Educational Advocacy

Advocates help students hurdle obstacles.

Treehouse educational advocates are experts who work with schools, social workers, foster families and students to resolve difficult issues and remove barriers to foster kids’ school success. Advocates’ work includes

  • helping students access education-related support services, including special education;
  • preventing school changes when students’ home placements change;
  • paving the way for seamless transitions when school changes are unavoidable;
  • minimizing the effects of disciplinary actions that keep students out of school; and
  • training caregivers, social workers and the students themselves to advocate for students’ educational rights.
Educational Advocacy services have been available to children statewide since 2006, when Treehouse received an exclusive contract to replicate this groundbreaking program in all six Department of Social and Health Services regions, from Aberdeen to Palouse.

Foster Care Fact

  • A study of foster care alumni in the northwest found that 65% had changed schools seven or more times between elementary school and high school.