One-on-one support for students in foster care as they build a path to high school graduation and beyond.
Having just one dedicated person on their side makes all the difference for a young person navigating foster care. Our Graduation Success program pairs 9–12 grade students experiencing foster care with an Education Specialist to help them reach their goals.
The student sets their goals when working with an Education Specialist—a key factor in student-centered planning. Together, they discuss grades, attendance, behavior, and extracurricular interests in relation to their post–high school plan. To help achieve student goals, Education Specialists also collaborate with caregivers, social workers, teachers, and school counselors.
Our specialists work with 9–12 grade students to:
Graduation Success works because it’s youth-led, relationship-based, and backed by data. Treehouse has incorporated the Check & Connect intervention model and CANS assessment tool to ensure our youth are receiving the most effective services during the this crucial time in their lives.
Treehouse recognizes the unique needs of Tribal youth experiencing foster care across Washington state. Our Tribal Education Specialists provide the same quality, individual educational support as Education Specialists—but through a culturally affirming lens and in deep partnership with the Tribes.
Our Tribal Engagement Specialists are currently working with the following Tribes:
Treehouse collaborates with the Indian Child Welfare system and Tribes to serve youth from their communities. This includes practices like including a Tribal community partner on the hiring panel for new Tribal Education Specialists and taking part in monthly consultations with Tribal social workers. Ensuring our Tribal Education Specialists are engaged and invested in the communities they serve is crucial.
While the main goal of Graduation Success is high school completion, students and Education Specialists are also creating a plan for life after high school. And just like their peers, 18-year-olds need a network of support to navigate life as a new young adult.
All Treehouse participants who completed high school while enrolled in Graduation Succes are eligible for resource navigation. Treehouse connects young adults statewide with local resources and programs to obtain basic needs, coordinate housing services, and manage finances.
Young adults who completed high school while enrolled in Graduation Success can opt-in for continued check-ins with the specialist for up to one year after completing high school. The focus shifts to topics like:
Graduation Success is a long-term partnership between an Education Specialist and a 9–12 grade student. The goal of Graduation Success is to help students in foster care graduate from high school with a plan for their future.
Educational Advocacy is a short-term partnership between an Educational Advocate and the adults (caregivers, parents, school personnel, etc.) in a K–12 student’s life. The goal of Educational Advocacy is to remediate school issues and protect a student’s right to education.
An Education Specialist works one-on-one with high school students experiencing foster care to help them build a path to graduation and beyond. Education Specialists also partner with the adults in a student’s life (such as caregivers, social workers, teachers, and school counselors) to track individual needs, monitor educational progress, and provide services.
Tribal Education Specialists are hired in collaboration with partnering Tribes and are grounded within the communities they serve. They provide the same support as Education Specialists, but with a culturally competent lens to improve outcomes for Tribal youth in foster care.
The Check & Connect intervention model is a comprehensive student-engagement intervention pioneered by the University of Minnesota. It is demonstrated to improve graduation rates for youth. Treehouse has tailored the program model to address the specific education needs of youth in foster care.
CANS is a standardized assessment tool that reports on a youth’s strengths and needs. This allows a team to clearly see where more care, planning, and monitoring is required to strength a youth’s skills for the transition to adulthood.
Youth enrolled in Graduation Success are eligible for visits to the Treehouse Store and Just-in-Time Funding, among other Treehouse programs that help youth access essentials and experiences. Please see our Explore Services page to find the correct resource or funding program to meet your needs.
No, Treehouse does not offer tutoring. Please see our Explore Our Services page to find the correct resource or funding program to meet your needs. You can also find regional free or low-cost options listed in our Resource Center.
