Success Coaches’ Perspectives on Student Impacts of the Wellness, Resiliency, and Partnerships Project

Students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) often experience unique academic challenges and strengths, with many students lacking access to the supports that they need. This study examined student impacts of the Wellness, Resiliency, and Partnerships (WRaP) project, through which success coaches provided individualized wraparound supports to students with FASD in high schools across Alberta. A secondary data analysis of focus groups with success coaches was conducted using qualitative description. Resulted showed four themes related to student impacts from the perspectives of success coaches including: (1) develop positive relationships, (2) academic success, (3) experience wraparound supports, and (4) social-emotional gains. The first theme showed that students developed positive relationships with success coaches. Two subthemes highlighted that students received caring support from success coaches and had access to a safe space. The second theme showed that students experienced academic success. Three subthemes included academic achievement, increased school attendance, and that students had a more positive view and experience of the school system. The third theme identified that students experienced wraparound supports. Four subthemes described that students connected with community resources, received support outside of school, experienced adaptive and responsive supports, and experienced integrated supports. The final theme revealed that students experienced social-emotional gains. Two subthemes included that students had more supported caregivers which resulted in stronger relationships with caregivers and that students experienced enhanced social-emotional wellbeing. This study highlights the importance of wraparound supports in promoting the academic, social, emotional, and behavioural needs of students with FASD.