Evaluating the Back 2 school program in a Norwegian setting: A multicenter pilot study.
Problematic school absenteeism is a significant challenge for many young individuals, their parents, schools, and support services. The consequences of prolonged absenteeism are substantial. Experience and research suggest that interventions need to take place in various settings to be effective. By focusing on the child, the family, and the school, the purpose of Back 2 School (B2S) is to assist the young person in returning to school and to enhance their well-being in attending school. The goal of this observational pilot study is to gain experiences in using the Back2School (B2S) program for youth with school attendance problems when implemented in Norwegian community school- and health services. The main aim is to assess the feasibility of the Back 2 School program when implemented in Norwegian community school- and health services. Methods: 14 youth (10-16 years), their caregivers and the school participate in the B2S program provided by an interdisciplinary team during the school term of 2022-2023. The pilot study follows a mixed-method approach. School attendance rates before entrance to the B2S program, at termination of the program and at 3-month follow-up are compared. Also, reports on psychological difficulties, quality of life, and school related-self efficacy at baseline and after the intervention are compared. Participants experiences with the program are investigated through qualitative interviews with youths, caregivers, teachers and service providers.
The pilot project does not have external funding, but is supported by the aforementioned research institutions.
However, the project group has submitted an application to the Research Council of Norway in November 2023.
Title of project:
Preventing marginalization in vulnerable youth. Optimizing and implementing a collaborative school attendance intervention
NFR-Program: Collaborative and Knowledge-building Project Collaborative Project
Project leader (PI): Jo Magne Ingul, NTNU.
The planned project is a collaborative project between researchers at the four Regional Centers for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (RBUP South East/RKBU West, Midt and Nord), NTNU, UiT Norway's Arctic University, the University of Bergen, the University of Stavanger, two Norwegian municipalities ( Stjørdal and Bjørnafjord), and user representatives.
NTNU -RKBU In the middle Jo Magne Ingul (Project manager), Kari Walmsness, and Elisabeth Valmyr Bania
UiT Norway's Arctic University - Department of Psychology by Toril Sørheim Nilsen (Co-project leader), UiT Norway's Arctic University - RKBU Nord by Frode Adolfsen, Marte Rye and Henriette Kyrrestad. RBUP South East by Simon Peter Neumer.
NORCE/RKBU Vest by Kristin Gärtner Askeland.
University of Bergen, Faculty of Psychology at Bente Storm Mowatt Haugland,
The University of Stavanger - The Learning Environment Center at Trude Havik.
International partner: Project manager for the Danish B2S study, Professor Mikael Thastum at the University of Aarhus.