Study Examines Educational Liaison Program’s Role in Supporting Students in Foster Care

A new study evaluates the effectiveness of the Educational Liaison program, an intervention designed to improve school engagement among students in foster care. Published in Children and Youth Services Review and coauthored by Westat’s Eishi Adachi, PhD, the research examines how dedicated educational support can help address the academic challenges and school instability that youth in foster care often experience.

Students in foster care face unique barriers to educational success, including frequent school changes and disruptions that can affect attendance, achievement, and long-term outcomes. The study, “Evaluating a school engagement intervention for students in foster care: the Educational Liaison program,” was sponsored by the Marion County Child Advocacy Center of Indianapolis, Indiana, and assesses the program’s impact on student engagement and educational experiences.

Adachi and the coauthors’ findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and child welfare professionals working to improve educational outcomes for children and youth involved in foster care.