FOSTER CARE CASE STUDIES

Longstanding Medicaid Partnerships. Measurable Academic Impact.



ETS partners with Medicaid health plans and child welfare systems to deliver reliable, trauma-informed academic support for children and youth involved in foster care. For nearly three decades, ETS has focused on one outcome: ensuring educational continuity for highly mobile, high-need learners.

The following case studies—drawn from partnerships with Medicaid health plans in North Carolina and Oklahoma—demonstrate ETS’s ability to operate at scale, sustain engagement, and deliver measurable outcomes over time.

North Carolina Health Plan Partnership

NORTH CAROLINA | 2019–2025 | SIX-YEAR TRACK RECORD

 

When a Medicaid health plan in North Carolina required a tutoring partner capable of serving children statewide without interruption, ETS was selected to design and deliver a virtual-first academic support program. Six years later, the program continues to operate with consistent outcomes, high utilization, and zero service disruptions.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

 

✔ Children Served: 13,500+

✔ Tutoring Hours Delivered: 306,000+

✔ Engagement Rate: 88–93%

✔ Participation Rate: 78–84%

✔ Hour Utilization: 85–92%

✔ Service Continuity: 100% (including COVID-19)

PROGRAM DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS

 

Member-initiated digital enrollment reduced administrative burden for care managers

100% virtual delivery eliminated transportation and placement barriers

Statewide coverage ensured equitable access across rural and urban communities

Weekly sessions created consistency and structure for students with academic gaps

The tutoring program functioned as a stabilizing academic resource during one of the most disruptive periods in modern schooling. Its virtual-first, weekly model ensured uninterrupted academic support when traditional instructional environments were inconsistent. As a result, students demonstrated sustained participation and engagement throughout the period of disruption.

Program Evaluation Report

NC Health Plan

COVID-19 CONTINUITY

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ETS maintained uninterrupted service delivery while many education vendors paused or scaled back operations. Engagement and utilization increased from 2020–2022 as families relied on tutoring to mitigate academic regression.

Oklahoma Health Plan Foster Care Initiative

OKLAHOMA | MAY 2024–PRESENT | FOSTER-CARE EXCLUSIVE

 

A Medicaid health plan in Oklahoma sought a tutoring partner with direct experience supporting children in foster care. ETS implemented a blended delivery model designed to address placement instability, trauma exposure, and the need for rapid service initiation.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

 

✔ Foster Youth Served: 950+

✔ Tutoring Hours Delivered: 21,000+

✔ Delivery Model: 90% Virtual / 10% In-Person

✔ Engagement Rate: 85–90%

✔ Attendance Consistency: 72–79%

✔ Re-engagement After Placement Changes: Significantly above industry norms

FOSTER CARE SPECIFIC PROGRAM DESIGN

 

Care-manager referrals aligned tutoring with each child’s individualized service plan

Monthly narrative progress reports provided caseworkers with actionable academic insight

24–48 hour caregiver outreach enabled rapid enrollment following placement

Health Equity Zone prioritization focused resources on the most vulnerable communities

Tutors trained specifically to support trauma-impacted, highly mobile learners

CARE MANAGER OBSERVATIONS

What Care Managers Consistently Report

 

 Increased attempts in challenging academic tasks

Improved confidence reading aloud

Greater ability to sustain focus during sessions

Reduced frustration and shutdown behaviors

Improved stamina for multi-step assignments

National Scalability

BUILT FOR FEDERAL AND STATEWIDE DEPLOYMENT

 

ETS has spent nearly 30 years building the infrastructure, workforce, and compliance systems required to support foster youth at a national scale. Our operational model is designed to meet the reporting, equity, and continuity requirements of state and federal partners.

WHY FEDERAL PARTNERS CHOOSE ETS

 

✔ Scale Without Sacrifice: Rapid onboarding without waitlists or quality degradation

✔  Follows the Child: Tutoring continuity through placement and school transitions

✔  Data-Driven Accountability: Dashboards and reports aligned with federal requirements

✔ Cost-Effective Delivery: $35/hour with industry-leading utilization

✔ Operational Resilience: Six years of uninterrupted service through disruption