We also seek to examine and gather experiences on how the B2S program functions as a primary service intervention in Norway and how the implementation of the intervention should be adapted and potentially further developed to best suit Norwegian conditions. Another goal is to use the knowledge from the pilot project to design a larger Norwegian study of the Back 2 School initiative in Norway.

Who is the B2S pilot project relevant for?

Children and adolescents aged 6-16 years who have 10% or more undocumented absenteeism from school in the last three months. The student/parents/school are motivated for the B2S program assistance.

Children and adolescents with a confirmed diagnosis within the autism spectrum disorder. Children and adolescents with ongoing severe eating disorders, ongoing psychotic disorders, or acute suicide risk, and for those reasons require more intensive follow-up in specialist health services.

Who participates in the pilot project?

Eight Norwegian municipalities from across the country are participating. These municipalities are Frogn and Holmestrand (Southern and Eastern Region), Stjørdal and Trondheim (Mid Region), Bergen, Bjørnafjorden, and Sandnes (Western Region), and Tromsø (Northern Region).

In March 2022, teams consisting of three professionals from each municipality received training. Subsequently, each team gained experience in implementing the Back 2 School program under weekly guidance. The teams receive weekly guidance on the delivery of the service throughout the project period during the 2022-23 school year.

In the pilot study, 16 children and adolescents aged 6-16 years with concerning school absenteeism, along with their parents and schools, will be offered the B2S program during the 2022-2023 school year.

How are we investigating the research questions in the pilot study?

The pilot study follows a mixed-method approach. We investigate and gather experiences by summarizing responses to questionnaires and tracking absenteeism at multiple time points at the beginning, the end, and three months after the completion of the program. Participants' experiences and perceptions of the intervention are examined through interviews with participants, including children/adolescents, parents, and teachers.