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Sunday, April 27, 2025 | Special Advertising Section 26than their peers, should be celebratedfor other paths to success, including GED completions, certificates ofachievement, apprenticeships andother diverse career pathways. Thebelief and pride in one's successshould take precedence overtraditional high school graduation,Adams says.%u201cEvery milestone deservescelebration as youth grow into theirpotential,%u201d says Adams. %u201cBut systemic barriers often prevent youth in fostercare from accessing the full range ofoptions that would allow them to thriveon their own terms.%u201dFoster youth often face additionalobstacles that disrupt their academicrhythm and subsequent success. Theyface frequent school changes due toinconsistent housing. School changesrequire new assessments, diverseteacher expectations, and socialfamiliarity with classmates and theirnew community. These disruptionsoften set a student back many monthsin her academic pursuits. These challenges are also exacerbated bythe gnawing belief that the most recenttransition may not be the last. Eachmove often requires new applicationsfor limited resources.%u201cLimited access to essentialresources undermines students' confidence and ability to explorevarious pathways,%u201d Adams says. %u201cWhile financial barriers prevent many fromaccessing opportunities that wouldhelp them discover and develop theirunique talents and interests. Thesechallenges make it difficult for youth in foster care to envision and pursue theirown definitions of success, whetherthat involves college, technical training,or direct entry into the workforce.%u201dLike foster care programs acrossAmerica, Treehouse%u2019s mission includesexpanding its holistic approach tosupporting youth beyond their high school tenure. Reducing the disparitybetween youth in foster care andtheir peers requires comprehensiveresources to support every facet ofa youth%u2019s experience, including earlyadulthood.%u201cThrough our Launch Successprogram, Treehouse continues to offerongoing support to youth after age 18,%u201dsays Adams. %u201cCoaches provide goalsetting guidance, resource navigation,and college and career prep to help them pursue various educationaland career pathways, including GEDcompletion, certificate programs,apprenticeships and college degrees.%u201dAccording to Adams, coordinatedsupport bridges the gap betweeneducation and foster care systems.This support not only helps youngpeople overcome common barriersbut also advocates for positive policychanges that directly benefit vulnerableyouth. These benefits includeacademic support such as tutoring and enrichment, and extended guidancethrough age 22. Communities benefitwhen every youth in foster care thrives.A closer look at Treehousedemonstrates how organizations SPONSORED CONTENTPROVIDED BY TREEHOUSEChildhood is complex. Many yearsare spent facing constant changesof mind and body, and a puzzle withnew pieces appears all the time. Andit isn't just natural development thatcan overwhelm youth as they mature;the same outside elements, many outof their control, can alter a linear, if notalways straight, development. Manyof these factors, including consistentconnections, access to materialand financial resources, and a solidfoundation, are most at risk for youth in foster care. %u201cYouth in foster care don%u2019t needrescuing,%u201d says Katie Adams, contentand PR manager at Treehouse, a foster youth organization in Washingtonstate. %u201cThey need the right benefitsto thrive, including resources, stabilityand people who believe in them.Youth in foster care show incredible resilience but disrupted connections and limited access to material andfinancial resources can make it harderto flourish.%u201dMany assume that, after high school,foster youth have outgrown their needfor stewardship and support. Not so, says Adams. To begin, foster youth,who are 23% less likely to graduate Building toward adulthood one foster child at a timeTreehouse Educational Specialist Erica Chang with Rashid, a Treehouse alumni, during one of their weekly check-ins. (Treehouse)Almost 200 young people in foster care attend summer camp every year with Treehouse's support, with youth and their caregivers writing back to us about the experience. Or in this case, drawing. (Treehouse)across America have added supportto expand their outreach goals tobenefit youth in foster care into earlyadulthood. The organization annuallyserves 6,400 youths across morethan 122 school districts. In eachcommunity, Treehouse \entire communities by reducing therisks of poverty, homelessness, andincarceration while building a moreeducated, stable, and prepared generation of youth.\Every school establishes positivesystems to aid its students as theygrow academically, psychologicallyand socially. For many children,this support is reinforced at home, providing critical stability. Youth infoster care often don%u2019t receive thisfoundation. Treehouse and similar organizations are determined to installthe planks and integrated servicesnecessary to build a solid matrix so that everybody thrives into adulthood. Since 1988, Treehouse has been supporting youth who%u2019ve experiencedfoster care. Treehouse believes in investing in education, personalgrowth and advocating for systemic change to remove barriers. Eachyear, we provide person-centered services to over 6,000 young peoplein Washington. Learn more at www.treehouseforkids.org.