Resources for fatherhood programs to help prevent and address domestic violence

Fatherhood programs provide an important opportunity to engage fathers in efforts to prevent and address domestic violence (DV), which affects millions of families and has lasting consequences. Three new products from the Preventing and Addressing Intimate Violence when Engaging Dads (PAIVED) project provide an overview of how fatherhood programs can work to help prevent and address domestic violence.

• Healing and Supporting Fathers: Principles, Practices, and Resources for Fatherhood Programs to Help Address and Prevent Domestic Violence. This report provides principles, practices, and helpful resources for addressing DV in fatherhood programs. The three resources include: 
  • Ten Ways to Engage Fathers in Addressing and Preventing Domestic Violence;
  • Teachable Moments; and 
  • Six Ways Fatherhood Programs Can Successfully Partner with Domestic Violence Agencies and Battering Intervention Programs.
• Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention in Fatherhood Programs. This brief provides background information on the consequences of DV for families and children, describes DV prevention and intervention efforts in the context of fatherhood programming, and provides examples of promising practices used by fatherhood programs to help prevent and address DV.
• Domestic Violence Referral Guide for Fatherhood Programs. This brief provides information to help fatherhood practitioners better understand what referrals are appropriate for participants who have used or survived DV and distinguish between the key features of DV agencies, battering intervention programs (BIPs), and anger management programs.

ACF convened technical work groups on healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood

On June 25 and July 23, 2019, ACF convened the first meetings of the Fatherhood, Relationships, and Marriage - Illuminating the Next Generation of Research (FRAMING Research) project's technical work groups on healthy marriage and relationship education (HMRE) and responsible fatherhood (RF). The FRAMING Research project supports activities relevant to an ongoing learning agenda for ACF's healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood (HMRF) programming by systematically identifying gaps in the knowledge base for HMRF and connected topics and areas.

The technical work groups included research experts on relationships, marriage, fatherhood, and HMRE and RF programming, as well as HMRE and RF practitioner experts. The discussion at the HMRE meeting focused on: (1) the effects of HMRE programs on child well-being; (2) increasing participation rates in HMRE programs; and (3) strengthening HMRE programming for unmarried couples with low income. The discussion at the RF meeting focused on: (1) measuring the effects of RF programs on child well-being; (2) improving fathers' engagement with their children through RF programs; and (3) increasing participation rates in RF programs.

These topics emerged from the project team's review of the relevant literature and discussions with ACF about agency priorities. Each day concluded with technical work group members participating in a brainstorming session on HMRE and RF research priorities.

Two recently released briefs describe these meetings, summarize points discussed by the experts, and outline experts' top priorities for future work. Read more here: 

Research to practice brief: Developing strong recruitment practices for healthy marriage and relationship education (HMRE) programs serving adults

Reports on improving nFORM and data capacity technical assistance: Preparing to support 2020 HMRF grantees