Treehouse Eligibility Criteria 2025-2026
Updated 9/2025
To be eligible for Treehouse services, 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 (DCYF), the federal foster care system or one of the tribal foster care systems within Washington state at the time of initial referral. The case needs to both originate from Washington state and the youth needs to currently be placed in Washington.
In addition to meeting our program-wide eligibility requirements noted above, youth must also meet the program-specific requirements below to access services.
If you have questions about our program eligibility, please contact us at referrals@treehouseforkids.org.
Essentials and Experiences
Just-in-Time Funding and the Treehouse Store
Referral Frequency: Annual (July – June)
Age or Grade Requirement: Youth must be 5-21 years of age. Additionally, youth ages 0-5 who are placed in or have their case held in King County are eligible.
Legal Status: Youth must have an open State or Tribal dependency or shelter case (includes Extended Foster Care)
Placement Status: Youth must be placed in Washington state.
Note: Youth DO need an annual referral for these programs unless they are enrolled in Graduation Success or Launch Success. Referrals are active from the date of submission until the end of the referral year (June 30th), regardless of placement type. If a youth with an active referral returns home or achieves another form of permanency, they are still eligible to access the Store and Just-in-Time Funding for the remainder of the referral year. Youth will not be eligible for these services in the years following permanency.
Driver’s Assistance
Referral Frequency: No referral required
Age or Grade Requirement: Youth must be 15-20 years of age
Legal Status: Youth must have an open State or Tribal dependency case (includes Extended Foster Care)
Note: Youth DO NOT need a referral to access Driver’s Assistance. Eligible youth or their caregivers can make a request for assistance online and eligibility will be verified through Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) or Tribe Specific Indian Children Welfare (ICW) Director.
Holiday Magic
Referral Frequency: No referral required
Age or Grade Requirement: Youth must be 0-21 years of age.
Legal Status: Youth must have an open State or Tribal dependency or shelter case (includes Extended Foster Care). Youth with a Courtesy Supervision case that are a dependent of Washington state resident in a different region/state are also eligible.
Placement Status: Youth must be in an out-of-home care placement between October and December of the current year.
Note: DCYF and participating tribes provide a list of eligible youth to Treehouse annually. Treehouse contacts caregivers through email and mail notifications each fall. Active participants in Graduation Success and Launch Success are also eligible for Holiday Magic.
Fostering Futures
Educational Advocacy
Referral Frequency: Annual (July – June)
Age or Grade Requirement: All Kindergarten through 12th grade youth across Washington state.
Legal Status: Youth must have an open State or Tribal dependency or shelter case
School Enrollment Status: Youth who are enrolled or attempting to enroll in a public school with an immediate education need
- Youth must have one or more immediate need such as:
- Accessing school-based services such as a 504 plan, general education interventions and special education services
- Assistance addressing school disciplinary issues
- Student is at risk of retention or not making academic progress
- Assistance with school enrollment or Best Interest Determination
Note: Youth DO need a referral specifically for Educational Advocacy (separate from a referral for the Treehouse Store or Just-in-Time Funding). This should be submitted at any time an educational need arises.
Referrals remain current through the remainder of the school year, and youth can be re-enrolled in the Educational Advocacy program, as needed, throughout the school year.
Graduation Success
Referral Frequency: Youth need an initial referral for Graduation Success. Once enrolled, youth do not need their referrals to be renewed.
Age or Grade Requirement: Youth must be in 9th through 12th grade.
Legal Status: Youth must have an open State, Federal or Tribal dependency in Washington state.
School Enrollment Status: Youth pursuing a high school diploma or equivalent in the following school districts: Auburn, Battle Ground, Bellevue, Bethel, Central Valley, Clover Park, Deer Park, East Valley (Spokane), Edmonds, Federal Way, Franklin Pierce, Highline, Kent, Lake Washington, Mead, Puyallup, Renton, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, West Valley (Spokane), and Vancouver.
Tribal Affiliation: Available to youth affiliated with the following tribes placed anywhere in Washington State (no school district restriction): Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Lummi Tribe of the Lummi Reservation, Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians Washington, and Tulalip Tribes of Washington.
Please visit the website home page to see which school districts or tribes are currently open to new Graduation Success referrals.
Note: All participants in Graduation Success are eligible for Just-in-Time Funding and the Treehouse Store for the duration of their time in Graduation Success regardless of any changes to their legal status.
For additional information about any of these programs: Please visit our website at treehouseforkids.org or contact us at 206.267.5144. For additional questions about eligibility or referrals, please email referrals@treehouseforkids.org.