also conduct a ribbon cutting ceremony to publicly celebrate the new building.

First opened in May 2025, this facility expansion has increased The Treehouse’s service delivery offerings, as well as the organization’s physical footprint. At the Clinical and Outreach Services building, children in Thomas County now have access to free trauma-focused treatment to lead them on their journey toward healing. The new space also allows Treehouse staff to extend the continuum of care for clients by providing in-house, trauma-focused therapy, freeing up the original Treehouse offices and clinic on Gordon Avenue exclusively for crisis response services.

The Meet & Greet and Ribbon Cutting at 119 West Hansell Street is free and open to the public. An Open House at the new Clinical and Outreach Services building, including tours of the space, will be held later this year.

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The Treehouse Children’s Advocacy Center of Thomas County, located in Thomasville, Georgia, is the first and only Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) in Thomas County. The Treehouse coordinates a child-focused, multidisciplinary response to child abuse, provide services to heal families, and lead community efforts to protect children. All services are free to children and their non-offending caregivers. For more information, visit treehousethomasville.org.