Effectiveness of Education Focused Wraparound Services to Improve Academic Success for Foster Youth: A Pilot Study

Background: Youth with foster care experience are disproportionality burdened with poor academic outcomes compared to non-foster experience youth. The Fostering Academic Success in Education (FASE) pilot program provides comprehensive onsite educational case management services to foster care youth.

Objective: We used mixed methods to explore the effects of FASE on participating youth’s academic performance and perceived self-efficacy to manage mental health services and support.

Participants and Setting: Between 2020 and 2023, the FASE pilot program was delivered to 40 middle and high school students involved with child welfare services and in out-of-home placements.

Methods: Quantitative data comprised pre-post FASE intervention academic outcomes (GPA, attendance, and tardies) and the Youth Efficacy/Empowerment Scale-Mental Health (YES-MH). Paired sample t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used to assess difference in time outcomes. Qualitative generating questionnaires were administered to FASE youth and school personnel annually.

Results: After participating in FASE for one academic year, youths’ GPA significantly improved (mean 2.38-2.80, p=.001), tardies significantly reduced (mean 3.78-3.1, p=.011), unexcused periods significantly reduced (mean 17.30-9.51, p=.018) and there was a significant improvement in YES-MH scores (mean 46.9-55, p=.001). Female youth had larger GPA and YES-MH score increases than male youth. FASE youth and personnel attributed academic success to the comprehensive support received by the program’s educational social worker.

Conclusions: The FASE program holds promise in improving academic performance and mental health self-efficacy among foster care-involved youth.