Strong Fathers, Stronger Families Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Program Evaluation

Strong Fathers, Stronger Families Program Evaluation

The purpose of this descriptive study is to explore whether there is an association between participation in the Strong Fathers, Stronger Families program and improvements in outcomes related to parenting, co-parenting, and economic stability. Participants are surveyed at program entry and program exit, and changes in participant attitudes are assessed over time.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Fathers
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Primary Services

Detailed Description

This study is a descriptive evaluation of the Strong Fathers, Stronger Families program offered to fathers in the Memphis metropolitan area. Program participants are informed about the study and asked to provide consent to participate in the evaluation of the ten-week program. Consenting participants complete surveys at program enrollment and program exit, and survey data is used to determine if program participation is associated with short-term changes in attitudes and behaviors among participants. Changes in parenting, co-parenting, and economic stability outcomes are assessed by comparing survey answers before and after participating in 40 hours of the Blueprint and 24/7 Dad curricula.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 996
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Tennessee
    • Memphis, Tennessee, United States, 38117
      • Seedco-Midsouth

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult (age 18 and older)
• With children ages 0-24
• Father/father figure
• Reside in Memphis metropolitan area

Exclusion Criteria:

• Minor (under the age of 18)
• Not a father/father figure
• Children older than 24 years old
• Reside outside of Memphis metropolitan area

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Primary Services; Primary Services Participants receive 40 hours of the Blueprint and 24/7 Dad curricula over the course of ten weeks.	Other: Primary Services; Participants receive 40 hours of the Blueprint and 24/7 Dad curricula over the course of ten weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
1) Healthy Parenting Behaviors Measurement #1	Will participants report significantly healthier parenting behavior at program exit, as compared to responses at baseline? Items measured include: Parenting behavior measured with: 13 items depending on child age - frequency of key behaviors with participant's youngest child (categorical, 5-point scale) Measured on the parenting behavior scale #1 as: 1 = never, 2 = 1 to 2 days per month, 3 = 3 or 4 days per month, 4 = 2 or 3 days per week, 5 = every day or almost every day The higher the rating, the better the score. The construct is created by adding all scores together and dividing by 13. The higher the score on a scale of 1-5, the better the outcome. The lower the score, the worse the outcome. maximum score: 5.0, minimum score: 1.0	change from baseline in parenting behaviors (interactions with child) from enrollment to program exit (10 weeks).
2) Healthy Co-parenting Behaviors Measurement #1	Will participants report significantly healthier co-parenting behavior at program exit, as compared to responses at baseline? Items measured include: 5 items: frequency of agreement with key co-parenting behaviors (categorical, 5-point scale) Measured on the co-parenting behavior scale #1 as: 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neutral, 4 = agree, 5 = strongly agree The construct is created by adding all scores together and dividing by 11. The higher the score on a scale of 1-5, the better the outcome. The lower the score, the worse the outcome. maximum score: 5.0, minimum score: 1.0	change from baseline in co-parenting behaviors (interactions with co-parent) from enrollment to program exit (10 weeks).
3) Economic Stability Measurement #1	Will participants report significantly healthier economic stability at program exit, as compared to responses at baseline? Items measured include: 1 items: yes or no questions for have checking/savings account (dichotomous) 1=yes, 0=no	change from baseline in economic stability from enrollment to program exit (10 weeks).
4) Economic Stability Measurement #2	Will participants report significantly healthier economic stability at program exit, as compared to responses at baseline? Items measured include: 1 item: frequency of difficulty paying bills (categorical, 4-point scale) Measured on the economic stability scale #1 as: 1 = never, 2 = once in a while, 3 = somewhat often, 4 = very often The lower the score, the better the outcome.	change from baseline in economic stability from enrollment to program exit (10 weeks).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Midwest Evaluation & Research
• Collaborators: Seedco: Strong Fathers, Stronger Families
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Matt D Shepherd, PhD, Midwest Evaluation and Research

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 15, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): August 29, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 21, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 26, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): April 2, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): October 1, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 11, 2025
• Last Verified: September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: #2021/03/41

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: All participant data will be confidential and aggregated. No individual participant data will be released unless requested by the courts. This study looks at data as a whole.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No