10.03.2016

Treehouse Launches Graduation Success Program in Spokane

Community Kick-off Event to Highlight How Program Levels the Playing Field for Students in Foster Care

WHAT: Treehouse, a local nonprofit providing academic and other essential support to more than 7,000 children and youth in foster care in Washington each year, invites you to an evening event at the Glover Mansion to learn about the expansion of the organization’s Graduation Success program to Spokane. Currently, fewer than half of youth in foster care in Washington graduate from high school. During this evening event Treehouse CEO Janis Avery, Education Services Program Associate Director Angela Griffin, and Spokane-based Education Services Program Manager Ernest Henderson will share about Treehouse’s evidence-based program which provides students in foster care in Spokane high schools with the one-on-one, proactive academic coaching, monitoring, and planning support that all students need to graduate from high school. The event will be a casual, informational gathering of 50+ community partners, legislators, and supporters.

WHY: Students in foster care in Washington are struggling. Fewer than half graduate from high school due to the emotional trauma they’ve endured, frequent school and home transitions in foster care, and lack of basic skills. This results in disproportionately high rates of poverty, homelessness, incarceration, mental illness, unplanned pregnancy, and substance abuse when they leave care. These poor life outcomes are tragic for these individual youth as well as our community as a whole. In 2012, Treehouse launched the evidence-based Graduation Success program in King County with the goal of closing the graduation gap for students in foster care by 2017. As of this June, 82% of Treehouse’s Class of 2015 students in King County have graduated from high school–on par with the extended graduation rate for ALL Washington students! Thanks to this proven track record and the support of our state’s legislature, we are now thrilled to be expanding the Graduation Success program into the Spokane and Tacoma School Districts. The success of Graduation Success is dependent on strong community partnerships with schools, child welfare, local agencies, legislators, and community supporters of kids in foster care. This kick-off event aims to build and strengthen our partnership in this work to support the hundreds of youth in foster care in the Spokane area who equally deserve to succeed in school and in life. Please note that this is not a fundraising event.

WHERE: The Glover Mansion, 321 W. 8^th Ave.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 12, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Presentation to begin at approximately 6:30pm

Individual interviews with Treehouse leadership can be arranged prior to or after the event.

About Treehouse
Founded in 1988, Treehouse is Washington’s leading nonprofit organization addressing the academic and other essential needs of kids in foster care. Treehouse helps 7,000 kids in foster care each year through programs that help them succeed in school, fulfill key material needs, and provide important childhood experiences every child deserves. Treehouse has set an ambitious goal that foster youth will graduate from high school at the same rate as their peers with a plan for their future. Learn more at treehouseforkids.org.

*Members of the media are invited to join the event and are free to record.

** A Treehouse spokesperson will be available prior to or after the event for interviews or during the event for brief comments.