The authors conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the TYRO Dads program. They examined whether attending the TYRO Dads program increases two primary outcomes: the frequency of fathers doing things with their child (or, in short, father-child activities) and their satisfaction with parenting their child (or, in short, parenting satisfaction). Second, they investigated whether differences in the primary outcomes between treatment and control group are attributable to four secondary outcomes of the program: fathers’ parenting efficacy, parenting role identity, perceived…
This report describes and summarizes results from a study conducted to test the effectiveness of the DAD MAP curriculum (Developing All Dads for Manhood and Parenting) on key fatherhood outcomes. The DAD MAP curriculum is used to guide the parenting workshop component of CFUF’s Baltimore Responsible Fatherhood Program (BRFP). The DAD MAP curriculum was developed by CFUF practitioner staff, in collaboration with researchers to outline procedures for teaching skills, guiding discussion, and facilitating interactive activities, with the goal of promoting responsible parenting and healthy…
This report provides an understanding of programmatic responsible fatherhood features that lead to strong engagement and participation by the fathers and provide context for the evaluation's forthcoming results on parenting, healthy relationships, and economic stability. This report specifically addresses three questions: 1) What were the circumstances, experiences, needs, and concerns of fathers at program entry? 2)To what extent and how did programs seek to address the needs, concerns, and circumstances presented by fathers; and 3) How did fathers respond to the offered programming in terms…
We study the sources of racial and ethnic disparities in income using de-identified longitudinal data covering nearly the entire U.S. population from 1989-2015. We document three sets of results. First, the intergenerational persistence of disparities varies substantially across racial groups. For example, Hispanic Americans are moving up significantly in the income distribution across generations because they have relatively high rates of intergenerational income mobility. In contrast, black Americans have substantially lower rates of upward mobility and higher rates of downward mobility…
The Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency (BIAS) Project team implemented 15 behavioral interventions, involving close to 100,000 clients. This compendium contains all the printed materials that were designed as part of those interventions. (Some interventions included nonprinted components, like robocalls and personal phone calls, which are not reflected in this document.) The interventions contribute to a body of knowledge about what works in human services settings. The BIAS team’s objective in sharing these materials is to assist practitioners and program designers in…
Training Materials, Report
Several decades of research on the impact that fathers have on the lives of children demonstrate that fathers have a significant influence on their children’s lives—whether by virtue of their presence, or by their absence. We designed this toolkit for professionals working to establish healthy relationships with fathers to improve service and/or program engagement. It includes a full complement of tools to help you use this film in your work. (Author abstract, modified)
Building Bridges and Bonds (B3), a study of Responsible Fatherhood programs, is testing a set of innovative approaches designed to help fathers advance their parenting and employment skills. One of these innovations is a new smartphone-based application called DadTime. DadTime is designed to support engagement with and attendance at a parenting program called Just Beginning, another B3 innovation.
This brief describes how MDRC collaborated with fathers – the intended users – to develop DadTime. (Author abstract)
Research to date provides little information about effects on children when fathers return home from prison or jail, especially whether children’s behavioral problems persist when the father returns. To help fill this gap, this brief explores children’s behaviors when a father is incarcerated and when he is released. Authors seek to understand whether the negative child outcomes from parental incarceration persist even after parents return home. (Author abstract modified)
The purpose of this information memorandum (IM) is to strongly encourage all human service agencies including child welfare agencies, courts, offices of child support enforcement, offices of public assistance, offices of child care, Head Start programs and family and youth services programs to work together across governments to jointly create and maintain an environment that prioritizes father engagement as a critical factor in strengthening families and adopt approaches to enhance paternal involvement in all family support and child welfare related programs. (Author abstract)
This research brief examines parenting programs for incarcerated fathers. Before discussing programming, researchers discuss the effects of the incarceration of fathers on communities, families and children. Next, they briefly review research that has examined the experiences of fathers before, during and after their incarceration. Finally, they examine programs for incarcerated fathers that have demonstrated positive impacts for fathers, families and children. (Author abstract)
