Contact Your Legislator Today

Treehouse’s Educational Advocacy program is the primary lifeline between vulnerable youth in foster care and success in school.  Let's keep it in the budget.  Here's how.  See the responses we got from two Representatives.

Please contact your legislator before Friday February 19, 2010 with this message:

Subject Line for emails: Keep Treehouse Educational Advocacy for foster kids in the budget

Message to send or phone in:
Please support the budget request for Treehouse in the House Operating Budget.  Treehouse’s Educational Advocacy contract improves school stability for foster kids which helps them keep permanent homes and increases the likelihood that they’ll graduate from High School.

How to contact your legislator:
Washington State Legislative Hotline:  1-800-562-6000
8 am - 8 pm Monday - Friday
You will be asked to give your name, street address, and a short message.

If you know your legislator’s name, you can find contact information here:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rosters/Members.aspx

If you don’t know your legislator's name, use this link and click “find your district”:
http://www.leg.wa.gov/pages/home.aspx

Our $1 million annual contract with the state for Educational Advocacy is in danger.  This week the State Senate and House are determining their priorities and the State budget.  We know advocacy is critical for foster kids, so our Board of Directors has committed to raising 1/3 of the funds for the program and we are asking the state to provide 2/3 each year.  Urge your legislator to support Treehouse's Educational Advocacy contract in the operating budget.

Spread the word!  Forward this to friends, family, co-workers via email, Twitter, and Facebook.

From Representative Reuven Carlyle
Tracy, I am a strong supporter of Treehouse, and I'm down here working incredibly hard on their behalf. Thanks so much for reaching out to share your passion and advocacy for them. I really appreciate it.

Your partner in service,
Reuven

From Representative Dickerson
Tracy -

Thank you for your email. I was a co-founder of Treehouse and definitely support your good work. 

We made $4 billion in cuts last year -- balancing the budget without raising revenue.  This year, we face a $2.8 billion deficit.  I will not be supporting another all cuts budget and have been working with my colleagues to find a revenue package that will help save vital programs.  Whatever revenue options we decide on, they will most likely be taken to the ballot for a vote.  As a result, we not only have to find a package that will pass the legislature but one that will also be supported by the public statewide. 

Thank you for your message!

Rep. Dickerson