Evaluation of the FELLAS Responsible Fatherhood Project (FELLAS)

June 7, 2022 updated by: Partnership for Maternal & Child Health of Northern New Jersey
The Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey, Inc. (PMCH) is implementing a fatherhood project with the goal of strengthening father-child engagement, improving economic stability, and improving healthy marriage/relationship skills among participants. FELLAS serves community-based fathers 18 years of age or older who reside in Essex County, New Jersey and have at least one child under the age of 24. The program model has three components: to improve responsible parenting using 24/7 Dad, an evidence based curriculum; to improve healthy marriage/relationship skills using Couple Communication I, an evidence based relationship and marriage strengthening curriculum that includes home visits; and to improve economic stability using a comprehensive array of services designed to provide an employment assessment, strengthen basic technology skills, and strengthen pre-employment soft skills. Evaluation activities include a self-report questionnaire administered (1) immediately prior to beginning the program (pretest), (2) immediately after completion of the program (posttest), and (3) six months after the posttest. Focus groups will also provide qualitative data concerning the effects of the program.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey, Inc. (PMCH) is implementing a fatherhood project with the goal of strengthening father-child engagement, improving economic stability, and improving healthy marriage/relationship skills among participants. FELLAS serves community-based fathers 18 years of age or older who reside in Essex County, New Jersey and have at least one child under the age of 24.

The program model has three components: to improve responsible parenting using 24/7 Dad, an evidence based curriculum; to improve healthy marriage/relationship skills using Couple Communication I, an evidence based relationship and marriage strengthening curriculum that includes home visits; and to improve economic stability using a comprehensive array of services designed to provide an employment assessment, strengthen basic technology skills, and strengthen pre-employment soft skills.

The Theory of Change the investigators will use in this project is the Health Belief Model (HBM). According to the HBM, individuals are most likely to make behavior changes when they believe that a problem is potentially severe, they are personally susceptible to the problem, the benefits to making change outweigh the challenges or risk, and they believe that they can, in fact, make the desired changes.

The four primary research questions deal with: 1) communication and empathy skills toward one's partner; 2) conflict resolution skills and associated behavior patterns; 3) financial management and economic stability; 4) positive effective parenting skills. The investigators have selected these research questions because the investigators believe, and the literature supports the position, that these factors are of major importance in becoming an actively engaged and responsible father.

The research evidence is clear. Children who do not have a responsible father in their lives suffer several negative outcomes when compared to children who do have a responsible father in their lives. Following the HBM, the approach the investigators will take in delivering the intervention will be to emphasize the importance of fatherhood engagement in the lives of their children and:

  1. how the lack of father engagement can result in serious negative outcomes for their children relative to child development - and on into adulthood (severity);
  2. if they are not personally, actively engaged in the lives of their children, then their children are also likely to experience serious negative outcomes (susceptibility);
  3. though being an actively involved, responsible father is not easy, the results, both for their children and themselves will be worth the effort (benefits vs challenge);
  4. becoming an actively involved, responsible father is a difficult task, but it is something the participants can do; and the FELLAS project is here to help (self-efficacy).

Evaluation activities include a self-report questionnaire administered (1) immediately prior to beginning the program (pretest), (2) immediately after completion of the program (posttest), and (3) six months after the posttest. Focus groups will also provide qualitative data concerning the effects of the program.

The investigators hypothesize that following the intervention, the participants will show improvement in:

(1) communication and empathy skills toward their partner; (2) conflict resolution skills and associated behavior patterns; (3) financial management and economic stability; (4) positive effective parenting scores.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
540

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New Jersey
      • Newark, New Jersey, United States, 07102
        • Recruiting
        • Partnership for Maternal & Child Health of Northern New Jersey
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Michael Young, Ph.D.
        • Contact:
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria: Must be a father, have at least one child 24 years old or younger, and reside in Essex County, New Jersey.

-

Exclusion Criteria: Not a father, or a father with all children older than 24, not a resident of Essex County, New Jersey

-

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Other: Intervention - Responsible Fatherhood Programming
Participants receive educational programming to include: 24/7 Dad, Couples Communication I, and a comprehensive program targeting financial literacy/money management. The study features only one group. Participants will receive the intervention described. There is no control group.
Other: Intervention - Responsible Fatherhood Programming
Participants receive educational programming to include: 24/7 Dad, Couples Communication I, and a comprehensive program targeting financial literacy/money management.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Communication skills
Time Frame: From pretest to posttest; approximately five weeks
Participants will improve scores on healthy marriage/relationship skills.The outcome, Healthy marriage/relationship skills is measured using a 13 item scale. A sample item is: "Before criticizing my partner' I try to imagine how I would feel if I were in her place." Each item is scored on a five point response option from 1 (does not describe me well) to 5 (describes me very well).
From pretest to posttest; approximately five weeks
Communication skills at follow-up
Time Frame: Pretest to six-month followup
Participants will improve scores on healthy marriage/relationship skills.The outcome, Healthy marriage/relationship skills is measured using a 13 item scale. A sample item is: "Before criticizing my partner' I try to imagine how I would feel if I were in her place." Each item is scored on a five point response option from 1 (does not describe me well) to 5 (describes me very well).
Pretest to six-month followup
Conflict resolution skills
Time Frame: From pretest to posttest; approximately five weeks
Participants will improve scores on conflict resolution skills. The outcome conflict resolution sills is measured by using a six item scale. A sample items is: "I take time to relax before I bring up a problem." Each item is scored on a four point response option from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree).
From pretest to posttest; approximately five weeks
Conflict resolution skills at follow-up
Time Frame: Pretest to six-month followup
Participants will improve scores on conflict resolution skills. The outcome conflict resolution sills is measured by using a six item scale. A sample items is: "I take time to relax before I bring up a problem." Each item is scored on a four point response option from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree).
Pretest to six-month followup
Economic stability skills
Time Frame: From pretest to posttest; approximately five weeks
Participants will improve scores on economic stability skills. The outcome, Economic stability skills is measure by using a six item scale. A sample item is: "Learning how to budget is a useful way to manage money and reach goals." Each item is scored on a four point response option from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree).
From pretest to posttest; approximately five weeks
Economic stability skills at follow-up
Time Frame: From pretest to six month follow-up/
Participants will improve scores on economic stability skills. The outcome, Economic stability skills is measure by using a six item scale. A sample item is: "Learning how to budget is a useful way to manage money and reach goals." Each item is scored on a four point response option from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree).
From pretest to six month follow-up/
Improved Parenting Skills
Time Frame: From pretest to posttest; approximately five weeks
Participants will improve in parenting skills. The outcome, Improved Parenting Skills, is measured using a 12 item scale. A sample item is: "Set and stick to reasonable limits and rules. Each item is scored on a seven point response option from 0 (low skills) to 6 (high skills).
From pretest to posttest; approximately five weeks
Improved Parenting Skills at follow-up
Time Frame: From pretest to six month follow-up.
Participants will improve in parenting skills. The outcome, Improved Parenting Skills, is measured using a 12 item scale. A sample item is: "Set and stick to reasonable limits and rules. Each item is scored on a seven point response option from 0 (low skills) to 6 (high skills).
From pretest to six month follow-up.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Partnership for Maternal & Child Health of Northern New Jersey

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 20, 2021

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 1, 2025

Study Completion (Anticipated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 25, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 7, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 9, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 9, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 7, 2022

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • FELLAS project

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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