News from FRPN
New FRPN Grantee Reports

Since 2014, the Fatherhood Research and Practice Network (FRPN) has awarded funding to 20 research projects. New reports for two projects are now available.

Participation Dosage in Key to Kāne: A Pilot Text Messaging Intervention for Fathers

Key to Kāne is a pilot, technology-assisted, text-messaging intervention for fathers of children aged 0 to 12, delivered in Hawai’i that focuses on topics having the potential of supporting father involvement. Through FRPN-funding, University of Hawai'i researchers assessed both the determinants of the extent to which participating fathers read text messages (i.e., reading dosage) and whether different reading dosages differentially affect intervention outcomes.

Findings of this study indicate that many fathers do not read any messages, while many others read most or all messages. Additionally, quantitative analysis suggests that higher reading dosage does not encourage fathers’ engagement with their children. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander fathers were more likely than non-Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander fathers to be in the no-dosage group; fathers with more children were more likely than fathers with a smaller number of children to be in the no-dosage group; and fathers who experience no socioeconomic challenges were more likely to be in the high-dosage group.

Download the study.


Testing the Feasibility of an Interactive, Mentor-Based, Text Messaging Program to Increase Fathers’ Engagement in Home Visitation

FRPN awarded funding to researchers at the University of Michigan to evaluate the implementation and usage of Text4Dad in six Healthy Start Engaged Father program sites located in urban and rural areas of Michigan. Text4Dad is a text messaging program to facilitate communication, interaction, and social support between fatherhood Community Health Workers (F-CHW) and the clients on their caseload.

Researchers concluded that fathers and F-CHWs found Text4Dad useful and relatively easy to use. Data suggested that Text4Dad could be implemented in community fatherhood programs, and qualitative data supported the notion that Text4Dad helped fathers stay connected to and engaged with the fatherhood program. Because F-CHWs needed ongoing technical assistance throughout the intervention, there is opportunity to more fully implement the mentorship and social support components of Text4Dad in the future.

Review the study.


father and son

FRPN Outcome Measures

The FRPN has published numerous new and original measures of fathers’ involvement with children and coparenting for low-income, nonresident fathers. These are available at no cost and are being used in several studies. Several of the measures are also available in Spanish.

Learn more about the FRPN measures.


Upcoming Fatherhood & Research Webinars

National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse — Technical Assistance Webinar
Understanding the Past to Improve the Future: Lessons Learned in Fatherhood Program Service Delivery
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020 — 1:00–2:30 p.m. EST
Register now.

Institute for Research on Poverty Webinar Series
The Role of Fathers in Children’s Health
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020 — 2:00–3:00 p.m. EST
Register now.

National Institute of Justice
Solicitation Webinar for Research and Evaluation on Promising Reentry Initiatives
Friday, Feb. 21, 2020 — 1:00–2:00 p.m. EST
Register now.


Contact Us to 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


News from FRPN

© 2020 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.