Treehouse Educational Advocates support students in foster care by providing timely, appropriate educational supports and interventions tailored to each individual’s academic and developmental needs.
By partnering with a team of existing supports in a youth’s life — caregivers, caseworkers, teachers, school counselors, and community providers — Treehouse Educational Advocates help resolve barriers and identify needed resources for the youth to make progress at school.
Working with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the Educational Advocacy program serves pre-K through 12th-grade students across Washington state who have Tribal, Federal, or State legal status of dependent or shelter care status and are attending or attempting to attend a Washington state public school.
The program provides support on a short-term basis (1-6 months typically). Once the immediate educational needs have been met, the student will be transitioned out of the Educational Advocacy program. While the youth’s program enrollment may close, the referral remains current throughout the school year. Therefore, the youth can be re-enrolled if additional needs occur during the same school year.
Treehouse accepts referrals for Washington State youth with open dependency cases with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Tribal, or the Federal Foster Care system from:
- Washington State DCYF caseworkers
- Tribal or Federal Foster Care caseworkers
- Washington State OSPI, school district, and school staff (foster care liaisons, school counselors, building points of contact, or other school staff)
- Case managers with foster placing agencies or group homes
- CASAs
- Guardians ad litem
- Attorneys Representing Youth
If you fulfill one of the above roles and would like to request a username and password, please request an account. Each individual making a referral should have their own username and password. You will receive your new username and password within two business days.
Visit Treehouse to submit a referral.
Please email your Regional Education Lead or k12education@dcyf.wa.gov if you have education questions.