Fostering Success: Trauma, Stability, and Academic Outcomes in Foster Youth

Foster youth face educational and mental health challenges that hinder academic success and well-being. Despite policy efforts, they experience high dropout rates, low college completion, and placement instability, disrupting education and worsening trauma. Research often isolates academic and psychological barriers, overlooking their interconnected nature. This review integrates insights from education, psychology, and social work to propose comprehensive solutions. Evidence-based interventions, such as trauma-informed care, mentorship, and academic support, are shown to enhance resilience, self-efficacy, and emotional regulation. Emphasizing institutional and policy reforms, the review advocates for proactive systems addressing stability, mental health, educational preparedness, and social belonging. Its findings aim to guide future research, improve collaborative practices, and shape policy improvements, promoting long-term success, empowerment, and independence for foster youth.