Editor’s Note: Many organizations in Washington are working hard to improve the lives of foster children. Seattle-based Treehouse is one of them — a nationally recognized leader in supporting foster kids through school and the transition to young adulthood. The Washington legislature cut $7.46M from Treehouse funding — nearly 1/3 of the organization’s annual budget — in the 2025-27 biennial budget it approved last month. In May, Treehouse called on Governor Bob Ferguson to find a way to sustain programs like Treehouse “and avoid dismantling a decade’s worth of progress for our most marginalized students.” We asked Treehouse CEO Dawn Rains to tell us about her organization’s work and what readers can do to support kids in care.
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Dawn Rains is the Chief Policy & Strategy Officer at Treehouse. (Image courtesy Treehouse)
This month, I am proud to celebrate 16 years at Treehouse, years built on passion originally ignited by my experience as a foster parent. During that experience, I was profoundly struck by a foster care system that didn’t really work for anyone — not the children and youth it’s meant to protect, not the parents struggling to do better, the foster parents and relative caregivers trying to provide stability, or the case workers stretched to their limits. That experience made me realize this was the work that my heart wanted to do.
This morning, nearly 5,000 children across our state woke up in foster care. When Child Protective Services intervened, likely at school — most never saw that school again. They left behind their favorite clothing, treasured belongings, and their sense of stability. Many are wondering when or whether they’ll see their mom or siblings again. For some, this is their first foster care placement; for others, it’s their tenth.
Imagine being a young person navigating school amidst that kind of transition, trauma, and loss. Many are forced to change schools when they enter foster care. They leave behind trusted teachers, counselors, and coaches — the very people who might have helped them cope. They become the “new kid” once again. Records take weeks to transfer, delaying needed special education services. They miss out on extracurriculars because they weren’t there for tryouts. When court dates or therapy sessions interrupt their learning, they fall further behind. And when their trauma manifests into challenging classroom behavior, they are often suspended or expelled. This all sends the message that school is not a place for them.
We know that when youth in foster care do not graduate from high school, the impact can be devastating: poverty, homelessness, and/or incarceration. That’s where Treehouse steps in. We provide critical support to help youth in foster care feel included and empowered in school. By supplying clothing, shoes, and school supplies, youth can show up feeling confident. Treehouse funds extracurricular and school activities so foster youth can experience the joy of being on a team, participating in a club, or performing on stage, leading to foundational relationships with peers and adult role models.
Treehouse educational advocates work with caregivers, caseworkers, and educators to ensure school records are transferred, educational testing is conducted, and exclusionary discipline is minimized. Treehouse education coaches work directly with 8th to 12th graders to provide the educational stability and encouragement they need to stay on track to graduate and plan for the future.
These direct interventions, anchored by human connection, are essential to changing the educational trajectory of foster youth, but without changes to the education and foster care systems themselves, our students will continue to face barriers.
Thanks to Treehouse’s leadership and advocacy, Washington state now has some of the strongest laws in the country addressing the educational needs of foster youth. Today, both the foster care and education systems share responsibility for ensuring these students’ stability and success. But laws alone do not change lives.
Our role at Treehouse is to create conditions for foster youth to thrive in school and in life, on their own terms. In 2023, we announced that Treehouse would expand our programs to serve every student in foster care in every corner of our state. More young people than ever need us in their corner, but we cannot do this alone. Sixty percent of our budget comes from our communities — from people like you. Even as critical government funding is at risk, we are stretching to keep up with the demand, and we need your help.
Colleagues in other states often tell me, “I wish we had a Treehouse.” The truth is, Treehouse is one-of-a-kind. We are the only organization in the country providing this breadth of educational and support services at this scale and effectiveness. We are only able to do so because of our community. Together, we form the village that youth in foster care so desperately need.
Our mission is simple but powerful: to create opportunities for foster youth to thrive. Our vision is a future where every young person impacted by foster care has what they need to determine their own path and build the life of their dreams. But we can’t achieve this vision alone.
Be the village that foster youth deserve. They are counting on us.
This article is one piece of our special series on foster and kinship care, highlighting the voices and experiences of foster youth, caregivers, and communities supporting them. Explore the full series to read more of these important stories.
Unsung Heroes: Caring for kids who aren’t their own | Across Washington, tens of thousands of kids are being raised by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives — often without formal foster care support. As the state prioritizes keeping families together, kinship caregivers are filling the gap, frequently at great personal cost. Explore how policy shifts, community programs, and grassroots resilience are changing the face of caregiving and the future for these children.
How we became licensed foster parents in Washington | One family’s year-long journey to become a licensed foster parent — filled with paperwork, training, and plenty of heart — offers a firsthand look at the process. From orientation to their first placement, their story sheds light on the realities of stepping into foster care.
Paying It Forward: A former foster youth gives back | Kyle Martinez grew up in the foster care system, unsure of what his future might hold. Today, he’s using that experience to uplift others — mentoring youth in care and speaking out for stronger support systems. His journey from uncertainty to advocacy shows the impact one person can make when given the tools to thrive.
