Resource Center

Resources for Caregivers, Youth and Educators

To support the academic and life success of youth in foster care, Treehouse has compiled a listing of information and resources for youth in foster care and the caregivers and educators who support them. For other resource needs, contact Treehouse’s Resource Navigator at [email protected] or call 206.267.5140.

Resources for Caregivers

K-12 Academic Resources

College & Career Resources

Education Resource Wednesday

Resources for Caregivers

Guide to Supporting Students in Foster Care
Source: Treehouse
Digital guide containing numerous tips, tools and resources that promote best practices related to the education of Washington students in foster care.

Upholding Legal Rights with TeamChild
Source: TeamChild
Legal support for youth and assistance in accessing community services.

Center for Children and Youth Justice
Source: Center for Children and Youth Justice
Organization that provides legal support to youth in the juvenile justice system.

Trainings for Caregivers
Source: Alliance for Child Welfare
Catalogue of caregiver trainings on many topics related to youth experiencing foster care.

Important Safety Rules
Source: SafeHome.org
Teaching importance of safety at home and away.

Foster Care Centers of Excellence
Source: Alliance CaRES
Foster Care Centers of Excellence are medical centers in Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane that offer trauma-informed, comprehensive medical care for youth involved with the child welfare system.

Northwest Harvest Food Access Network
Source: Northwest Harvest
Map of food banks and meal programs across Washington state.

Caregiver Handouts
Source: Harborview Foster Care Clinic
Handouts with useful information for parents and other adults in the life of foster youth.

TransFamilies
Source: TransFamilies
Online support groups and forums for families with LGBTQ+ children, including Zoom groups and Discord gaming groups.

Independent Living Programs
Source: Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF)
Description of independent living programs in Washington state with a link to regional providers.

K-12 Academic Resources

Education Resources for Caregivers

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Source: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Information on K-12 education in Washington state.

Office of the Education Ombuds
Source: Office of the Education Ombuds
Services to ensure every student can participate in public education in Washington state.

Washington State Schools Achievement Index
Source: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Performance statistics for all schools in Washington state.

Tips for Getting Involved at School
Source: Washington State Governor’s Office of the Education Ombuds
Ways caregivers can contribute to children’s academic success by partnering with schools.

Parent-Teacher Conference Planner
Source: Treehouse
Step-by-step guidance to get the most out of parent-teacher conferences

Stop Bullying Now
Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Guidance on bullying: who is at risk and how to prevent and respond.

Education Resources for School Staff

Education Requirements for Youth in Foster Care
Source: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Information regarding laws, procedures, and school resources specific to students experiencing foster care.

The Journey of a Foster Child
Source: Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF)
Timeline of foster care legal process.

Recommended Practices for Schools to Involve Families
Source: Washington State Governor’s Office of the Education Ombuds
How schools can involve family members in students’ education and increase academic success.

Stop Bullying Now
Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Guidance on bullying: who is at risk and how to prevent and respond.

Bullying Children with Special Needs
Source: Cerebralpalsyguidance.com
Information and resources to help stop bullying of children with disabilities who are often the target of harassment, typically during school.

Resources for Educators
Source: Kahn Academy
Free lessons and exercises in numerous subject areas and tools to track student progress.

School Enrollment

The Family Guide to Working with Schools (pp. 31-37)
Source: Washington State Office of Education Ombuds, Treehouse, TeamChild
Guidance on how to enroll your child in a Washington state school.

Best Practices: Immediate Enrollment for Students in Foster Care
Source: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
In December 2015, Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and created new protections for children in foster care. These provisions, effective December 10, 2016, require school districts to work with child welfare agencies to ensure the educational stability of children in foster care.

School Discipline & Special Education

The Family Guide to Working with Schools – School Discipline (pp. 44-58)
Source: Washington State Office of Education Ombuds, Treehouse, TeamChild
Steps and students’ rights in the school disciplinary process.

The Family Guide to Special Education Services
Source: Washington State Office of Education Ombuds, Treehouse, TeamChild
Guidance on the process of identifying and addressing disabilities in school.

Discipline and Special Education FAQ
Source: Treehouse
Answers to common questions about discipline-related rights of students with disabilities.

Special Education and 504 Accommodation Plans FAQ
Source: Treehouse
Answers to common questions about the rights of students with disabilities.

Information and Resources for Writing Transition Plans into IEPs
Source: Seattle University
How to tailor an IEP to support a student’s transition to postsecondary education.

Examples of 504 Accommodations
Source: Lovejoy Schools and Casey Family Programs
Accommodations for students who do not qualify for special education but need extra help.

Special Education Parent Liaison
Source: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
How Special Education Parent Liaisons can assist caregivers in getting necessary supports.

High School Graduation

Graduation Pathways Toolkit
Source: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Current Washington state graduation requirements.

High School Credit Requirements
Source: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Credit requirements based on graduation year.

Washington State Exam Requirements
Source: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Required testing and approved alternate programs.

Career Link High School Completion Program
Source: South Seattle College (SSC)
Free diploma completion through SSC.

High School Equivalency Tests (GED)
Source: Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges
GED eligibility, practice and testing requirements.

Education Resource Wednesdays

Dive into education topics with local experts as they provide tools, resources and support to help foster parents and kinship caregivers guide their youth to academic success.

Education Resource Wednesdays is a free drop-in group that meets on the third Wednesday every other month from 6:30-8:00 pm. These virtual meetings will take place on Zoom. We’ll meet in the same Zoom room every month. The Zoom meeting ID is 979 4221 7041 or you can click here to join. There is no need to register, just join us for whatever meeting fits your schedule.

In partnership with Treehouse, the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and UW Alliance CaRES, these sessions will provide you with the opportunity to learn directly from educational experts and connect with foster parents and kinship caregivers by sharing your experiences.

Past Recordings & Upcoming Meetings

September 23, 2022: How to Advocate for and Monitor Academic Progress (view recording)
November 16, 2022: Supporting the Academic Success of Your Student (view recording)
January 18, 2023: Addressing Challenging Student Behavior (view recording)
March 15, 2023: Post-Secondary Resources for Education & Career Planning (view recording)
May 17, 2023: Understanding, Accessing and Supporting Special Education Services

Free Online Tutoring

Region 1: Spokane Public Library – Brainfuse HelpNow

Free online tutoring for all ages. Get help with homework, submit a question, interact with a live tutor, form online study groups, practice standardized tests, send your paper to the writing lab and more. A Spokane Public Library card is required to access. You can apply for a SPL card here.

Region 1: NCW Libraries (Wenatchee) – Help Now!

Live tutors are available from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily to help youth ace their homework or prepare for the GED, SAT, ACT, TOEFL and AP exams. Tutores disponibles en español. Log in any time to access practice tests, submit your research paper or resume to the writing lab, prepare for the U.S. Citizenship test, advance your Microsoft Office skills, and more! También disponible en español. Library card required, you can apply for one here.

Region 3: Sno-Isle Libraries (Snohomish) – Brainfuse HelpNow

Online tutors in every subject, writing help and more. Seven days a week, 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. A Sno-Isle Library card is required to access. You can apply for a Sno-Isle Library card here.

Region 4: King County Library System – Tutor.com

Get one-on-one, real-time tutoring. For students in grades K-12, entry-level college and adult learners. Submit an essay, math problem, cover letter or resume for review. Prepare for the SAT, ACT, AP or graduate school entrance exams. Get help with study skills for students and families. Available via chat and audio.

Tutor.com is available 24/7 but real-time tutoring is only available from 2:00 p.m. to midnight daily. Access to Tutor.com requires a King County Library card. You can apply for a King County Library card here.

Region 4: The Seattle Public Library – Tutor.com

Live English and Spanish tutors are available from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. Vietnamese tutors are available from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Log in to Tutor.com with a Seattle Public Library card or Library Link Number and PIN. To find out how to use your Seattle Public Schools student ID number, visit the Library Link page. You can apply for a Seattle Public Library card here.

Region 5: Pierce County Library System – HelpNow Online Homework Help

Online tutors are available every day from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., for one-on-one homework help. Live FAFSA help is also available. Go to Live Tutoring and under “select grade” choose FAFSA from the bottom of the list. The service is available in English or Spanish, for students of all ages. Online Homework Help requires a Pierce County Library card. You can apply for a library card here.

If your local library does not offer free online tutoring, you can access Tutor.com by using the instructions provided here.

College & Career Resources

College Resources

Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program
Source: Department of Social & Health Services
Financial assistance to youth in foster care who attend accredited colleges, universities or vocational/technical colleges.

Governors’ Scholarship for Youth in Foster Care
Source: College Success Foundation
Financial assistance for youth in foster care interested in attending college.

Washington State Opportunity Scholarship
Source: College Success Foundation
Support for low- and middle-income Washington State students to earn bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, math and health care.

Nitro College
Source: Nitro
An interactive tool that lets you sort through scholarships available for students with disabilities.

American Indian Endowed Scholarship
Source: Washington Student Achievement Council
Educational scholarships for high-achieving, low-income Washington State students with close ties to an American Indian tribe or community.

Foster Care to Success Casey Grant
Source: Casey Family
Undergraduate merit- and need-based scholarships for youth in foster care.

theWashBoard.org Scholarship Match
Source: Washington Scholarship Coalition
Tool that connects Washington State students with scholarship providers.

LGBTQ+ Scholarships
Source: Bestcolleges.com
A tool that connects LGBTQ+ students to possible scholarships.

Transgender College Student Resource Guide
Source: EduBirdie.com
Resources that are specifically intended to help transgender students thrive.

Trades and Career Resources

WorkSource Washington
Source: WorkSource
Tools for finding employment.

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Source: Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
Statewide resource that helps people with disabilities prepare for and find employment.

WorkForce Pre-apprenticeships
Source: WorkForce
List of pre-apprenticeships across Washington state.

ApprenticeshipUSA
Source: Apprenticeship USA
Resource for finding apprenticeships.

ANEW (King County only)
Source: ANEW
Organization that promotes equity in the trades with pre-apprenticeship programs in the King County area.

Questions?

For other resource needs, contact Treehouse’s Resource Navigator at [email protected] or call 206.267.5140.