Gearing up for a new school year can be as stressful as it is exciting. But for some Clark County foster youth, they have a little less to worry about thanks to Washington nonprofit Treehouse’s annual pop-up shop.
Thursday morning’s pop-up store at Clark College was part of the organization’s yearly initiative to provide foster youth with essential school supplies, clothing and electronics as they prepare for the new school year. Now in its third year locally, the event welcomed about 75 foster youth from high schools across Clark County. The students are all enrolled in Treehouse’s Graduation Success program.
Students browsed a selection of new donated clothing — and some left with a brand-new laptop. The event is designed to meet students’ needs, offering necessities they don’t have access to, Treehouse Regional Manager Alyosha Van Dusen said.
“Working with foster youth, there’s many transitions happening in their life,” Van Dusen said. “When our education specialists connect with youth, they stay with them even if they move throughout the Clark County area. Having stability and building that community is extremely important.”
Treehouse has a physical resource store in Seattle that operates year-round and provides clothing, school supplies, books and backpacks to youth in that area.
The idea behind the pop-up is to bring that experience to locations across the state, including Vancouver and Spokane, Van Dusen said.
Treehouse supports the educational needs of 6,758 foster youth statewide, including about 250 in Clark County.
In Washington, nearly 15 percent of foster youth will experience three or more placement changes before they age out of the system at age 18. And only 53 percent of foster youth graduate from high school in four years.
Through the Graduation Success program, educational specialists at schools across the county provide mentorship, financial help and other support to guide foster youth on their high school journey, which can be disrupted as they move between homes.
“Even in the school year, we’re helping youth with other things like social skills, classes, driver’s ed and activities,” Van Dusen said. “When that’s disrupted and you’re in two to three different schools in a year, it’s hard to maintain friendships and connect with those other important aspects of school aside from sitting at a desk and doing your homework.”
Lead Education Specialist Matt Gale works with students in Clark County, as well across the state. Gale said education specialists typically work with about 18 students throughout the year and offer support over the summer.
“A lot of them have had changes in their relationships, and it takes a long time to build trust,” Gale said. “For us, one of the really cool things with the job is the consistency that we have. We’re in contact with youth every week, ideally in person at school, so we can get to know that person, reduce those barriers and support them. I think we’re in a really cool position to develop that trust.”
Gale worked with Mejdi Masri, 18, who graduated from Henrietta Lacks High School in June. Masri was part of the Graduation Success program throughout high school, while changing schools and foster homes multiple times.
“School was just genuinely hard, especially because I was always moving from school to school to school,” Masri said. “You go (to Treehouse) for a resource, and then you leave with even more resources. … Every time me and Matt would meet, his first question was: ‘How is school? Do you need anything?’”
Masri is now taking classes at Clark College and wants to join the U.S. Air Force.
Treehouse opened eligibility to all Washington school-age youth in foster care last year, causing referrals to jump, said Katie Adams, the organization’s content and public relations manager.
To be eligible for Treehouse services, foster youth must have an open dependency case, shelter care order or be in extended foster care with either the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families, the federal foster care system or one of the tribal foster care systems within Washington.
Van Dusen said the need in Clark County is still great. Treehouse currently has 20 students on the wait-list for its Graduation Success program, which Van Dusen said the organization hopes to mitigate soon.
“When we’re connecting with youth, it’s all about meeting youth where they’re at and building connections to get to know them better,” Van Dusen said.
