Fatherhood Research & Practice Network

FRPN Webinar - Findings from FRPN-Funded Projects 3: Engaging Mothers in Coparenting Interventions: Challenges, Characteristics of Mothers Who Engage & Outcomes

Tuesday, September 17, 2019
2-3:30 PM ET

Positive father engagement can mitigate some of the negative effects of parental separation on children, even among families with unmarried, nonresident fathers. The coparenting relationship is vital to the involvement of nonresident fathers. Simply put, bad coparenting relationships reduce father-child contact and involvement. The coparenting relationship is challenging to improve, and more effective strategies that involve getting mothers to participate are even more challenging to accomplish.

This webinar focuses on three studies of mother engagement in coparenting interventions that were funded by the Fatherhood Research and Practice Network (FRPN). Presenters include:

Sarah Whitton, University of Cincinnati and Kimberly Sperber, Talbert House, “Evaluating Mother and Nonresidential Father Engagement in Coparenting Services in a Fatherhood Program
Armon Perry, University of Louisville, Kent School of Social Work, “Fatherhood and Coparenting”
Jay Fagan, Temple University, School of Social Work, “Mothers Engagement in Coparenting and Coparenting Intervention Outcomes for Mothers and Fathers”

Discussant: Jeffrey Johnson, President and CEO, National Partnership for Community Leadership

New FRPN Grantee Report

Since 2014, the FRPN has awarded funding to 20 research projects - 13 competitive awards and seven invited small awards. Six of the 13 competitive research projects are now complete.

Considering Contextual Influences on Fatherhood Program Participants’ Experiences in Alabama

Currently, hundreds of fatherhood programs are active across the nation and evaluations of these have increased in number. Few studies, however, have considered diversity of experiences and explored factors that may influence change among participants and their families.

Through FRPN-funding, Auburn University, the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and the Alabama Department of Human Resources conducted a study of a large group of fathers participating in fatherhood programs to assess the average change trajectory in multiple target outcomes over a one-year period and explore variations in retention and in outcomes within the group, based on geographic setting of the programs (rural or urban), sequencing of services (case management and classes), and race of the father.

The assessment of fatherhood program participants’ improvements yielded encouraging findings that suggest the longer-term influence of program participation on multiple, key indicators of individual and family well-being. Researchers also found that various demographics of fathers impacted vulnerability and need for services as well as benefits received from participating in the fatherhood programs.

Read the Alabama study

New Funding and Mentorship Opportunity for Early-Career Researchers from Underrepresented or Historically Disadvantaged Backgrounds

Policies for Action has issued a special call for proposals to advance health equity by actively seeking new and diverse perspectives from the policy research field. This opportunity will support early-career researchers from underrepresented and historically disadvantaged backgrounds to help build understanding and find solutions that promote health equity and foster action on policies and laws that ensure all people in America can attain and preserve good health and well-being.

Learn more.

FRPN Co-Director Jay Fagan, PhD | Professor, Temple University School of Social Work
FRPN Co-Director Jessica Pearson, PhD | Director, Center for Policy Research

© 2019 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.