TY - JOUR
T1 - Low-Intensity, Home-Based Learning Interventions for 11-17-Year-Olds in Family Foster Care
T2 - A Scoping Review
AU - Baviskar, Siddhartha
AU - Thygesen, Stine
AU - Dencker-Larsen, Sofie
AU - Bergström, Martin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2026/2/4
Y1 - 2026/2/4
N2 - Purpose: This is a scoping review of low-intensity, home-based interventions promoting learning for 11-17-year-olds in foster care. Research shows that children in out-of-home care fall behind in
school compared to their peers. Interventions to improve learning outcomes for these children typically i) target young children or children aging out of care, and ii) require many resources to
implement. Low-intensity, home-based interventions for foster children have shown promise.
Materials and Methods: We use scoping review methodology to comb through the research literature in four languages across 15 databases. Results: From the resulting 1,355 studies, we
identified nine studies comprising seven interventions meeting our inclusion criteria, which we categorized into three groups: interventions with tutors as delivery agents (n=3), interventions with foster carers as delivery agents (n=3), and interventions based on distributed materials (without delivery agents) (n=1). We describe the interventions in each category, their key similarities and their outcomes. Discussion: Interventions vary in delivery agents and session structure, with tutorled programs often aiming to improve math and reading skills. While such interventions may have limited efficacy compared to high-intensity alternatives, they offer advantages in feasibility, reach
and sustainability, potentially yielding broader population-level impact. Geographic differences suggest contextual factors influence delivery models. Matching interventions to children with fewer support needs and ensuring fidelity is key to meaningful outcomes. Conclusion: There is a need for more well-evaluated low-intensity, home-based interventions that address the unique contextual factors of out-of-home care.
AB - Purpose: This is a scoping review of low-intensity, home-based interventions promoting learning for 11-17-year-olds in foster care. Research shows that children in out-of-home care fall behind in
school compared to their peers. Interventions to improve learning outcomes for these children typically i) target young children or children aging out of care, and ii) require many resources to
implement. Low-intensity, home-based interventions for foster children have shown promise.
Materials and Methods: We use scoping review methodology to comb through the research literature in four languages across 15 databases. Results: From the resulting 1,355 studies, we
identified nine studies comprising seven interventions meeting our inclusion criteria, which we categorized into three groups: interventions with tutors as delivery agents (n=3), interventions with foster carers as delivery agents (n=3), and interventions based on distributed materials (without delivery agents) (n=1). We describe the interventions in each category, their key similarities and their outcomes. Discussion: Interventions vary in delivery agents and session structure, with tutorled programs often aiming to improve math and reading skills. While such interventions may have limited efficacy compared to high-intensity alternatives, they offer advantages in feasibility, reach
and sustainability, potentially yielding broader population-level impact. Geographic differences suggest contextual factors influence delivery models. Matching interventions to children with fewer support needs and ensuring fidelity is key to meaningful outcomes. Conclusion: There is a need for more well-evaluated low-intensity, home-based interventions that address the unique contextual factors of out-of-home care.
KW - children and youth
KW - Anbragte børn og unge
KW - Intervention
KW - læring
KW - lavintensive
KW - hjemmebaseret
KW - Intervention
KW - home-based, low-intensity,
KW - scoping review
KW - out-of-home care
KW - learning
KW - social work and social conditions
KW - research designs, theory and method
U2 - 10.1080/26408066.2026.2624675
DO - 10.1080/26408066.2026.2624675
M3 - Journal article
SN - 2640-8066
SP - 1
EP - 21
JO - Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work
JF - Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work
ER -