Fatherhood Research & Practice Network

FRPN Webinar: State Approaches to Including Fathers in Programs and Policies

On Tuesday, May 22, the Fatherhood Research & Practice Network (FRPN) welcomed six presenters from three states for our 11th learning community webinar. State Approaches to Including Fathers in Programs and Policies highlights the origin and role of fatherhood commissions; collaborations between child support agencies and fatherhood programs; funding and program sustainability; and cost-benefit and return on investment studies on fatherhood programs.

Watch the webinar or download the presenter slides here.

FRPN Research Brief: State Approaches to Including Fathers in Programs and Policies Dealing with Children and Families

This FRPN research brief reviews some of the ways in which federal, state and local initiatives in the U.S. have attempted to ensure that father involvement is reflected in programs and policies dealing with children and families. It begins with a summary of how father involvement issues emerged at the national level and describes key federal funding mechanisms. The brief provides examples of state and local initiatives, most of which focus on providing direct services to fathers in the child support system to increase their employment, child support payments and parent involvement, although a few also aim to create system-level change across multiple public agencies.

Download the brief.

Validation Study of New FRPN Measure of Nonresident Fathers’ Engagement with Children Published Early View in Family Relations

From a focus group of 71 nonresident biological fathers, father – child engagement scales were created. Separate scales were created for fathers of children aged 0 to 1 years, 1 to 5 years, 6 to 11 years and 12 to 18 years. Scales were administered to 542 nonresident (primarily low-income) fathers to test reliability and convergent and predictive validity. Analyses identified a “caregiving play” domain of engagement across all age groups. For fathers of children 0 to 1 years, a “cognitive stimulation” domain emerged. For all age groups, a “support” domain emerged. Measures of nonresident father engagement had good reliability and validity. Further, with a minimal number of items, the scales are relatively easy and cost‐effective to administer.

The validation study can be found here.

Spanish Version of FRPN Research Measure Now Available

The FRPN Father Engagement Scale is designed to assess fathers' engagement with their children at different ages: 1 month to 1 year old; 1 year, 1 month old to 6 years; 6 years, 1 month old to 12 years old; and 12 years, 1 month old to 19 years old. The measure was validated with a sample of fathers very similar to those served in U.S. responsible fatherhood programs.

Spanish versions of the measure are now available for download here.

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.