Fatherhood Research & Practice Network

Save-the-Date: Next FRPN Webinar

Mark your calendars for the next Fatherhood Research & Practice Network (FRPN) webinar on Tuesday, May 22 at 12 p.m. EST. State Approaches to Including Fathers in Programs and Policies will feature six presenters from three states.

FRPN Grantee Reports

Since 2014, the FRPN has awarded funding to 13 research projects. Several of the 13 projects are now complete.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effectiveness of a Responsible Fatherhood Program: The Case of TYRO Dads

The Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion and the Ridge Project, Inc., received funding from the FRPN to conduct a single-blind, randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of the Ridge Project's “TYRO Dads” program in improving the father-child relationship among low-income, primarily unmarried, nonresidential fathers. Researchers collected data from 252 fathers who participated in the study at 17 research sites in eight cities in Ohio.

Download the study.

The DAD MAP Evaluation: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Culturally Tailored Parenting and Responsible Fatherhood Program

The Center for Urban Families (CFUF), in collaboration with Bright Sarfo, PhD, as the lead researcher, received funding from the FRPN to conduct a randomized control trial to test the efficacy of the Developing all Dads for Manhood and Parenting (DAD MAP) program. The study aimed to contribute to a growing body of research on effective practices within fatherhood programs by providing a rigorous study of a culturally tailored fatherhood curriculum for low-income fathers residing in Baltimore, Maryland.

Download the study.

New FRPN Research Brief: Attendance in Community-Based Fatherhood Programs

Attendance in fatherhood programs has been measured in multiple ways. This FRPN research brief addresses the problem of low attendance in programs for low-income fathers. Approaches to measuring attendance are reviewed, along with rates of attendance reported by programs, influences on attendance, the effects of attendance on fathers’ outcomes, and future directions for improving attendance and studying it.

Download the research brief here.

FRPN Webinar – Inside the Black Box Part 2: Fathers’ Attendance in Fatherhood Programs

The 10th FRPN learning community webinar focuses on participant attendance in fatherhood programs. Four presenters provided insight into attendance factors during the webinar. Practitioners discussed rates of attendance in their programs, factors that affect it and methods of increasing it. Researchers offered approaches to measuring attendance in fatherhood programs, the effects of attendance on fathers’ outcomes and future directions for studying it.

Watch the FRPN webinar here.

FRPN Validation Study of Child-Parent Relationship Scale Published in Journal of Family Psychology

This study uses a sample of 420 primarily low-income nonresident fathers to examine the reliability, convergent validity and predictive validity of measures of father–child closeness and conflict contained in the Child–Parent Relationship Scale–Short Form (CPRS-SF, Pianta, 1992).

Validity was examined across three child age groups: preschool, middle childhood and adolescence. The CPRS-SF closeness scale demonstrated measurement equivalence across time (conflict did not) and had excellent reliability and validity. Compared to the closeness scale, the CPRS-SF conflict scale was related to fewer validity items but still showed both convergent and predictive validity, including predicting child behavior problems (which the closeness scale did not). Both the closeness and conflict scales are recommended for use with low-income nonresident fathers.

Free NRFC Webinar: The Role of Women in Fatherhood Programs

Wednesday, March 21 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. EST

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) is providing this technical assistance webinar for all responsible fatherhood practitioners, including current OFA grantees, and other interested stakeholders.

In recognition of Women's History Month, this NRFC webinar will discuss how the voices of women have influenced fatherhood research, advocacy and public policy; explore the role of female professionals in the development and implementation of fatherhood services; and provide tips from female experts on how women can effectively deliver front-line fatherhood services such as case management and group facilitation.

Presenters include:

Linda Mellgren, Senior Social Science Analyst, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, US Department of Health and Human Services (Retired)

Kenneth Braswell, Project Director, National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse and Executive Director, Fathers Incorporated, Atlanta, GA

Cheri Tillis, Executive Vice President, Fathers' Support Center, St. Louis, MO

FRPN Co-Director Jay Fagan, PhD | Professor, Temple University School of Social Work

© 2018 Fatherhood Research & Practice Network. All rights reserved
The Fatherhood Research and Practice Network is supported by grant #90PR0006 from the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents are solely the responsibility of the Fatherhood Research and Practice Network, Temple University and the Center for Policy Research and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, the Administration for Children and Families or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.