Our Staff
A multidisciplinary team dedicated to protecting children
Charles Regan
Executive Director
Evelyn Shukat, MD, Child Abuse Pediatrician
Medical Director
Dr. Evelyn Shukat is a Board-Certified Pediatrician, with specialty Board Certification in Child Abuse Pediatrics, who has been providing medical services to abused and neglected children for the past 40 years. Before coming to The Tree House Child Advocacy Center of Montgomery County, MD, she established and directed a hospital-based child advocacy center (CAC) at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in New York City and maintained that post for 10 years before moving to Maryland. Evelyn has been the Director of Pediatric Emergency Services at Metropolitan Hospital in NYC and Children’s Hospital of Newark NJ, as well as the Medical Director of The Children’s House Child Advocacy Center of Hackensack University Medical Center, Associate Director of Pediatrics at Lenox Hill Hospital, NYC, and held the academic rank of Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at New York Medical College, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and at Cornell College of Medicine.
Evelyn has served as the Tree House’s Medical Director since 2008. She is passionate about the CAC model to help children who have been abused and neglected. She always establishes safe, trusting environments for our clients in her child friendly office. She approaches child health in a holistic manner, addressing all medical concerns, regardless of cause.
Why do you work at the Tree House? “Children need an ombudsman in times of trauma and abuse. I try to help them in any way I can to help give them a voice.”
Molly Cupid, LCSW-C
Director of Prevention Education and Training
Molly Cupid has been working in the child sexual abuse field since 2010. Most recently, she investigated allegations of child sexual abuse for Montgomery County Child Welfare Services. Earlier in her career, Molly worked in multiple residential facilities providing treatment for adolescent males who had sexually offended. Molly has experience conducting forensic interviews and is one of the instructors for the Child First forensic interviewing training in the state of Maryland. She has collaborated with the Special Victims Investigation Division of Montgomery County Police to provide sex abuse related training to police officers, social workers, and other first responders. As a member of the Speakers’ Bureau with Montgomery County Child Welfare Services, Molly travelled around the county providing training on recognizing and reporting child maltreatment. Ms. Cupid joined The Tree House Child Advocacy Center of Montgomery County, MD in the summer of 2020 and enjoys leading the clinical team.
Ana Reyes
Family Advocate Director
Adriana Jimenez
Forensic Interviewer
Adriana, a Montgomery County, MD native earned her Bachelor of Science in Family Science from the University of Maryland in 2019. Upon graduation, she first began her career as a Bilingual Family Advocate at Center for Hope, a child advocacy center (CAC) in Baltimore City, MD. There Adriana was able to fiercely advocate for families and all their needs. It was at Center for Hope that Adriana first learned about the CAC model and the importance of forensic interviews. Now she is Licensed Social Worker who has been working with child abuse victims since 2019. She graduated with her master’s in social work from the University of Maryland with a clinical concentration in Behavioral Health in 2022. Adriana joined the Tree House Child Advocacy Center of Montgomery County, MD in the spring of 2024 as our Forensic Interviewer. Adriana conducts forensic interviews in both English and Spanish.
Andrea Coleman, BSN, RN
Nurse
Andrea Coleman earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati in 1997. Since relocating to Maryland in 1999, she has devoted her career to caring for underserved populations. The last 16 years of Andrea’s professional career have been spent working for the Montgomery County Government, with 8 years at the Department of Correction and Rehab, 6 years at Child Welfare Services, and 2 years a dual role of Child Welfare Nurse and Nurse for The Tree House Child Advocacy Center of Montgomery County, MD. While the work is challenging, she finds the experience to be both rewarding and fulfilling as she focuses her energies toward helping improve the lives of children who have been victims of abuse, neglect, or assault.
Why do you work at The Tree House Child Advocacy Center of Montgomery County, MD?
“What started as a mandated transfer, has turned out to be the most rewarding experience. One could not ask for a more cohesive and caring team of individuals with which to spend the work week. But the children are the gems that make every difficult day, every traumatic story, and every hardship faced seem small in the light of their smiles. Onward to the better and brighter days ahead! #Healing”
Caroline Aguilar, LMSW
Therapist
Caroline Aguilar, a native Washingtonian, has always been driven by a deep-seated desire to make a difference in the lives of others. This calling first took root during her high school years, where she became passionately involved in advocating for her younger family members within their school community. Caroline’s journey continued with an undergraduate degree in Psychology, where her fascination with child development and empowerment truly flourished.
Her commitment led her to pursue a graduate degree in Clinical Social Work, and it was at Sheppard Pratt’s Linkages to Learning program where Caroline found her professional home for eight enriching years. There, she discovered a profound love for working with children facing a spectrum of challenges, including trauma. This experience cemented her dedication to helping children and teens navigate their struggles with resilience and hope.
Caroline has since broadened her expertise through private practice, focusing on children and teens aged 5 to 24 who struggle with eating disorders, body image issues, depression and anxiety. Her work centers on helping young people find harmony with food and their bodies and encouraging them to live in alignment with their core values.
Today, Caroline is thrilled to join The Tree House, where she is eager to guide children through their healing journeys. She brings a warm, empathetic approach to creating a safe space where young voices can grow stronger and more courageous. Caroline’s unwavering commitment to nurturing growth and healing continues as she looks forward to working with families entering The Tree House.
Estefany Rivera Vasquez
Client Coordinator
Estefany joined Tree House as a Client Coordinator in July 2024. She was born and raised in El Salvador and came to the US in 2016. Her biggest challenge was learning English from scratch, and she is still learning to this day. Her love for being able to work with children started when she used to work at a daycare and has enjoyed volunteering at church taking care of children since 2017. She also worked at an oncology office as a receptionist and interpreter for clients and was able to learn that being able to treat them well changes the person’s mood. Now, as a receptionist/client coordinator, her goal is to make people feel welcome in the lobby and from the moment they walk through the front door, feel safe and respected. Treat them in the best way possible to give them the best experience in the difficult times they are going through.
Why do you work at the Tree House?
Many years ago, a very special person passed away due to health problems, but before that, she went through a lot and her difficulty in speaking English was even more difficult in her medical process, I couldn’t help because English was something new for me. However, there was someone who helped her and visited her at our house. That person, without asking for anything in return, was always there until the end. She was my inspiration to be able to help people who need it. That she visited us, that she helped us with just a phone call, you realize that those are the things that really count because there is no one else, especially without asking for anything in return. That’s why I try to do my best to sincerely smile at every person who passes through that door and be able to show hospitality. We don’t know what day that person is having due to the whole process they are going through, but a simple conversation can change people’s mood, or showing them kindness can make all the difference, and I am ready to make that difference at Tree House.
Karen Campion, LCSW-C
Supervisor Child Trauma Therapist/Bilingual
Karen Campion has been involved in the field of healing from trauma for ten years. She completed a master’s degree in international peace studies from the University of Notre Dame in 2015 and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore in 2017. Locally, Karen has worked as a bilingual (English/Spanish) mental health therapist with children and teens in elementary and middle schools and with adults at an outpatient mental health clinic. Globally, she has worked and studied in Egypt, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Uganda, and Nicaragua. Karen is certified to practice Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and she prioritizes strengthening child-caregiver attachment relationships.
Why do you work at The Tree House Child Advocacy Center of Montgomery County, MD?
“My favorite stories growing up were about kids and teens who struggled and schemed to find safety, friendship, and fairness in very scary situations. Some were historical figures, and others were fictional. At the Tree House, I feel so lucky to spend my days with very real young people, accompanying them as they bravely walk their healing paths.”
Dara Kruman,
LCSW-C
T3 Supervisor/ Bilingual
When Dara Kruman was a child, she wanted to help other children around the world… and join a circus. The circus never materialized, but she did become a social worker. Dara completed her Master of Social Work at Boston College, with a concentration in children, youth, and families. While in Boston, she did community work as an intern at a family center and a community health center for children. After moving to Montgomery County, MD, Dara worked with several agencies, including Linkages to Learning, WorkSource Montgomery, and CCI Health and Wellness Services in Silver Spring. She loves working as a part of a team to help support families during their recovery, focusing on addressing the systemic needs that affect them.
As a therapist, Dara has worked mainly with Spanish-speaking families from Latin America. She has also done volunteer work across the globe in Ecuador, Greece, and Thailand.
Why Do You Work at The Tree House Child Advocacy Center of Montgomery County, MD?
“I believe that learning from people around the world has enriched my life. I am grateful to be working at The Tree House where I am helping children heal.”
Emily Lipsitz-Wardrick, LMSW
Therapist
Emily is a trauma-focused therapist with Tree House CAC, specializing in transitional trauma therapy with children, caregivers, and families. Emily has a unique opportunity to advocate and work with children in foster/ kinship care providing in-home therapy services. Over the years, Emily has worked with children in Montgomery County, Frederick County, and internationally, including several volunteer trips to Haiti and Indonesia. Emily earned a dual Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Psychology from UMBC and a Master of Social Work from University of Maryland, Baltimore in clinical social work. Emily is dedicated to providing support to vulnerable children and their families. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and nature photography.
“I work at Tree House because I want to be a part of the healing process for children and their families who experience trauma. Tree House is a special place that offers many services to the community at no cost which removes barriers and supports empowerment. I am proud to say that I am a part of the Tree House family.”
Melanie Rodriguez
Family Advocate
Melanie Rodriguez is a Family Advocate at The Tree House. Melanie graduated from the University of Maryland in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Prior to her role at Tree House, Melanie worked in background investigations, which helped her develop a thorough and empathetic approach to handling sensitive situations. Her firsthand experience with language barriers has made her passionate about bridging those gaps. She is deeply committed to ensuring that the families she serves can overcome these obstacles with the right support and resources.
Melanie’s personal and professional values align with Tree House’s mission. She believes every child deserves to be heard, supported and knows healing can be truly powerful.
Fun fact: Melanie played college soccer for two years, but her favorite matches are with her three-year-old!
Gabriela Lira Alvarez, MSW, LCSW-C
H.O.P.E. Program Coordinator
Gabriela is a Licensed Certified Social Worker–Clinical and Board-Approved Clinical Supervisor with more than five years of experience providing trauma-informed, evidence-based mental health services to children, adolescents, adults, and families. She specializes in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Problematic Sexual Behavior–Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PSB-CBT), with extensive experience in child advocacy, school-based mental health, and multidisciplinary care.
Gabriela currently serves as the HOPE Program Coordinator at The Tree House Child Advocacy Center, where she leads intake and care coordination, facilitates therapeutic groups, and provides individual and family psychotherapy.
Gabriela earned her MSW with a Clinical Specialization in Behavioral Health from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Stevenson University. Her graduate clinical training included internships with the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA), where she provided trauma-informed counseling and safety planning for survivors of intimate partner violence, and Collegiate Directions, Inc., where she delivered individual therapy, facilitated psychoeducational groups, and supported students in overcoming academic and personal challenges.
Gabriela returned to Tree House because the mission aligns with the values that she holds dear and truly believes in.
