What’s your Ministry? Supporting Moms, Strengthening Communities

How one Orthodox mother and educator helped shape a haven where motherhood, faith, and healing walk hand in hand.

Cristin Coats (Operations Manager), Jaleen Claassen, (Executive Director) and Hannah Doom (Program Manager) pose in front of an icon of Christ the Good Shepherd at The Treehouse in Wichita, Kansas.

OYM recently had the opportunity to interview Jaleen Claassen, Executive Director of The Treehouse in Wichita, Kansas. A former teacher and mother of four, Jaleen brings her deep love for Christ and passion for service into every aspect of her work. In our conversation, she shares how The Treehouse supports moms in vulnerable seasons, how her own life has been shaped by the ministry, and why she believes every community needs a place like it.

OYM: If you could just give us a quick biography of yourself and your history in the Church?

Jaleen: My husband and I joined the Church about 23 or 24 years ago—so not quite 25. Neither of us are cradle Orthodox, but we’ve raised our four children in the Church, which is pretty amazing.

I’m a teacher by trade. I graduated from Kansas State with a degree in elementary education and taught fourth grade for several years. I left teaching when I started having children, but honestly, I only stayed home with my first for a short time before I began volunteering at The Treehouse. Not long after that, they asked if I’d be interested in working there.

So I started at The Treehouse when my firstborn was about 18 months old, and it was just a great fit—a wonderful place to work, especially with moms and babies, and very flexible for a young family.

My husband’s name is Brandon. Our kids are Brady, who’s going into his senior year of college; Elias, who just finished his freshman year; Juliet, who’s about to start her freshman year of high school; and Pepper, who’s going into fourth grade.

OYM: So how did you get involved with The Treehouse? Could you tell us a bit about your background with the ministry and how you came to be part of it?

Jaleen: It really started just by seeing brief mentions in the bulletin at St. George. The Treehouse was looking for volunteers. It was vague—just a couple of sentences like, “Come and work with moms and babies.” At the time, I was still teaching and thought, “Well, I can volunteer during spring break or over the summer.”

So I started volunteering by sorting donations. My godmother, Renee Newhouse, was actually one of the founders of The Treehouse, so that was another meaningful connection. And right away, I absolutely loved it. I felt very drawn to the work.

Maybe it’s my background in education—when you're a teacher, you pour so much into your students, but then they go home. What really appealed to me about The Treehouse was that we work with moms from the very beginning, even during pregnancy, and into those critical early years. To be able to support them during that time felt really significant.

I want to be careful how I say this because many of the moms we work with already have great strengths. But like all of us, they also have areas they want to grow in. The Treehouse is kind of like professional development—but for parenting. Moms take classes on parenting, life skills, healthy relationships, spiritual growth, and education. And because of their hard work, it really impacts their children. I truly believe many of the Treehouse kids start kindergarten in a very different place than they might have otherwise, and that’s powerful.

OYM: Was there a specific moment when you felt like, I need to be a part of this and serve this ministry?

Jaleen: You know, it’s funny—in so many ways, I feel like the mission of The Treehouse is written in my DNA. I honestly can’t remember a time when it wasn’t a part of my life. It just felt like such a seamless step. The first time I came down here, I immediately felt at home. It’s hard to explain, but I knew it was where I was supposed to be.

OYM: What is your role exactly? Could you walk us through your day-to-day work at The Treehouse?

Jaleen: Over the years, I’ve worn a lot of different hats—from operations manager to director of client services, where I was deeply involved with programming and class scheduling for moms. Then, about a year and a half ago, the executive director position opened up. I had actually resisted stepping into that role for a long time, for many reasons. But eventually, I felt like it was time. So currently, I serve as the executive director.

Day-to-day, I’m still very much advocating for our moms and for their educational programs—just now on a different level. I work closely with donors and community partners, helping to secure funding and support. For example, we have a fundraising event coming up called Bingo for Babies, which helps raise money for our programs like “Getting Ahead” and “Strengthening Families.”

We’re an “earn while you learn” facility, so our moms attend classes on parenting, life skills, healthy relationships, spiritual growth, and more. As they participate, they earn basic necessities like diapers, formula, and wipes. They also earn what we call “baby bucks,” which they can use in our on-site thrift store.

OYM: You have a thrift store on-site?

Jaleen: Yes! It's strictly for children, from newborn to youth size 8. Moms can purchase items with baby bucks, cash, or card—though we try to keep technology minimal in there. Everything is gently used or like-new, and the prices are intentionally low—usually just 50 cents to a dollar for clothes or shoes.

What’s really beautiful is that the revenue from the thrift store goes right back into buying more diapers and formula. So, in a sense, our moms become givers themselves. They’re helping other women while supporting their own families. It builds confidence, supports mental health, and helps with budgeting. It’s such a holistic model.

The Treehouse thrift store contains items for children that can be purchased with "baby bucks," cash, or card.

OYM: And how do the moms access these programs?

Jaleen: All the women we serve are referred to us through partner agencies. Many of them come from backgrounds without much of a healthy support system. I often think about how lucky I was—how I had people pouring into me and keeping me on the right path, even when I stumbled. Many of our moms haven’t had that. The Treehouse becomes that community for them.

We offer classes in both English and Spanish six times a week. We also have an extensive video library that covers everything from pregnancy and birth to toddler development and general parenting skills. Moms can call in and request specific topics or ask for help identifying content that fits their situation.

And our programs go beyond just parenting. Today, for instance, we had guest speakers from Wichita State University who spoke with the moms about going back to school and building resumes. These kinds of interactions open doors for our moms—they help them imagine possibilities they might not have seen before.

OYM: Wow. That’s such a meaningful impact.

Jaleen: It really is. One of the most powerful things The Treehouse does is help moms build lasting friendships and community. I run into women we served 20 years ago, and they’re still close to the friends they made here. They remember the classes, the support, the connection.

And of course, I couldn’t do any of this without our incredible team. We have a relatively small staff—six of us, most working part-time—but they’re all so dedicated and talented. It's like a quilt of gifts, all stitched together to love and support our moms.

We also have a core volunteer group who come down at least once a week for a few hours. They play such a vital role, building relationships and walking alongside our moms through their journeys. It’s truly a community effort.

OYM: You were talking earlier about the friendships that have formed through The Treehouse—moms who still stay in touch even 20 years later. Are there any specific stories you'd like to share where you really saw the long-term impact of the ministry?

Jaleen: It’s funny—I've been with The Treehouse almost since the beginning. The Treehouse itself has been open for 23 years, and I’ve been here for about 21 of those. So now, I’ll run into Treehouse moms all over the community. It happens all the time. I’ll be out somewhere in Wichita, and someone will come up and say, “Hey, I was a Treehouse mom.”

Just a few months ago, I was walking down the hallway here and I saw a woman I recognized. She and I had been pregnant at the same time—back in 2006, when I was expecting my second, Elias. I assumed she was here again to receive services and maybe pregnant with another baby. I didn’t think much of it at first.

But later that day, I realized she was actually the facilitator for one of our classes. She was there to teach a session for our Spanish-speaking moms—and she’s now a licensed social worker! I hadn’t seen her in about ten years, and in that time she had gone back to school, earned her degree, and returned to serve moms just like her. Her goal was to give back to the community that had poured into her. That was a full-circle moment that just gave me chills.

We’ve also had these incredible peer groups form among the moms. I remember one group in particular—one mom decided she was going to go back and get her GED. The others were so inspired by her that they all followed suit. They said, “Well, if she can do it, I can too.”

And they did! They went through the GED program together, then many of them pursued associate’s degrees, and eventually, six of them graduated from college with bachelor’s degrees—all in different fields. From that group, two are now teachers. That’s the kind of ripple effect we see here. These women walk through life together, supporting each other the whole way.

But not every story is about degrees or big milestones—and that’s okay. Sometimes, the most meaningful moments are the quiet ones. I’ve had moms come up to me and say, “You probably don’t remember me. I only came a couple of times. But I just want you to know how much it meant to be welcomed, to get a warm hug, to hear someone say, ‘How you doin’, mama?’”

Those little things—kindness, dignity, consistency—they matter so much. They’re the seeds that often grow into something far bigger down the road.

OYM: Could you talk about some of the challenges you’ve faced—either in the early days of The Treehouse or throughout your time serving there?

Jaleen: There’s been a lot of challenges. I think one of the biggest, ongoing ones is financial. As a nonprofit, we depend heavily on the support of our community to keep our doors open and our programs funded. And that’s not just about keeping the lights on—it’s about offering quality programming.

We’ve never wanted to be the kind of place that’s all about the numbers—how many diapers we give out or how many moms come through the door. We’re focused on quality over quantity. That means offering evidence-based curriculum, incentivized programs, and meaningful education. But all of that requires funding, and that’s always going to be something we’re working hard to secure.

Then, of course, there were moments like COVID. When the pandemic hit, our building was shut down—we couldn’t allow women inside. But their needs didn’t stop, so we quickly pivoted. We set up a diaper and formula distribution process in our parking lot, just to make sure moms could still get the essentials. It was tough, but it showed us what we were capable of.

Another growing challenge we’ve seen is related to mental health. It’s always been part of the picture—many of our moms come in with mental health struggles. But lately, what’s been heartbreaking is hearing moms say, “My nine-year-old wants to kill themselves.” That’s become more common. We’re seeing mental health issues affect younger children, and it’s incredibly heavy.

Thankfully, we’ve partnered with Wichita State University. They offer suicide prevention training, and several of our staff members have gone through that. Now we’re able to offer classes on emotional health—not just for the moms, but for their families too. It’s not something we can ignore.

Another big shift we’ve seen is in who’s coming through our doors. When The Treehouse first opened 23 years ago, we had three main referring agencies, and they were sending us women who had just made a life-affirming decision to keep their babies. These moms were coming from pregnancy care centers, and they had their children with them.

Now, as more social workers and community organizations learn about us, we’re seeing a change. Some of the women being referred to us don’t have their children anymore—they’re coming to us trying to regain custody. And that’s a very hard road. Once you’ve lost that opportunity, the process to get your kids back is incredibly difficult.

So we’ve added programs like Strengthening Families, a court-approved parenting class. Moms can take it to fulfill requirements as they work toward reunification. But again, the pressure is on us to make sure that class is really good. That it actually gives these women the tools they need—not just to satisfy a requirement, but to truly break unhealthy cycles and build something better.

There’s a lot of care and intentionality that goes into helping families like that. It’s layered. It’s emotional. And it’s a long process.

And we’re doing all this with a small team. When I say “we,” I mean the whole Treehouse staff. We have a program manager, an operations manager who handles volunteers and supplies, a part-time grant writer, and two part-time playroom managers who care for the kids while their moms are in class—which is such a vital part of what we offer. But for the volume of moms we serve, we are a very small team.

Last year alone, we welcomed about 265 new moms into our building. But we also continued serving moms from previous years, so in total, we served over 600 families. And this isn’t one-and-done care—some of these moms are coming in weekly, even daily, depending on their needs.

We distributed over 34,000 diapers last year, more than 750 cans of formula, and facilitated more than 5,000 lessons—either in person or online. That’s what’s happening behind the scenes. There’s a lot going on, but we’re committed to doing it well.

OYM: With such a small staff, has it been difficult to keep up? Or have you found it manageable overall?

Jaleen: I think we’re always working to keep that balance. It’s not easy, but I’ve learned that having the right people on staff makes all the difference. That’s really been key for us—finding people who are not only skilled, but who genuinely care about our families.

I remember when I first became the executive director, one of our board members actually stepped in to help. She was supposed to be with us for just six months, but she ended up staying a year and a half, just diving in to care for our moms and their babies. That kind of heart and commitment—it made a huge difference.

Honestly, I believe God has His hand on The Treehouse. He knows these moms and babies better than anyone, and I truly feel like He’s brought the right people here at the right time. We've been blessed with exceptional staff and volunteers who are able to pour into our families in meaningful ways. So while it’s definitely a challenge at times, I also see it as part of the calling—and we’re not doing it alone.

OYM: Your mission statement says The Treehouse exists to offer mothers and babies a brighter future through sharing God’s love. How do you keep Christ and the Church’s teachings at the center of all that you do?

Jaleen: I love that question—because people do gloss over that part sometimes. They’ll say, “Oh, you help moms and babies have a brighter future,” and I’m like, through sharing God’s love! That’s the heart of it. That’s the absolute ethos of The Treehouse.

And we try to do that first and foremost through our actions. It’s not just when a mom is in crisis and needs a one-on-one. It’s the way we welcome her in the building. It’s how we hand her a clipboard or answer the phone. Every interaction is an opportunity to reflect Christ’s love—not just a generic “niceness,” but something deeper. We want our moms to feel they are loved, seen, and valued.

The space itself reflects our Orthodox faith. You’ll see icons on the walls. Moms will come in and say, “Ooh, Jesus be up in here!”—they might not know exactly what they're seeing, but they can feel it. That sense of sacred presence matters. We want this to be a place where God’s love is tangible.

But I don’t want to romanticize it, either. This isn’t easy. Sometimes we fall short. We get busy. We cut conversations short. We don’t always get it right. That’s why we’re constantly talking, praying, and checking in with each other—reminding ourselves that this is His ministry. And sometimes God has to tap us on the shoulder and say, “You need to stop writing that grant and go sit with that mom.”

We feel incredibly blessed to be part of a faith-based agency, especially one rooted in the Orthodox community. That grounding shapes how we serve, and it continues to stretch and grow us in beautiful ways. It’s a lot—but it’s something we continually strive for.

Treehouse moms with Mothers Day cards made by their children in the playroom while the moms attended class.

OYM: How have you personally grown through your time serving at The Treehouse—through something as simple as providing diapers, or as deep as walking with a mother in crisis?

Jaleen: It’s been life-changing. Truly. Getting to give back in this way has shaped me on so many levels.

As a mom—absolutely. I have four kids, and motherhood is beautiful but also really hard. Being here, learning from other moms, from our facilitators, from the programs we offer—it’s all helped me grow as a mother. I don’t think I’d be the same mom without The Treehouse.

And my faith—wow. It has deepened my faith in ways I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully express. When I started volunteering, I was very new to the Orthodox Church. Honestly, I didn’t even fully understand what Orthodoxy was. I had only scratched the surface. But I think that’s true for most of us entering the Church—there’s just so much depth, so much richness, that it really does take a lifetime to unpack.

But even without having all the answers, I knew I was being led. And working here has kept me rooted in something bigger than myself. It’s guided and directed me. And it’s something I still draw from every single day. Trying to put that into words is almost impossible—but it’s real. It’s shaped everything.

OYM: At OYM, we’re a ministry focused on young people, and we've noticed that many feel a bit lost in the Church. They have talents, passions, and gifts—but they don’t always know how to use them to serve. What advice would you give to a young person who wants to get involved in ministry or maybe even start something like The Treehouse?

Jaleen: Absolutely. I think about this often, especially because I have a senior and a sophomore in college right now. It makes me think of them and the questions they’re asking, too.

My advice would be: lean into the discomfort of trying something new. That nudge you feel inside—the sense that you’re called to more, even if you don’t know what that “more” is yet—that’s real. And holy.

A great place to start is by looking around your community. What are the needs? Who’s already doing something about them? Get your hands and feet involved with organizations that are already established, even if they’re small or just starting out. If they’ve got boots on the ground and their hands are busy meeting real needs, that’s where you can learn a lot.

Then, as you grow and mature, you may be called to start something new of your own. But so much of it starts by stepping into that unknown space and letting Christ guide you. It’s easy to walk away, to get busy, or to doubt the timing—but when you slow down and really listen to God’s nudging, it can absolutely change your life.

OYM: Is there anything you’d like to say in closing—about yourself, The Treehouse, or a final thought for our readers?

Jaleen: I truly believe that Christ has given us a unique opportunity at The Treehouse to walk alongside moms and babies at some of the most vulnerable points in their lives. And I think He knew exactly how to wrap His arms around these families—we just get to be part of that. Our mission reflects that love.

I hope that encourages other communities to consider starting something like The Treehouse. Most places have pregnancy care centers or services that offer short-term support when a woman is pregnant or right after birth. But extended care—that’s often missing. I believe every community could offer something like that.

I get calls all the time from moms who’ve moved—Oklahoma, North Carolina—you name it. They call and ask, “Where’s The Treehouse? I need The Treehouse.” I would love to be able to say, “Yes, there’s one near you.” So yes—I’m saying, “Start a Treehouse!” I know how that sounds, but I mean it. Listen to God's Word. Be attentive to that nudge. You never know how your yes can impact others.

OYM: What’s next for The Treehouse? Are there any future plans in the works?

Jaleen: Yes! This fall, we’re launching a new program called Getting Ahead, which we’re really excited about. It’s a powerful series designed to help families move from poverty into the middle class. We’re partnering with some wonderful agencies and another church here in Wichita to bring it to life.

We're always looking to grow and expand our programs. Right now, we’re in a vintage building, and while it has its quirks, we believe we're exactly where we’re meant to be. We’re located in the poorest zip code in Wichita—and that’s on purpose. Christ placed us here.

In the future, we may add onto our building. There’s definitely room to grow. I also hope to expand our staff. There are a few key roles we’d love to fill to continue offering excellent care to our moms. So yes—there’s plenty of vision for what’s ahead. But we’re grateful for where we are and who we’re serving, right now.

Learn more about the Treehouse at www.wichitatreehouse.org.