Name: Dawn Rains
Organization: Treehouse
Years Serving the Community: 34
When did you start working in nonprofit organizations and what was it that helped you decide to make this your career?
When I was in college, I knew I wanted to find a career where I could make a difference in the world, but I had no idea what the options might be. I thought for a moment about becoming a therapist, but did some well-timed volunteer work answering phones at a crisis clinic phone line that demonstrated that was not the right path for me. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to do two internships as part of my final year of college, one at the Department of Children, Youth & Families, and one at a tiny nonprofit focused on child abuse prevention that opened the doors of possibility, and one of them turned into my first job in the nonprofit sector.
What specific cause is the most important to you and why?
This is a REALLY hard question for me to answer, as I care about so many causes. However, the calling of my life has been about creating opportunities for historically marginalized young people and women and girls.
How has your work helped the community is real ways?
I spent the first half of my career working in the arts at Seattle Repertory Theatre, where 15 years of my life were punctuated by incredibly compelling and poignant moments on those stages experienced in the community of others. I am proud to have been part of bringing more than 50 productions to the greater Puget Sound region, and the power of theater to young people in schools. The arts teach us so much about ourselves and each other. During my time at Treehouse, I have been part of ensuring that young people in foster care can thrive and complete high school with a plan for their future. Over these past 10 years, we have increased the high school graduation rate for students in foster care from 36% to 53%.
What are the challenges that you are currently trying to work on and solve?
At Treehouse, our goal is that foster youth in Washington state will complete high school at the same rate as their peers, with support to implement their self-determined post-high school plan. We are really excited that all of our services are now available to young people statewide and the additional impact that will allow us to make.
Is there any specific event or memory that stands out to you about the impact you have had?
The day we announced that we were taking all of our services to young people across the state, an achievement we had been working toward for more than a decade.
How do you use collaboration to achieve goals and better outcomes?
Treehouse partners with young people in foster care and their communities to transform the systems holding them back. On behalf of individual youth, we collaborate with caregivers, social workers, and educators. Within communities, Treehouse engages child welfare and education nonprofit organizations, our community of donors, and volunteers. At the system level, we work with the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the Washington Student Achievement Council, and elected officials in Washington State Legislature.
What would you say to the community to get them more involved and to care about what is going on?
This morning, nearly 5,000 children and youth across our state woke up in unfamiliar surroundings. They left behind favorite clothing and treasured belongings. They are worrying about what is going to happen to them and whether they are going to get to see their Mom or their siblings this week. Now imagine what it is like for these young people to focus on school in the midst of this kind of trauma, transition and loss. When our young people do not graduate from high school, they are exponentially more likely to experience unemployment, poverty, homelessness and incarceration. As a community, we have a special responsibility to kids in foster care—the kids for whom the state has taken legal responsibility–to ensure they have every opportunity to thrive.
If you weren’t working in nonprofits, what are your other passions?
I will always love the theater. I also love going to the movies, karaoke, gardening and my dogs. They teach you the true meaning of unconditional love and being in the moment.
How do you plan on surviving and making the most out of the next 4 years with the new administration?
I will continue to do everything I can to advocate for and protect our young people and our communities. I will use my privilege and platforms to ensure that marginalized voices will continue to be heard.
What are some of the things people can do at home or on their own to help make a difference in the community, specifically the area that you focus on?
You can make a difference in the lives of young people in foster care if you have a minute, an hour, a day or a lifetime. I would love for people to give generously, to volunteer, and to be a voice for our young people in foster care with the legislature through our online advocacy tool at www.treehouseforkids.org/take-action/advocate. I would also call on members of our LGBTQIA communities to become foster parents, as LGBTQIA youth are so overrepresented in foster care and need caregivers that will support affirm their identities.
