On the Way Home: Program description and preliminary findings

Reintegrating into the home, school, and community settings following a stay in out-of-home care can present significant challenges to school-aged youths. During this transition, social, behavioral, and educational challenges can result in placement instability, academic failure, and ultimately school drop-out. This article describes a home and school-focused transition program, On the Way Home, which was designed to support youths, families, and schools during this critical reintegration period. The intervention model, preliminary data on program effects on youth placement and educational stability, and future research are discussed.