TYRO Champion Dads Program for Fatherhood Skills Improvement

Overseen By McKenna C LeClear, MA

Age: 18+

Sex: Male

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Midwest Evaluation & Research

Disqualifiers: Minor, Not a father, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 4-6 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if adding 10 hours of domestic violence prevention education can improve outcomes for fathers already in a skills program. The treatment group will receive standard services plus an additional curriculum focused on reducing domestic violence risks. Fathers with children up to 24 years old and no open criminal cases might be suitable candidates for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to important research that could enhance family well-being.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the TYRO Champion Dads Program is safe for participants?

Research has shown that the TYRO Champion Dads Program, which includes the TYRO Dads and Core Communication courses, is generally safe and well-received by participants. Although specific safety information for the new "Ray of Hope" course is not yet available, the program emphasizes skill-building and communication improvement, typically low-risk activities. Participants in similar studies have not reported any major problems, indicating these educational sessions are safe for most people. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the TYRO Champion Dads Program because it offers a unique blend of fatherhood skills and communication training, which is not commonly found in standard support programs. Unlike typical fatherhood programs that focus solely on general parenting skills, this program includes an enhanced component called the Ray of Hope curriculum, providing an additional 10 hours dedicated to more advanced fatherhood skills. This enhanced approach aims to foster deeper personal growth and communication abilities in fathers, potentially leading to stronger family dynamics and improved child outcomes. By offering tailored, optional services through its Mini-Clinic, the program also allows participants to address specific personal needs, making it a flexible and comprehensive support system for fathers.

What evidence suggests that the Ray of Hope curriculum is effective for improving fatherhood skills?

Studies have shown that the TYRO Champion Dads program can improve outcomes for fathers, particularly those who are incarcerated. The program focuses on building skills and resilience to break cycles of poverty and dependency. Participants who complete the TYRO Dads curriculum often experience positive changes, such as improved communication skills and stronger family relationships. In this trial, participants in the Treatment-Enhanced Services arm will receive the additional Ray of Hope curriculum, which aims to reduce risk factors related to domestic violence, further enhancing these benefits. Although the effectiveness of the Ray of Hope curriculum in preventing domestic violence is still under evaluation, research supports that the overall TYRO program encourages meaningful personal growth. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Matt D Shepherd, PhD

Principal Investigator

Midwest Evaluation & Research

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

The TYRO Champion Dads Project Study is for fathers over the age of 18, with children up to 24 years old, who are primarily low-income Latinos. Participants must not have any open criminal cases (deferred cases are okay). The program aims to enhance parenting skills and economic stability.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a father with children 24 years old or younger.

Must have no open criminal cases (can be deferred)

Exclusion Criteria

I am not a father.

I am under 18 years old.

Has an open criminal case

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive standard TYRO Champion Dads services, with the treatment group receiving an additional 10 hours of Ray of Hope curriculum

4-6 weeks

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in parenting and relationship behaviors

6 months

Long-term Follow-up

Participants' parenting attitudes are assessed 1 year after enrollment

1 year

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• TYRO Champion Dads Project Study

Trial Overview This study tests educational curricula and support services designed to improve parenting, co-parenting, partner relationships, and financial management among participating fathers. It includes walk-in clinics for additional needs and a continuous improvement process.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Treatment-Enhanced Services (Standard + Ray of Hope) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Treatment group participants receive standard and enhanced services. Standard services are delivered as primary services to participants in both study groups under a shared condition, and they are: 20 hours of TYRO Dads curricula and 6 hours of Core Communication curricula. Finally, only the treatment group receives 10 hours of the Ray of Hope curriculum as an enhanced service. Optional services are available to both study groups by selecting 1-3 hours of coursework from a menu of courses in the Mini-Clinic that address a variety of needs.

Group II: Control-Standard Services Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Only standard services are delivered to participants in the control group under a shared condition with the treatment group, and they are: 20 hours of TYRO Dads curricula and 6 hours of Core Communication curricula. Optional services are available to both study groups by selecting 1-3 hours of coursework from a menu of courses that address a variety of needs.

TYRO Champion Dads Project Study is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as TYRO Champion Dads Program for:

• Domestic Violence Prevention
• Fatherhood Support
• Family Well-being

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Midwest Evaluation & Research

Lead Sponsor

Trials

11

Recruited

11,700+

Anthem Strong Families

Collaborator

Trials

2

Recruited

2,400+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Caring Dads Program in Germany, evaluated with 60 fathers and 34 mothers, showed significant improvements in paternal aggression and parenting behaviors, indicating its efficacy in reducing risks of child maltreatment.

Fathers in the program reported higher motivation for change and improvements in family relationships, with a notable portion achieving clinically significant reductions in aggression and enhanced parenting skills.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Working with Fathers to Prevent Child Abuse. A Pilot Evaluation of the Caring Dads Program in Germany]. Liel, C., Koch, M., Eickhorst, A.[2021]

The educational program for fathers significantly improved father-infant interaction scores, particularly in caregiving aspects, suggesting that targeted education can enhance parenting skills.

While the program did not show significant changes in infant development knowledge or father-infant attachment, it indicates that hybrid educational approaches can be effective in fostering better interactions between fathers and their infants.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of a hybrid online and offline program for facilitating father-infant interactions in South Korea: a quasi-experimental study. Park, SE., Bang, KS.[2022]

A one-day workshop for Health Visitors and Community Practitioners significantly improved their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding engaging fathers in the Healthy Child Programme, with these improvements lasting for at least three months after the training.

Despite the positive impact of the workshop, participants identified ongoing barriers to engaging fathers, suggesting that NHS Trusts need to enhance training and adopt a more strategic approach to father-inclusive practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a brief intervention to assist health visitors and community practitioners to engage with fathers as part of the healthy child initiative. Humphries, H., Nolan, M.[2016]

The 'Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids' program aims to help overweight fathers lose weight and improve their children's health behaviors, evaluated through a community trial involving 50 overweight/obese fathers and their children over a 6-month period.

The program includes seven group sessions over 3 months, focusing on various health measures such as weight, waist circumference, and dietary intake, with the potential for significant community impact on obesity and lifestyle behaviors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The 'Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids' community effectiveness trial: study protocol of a community-based healthy lifestyle program for fathers and their children. Morgan, PJ., Lubans, DR., Plotnikoff, RC., et al.[2022]

The SafeCare® Dad to Kids (Dad2K) program, designed for at-risk fathers, showed high acceptability and satisfaction among participants, indicating its feasibility for behavioral parent training.

While both intervention and comparison groups reported decreases in psychologically aggressive behaviors, the Dad2K program specifically led to significant improvements in targeted father-child interaction skills, highlighting its potential to enhance positive parenting practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Initial Findings from a Feasibility Trial Examining the SafeCare Dad to Kids Program with Marginalized Fathers. Self-Brown, S., Osborne, MC., Lai, BS., et al.[2019]

A parenting program designed for adolescent fathers, particularly those from minority backgrounds in the juvenile justice system, effectively increased their commitment and involvement with their children.

The program included therapeutic and psychoeducational interventions, and feedback from six former participants suggests it positively impacted their parenting skills and responsibilities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"Wanting to be a good father": experiences of adolescent fathers of Mexican descent in a teen fathers program. Parra-Cardona, JR., Wampler, RS., Sharp, EA.[2019]

Fathers who participated in either a skills preparation or birth stories intervention reported significantly higher birth satisfaction compared to those who received standard treatment, based on a study of 174 men with a 67% retention rate.

Factors such as the partner's birth experience (like having an epidural) and the father's prior family life satisfaction positively influenced birth satisfaction, highlighting the importance of preparation and managing expectations for new fathers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Low-cost self-paced interventions increase birth satisfaction in first time fathers. Howarth, AM., Swain, NR.[2021]

The fatherhood training program by REACHUP, Inc. showed significant improvements in participants' self-awareness, fathering skills, and relationship skills, with pretest scores averaging 8.90 and posttest scores averaging 16.42 out of 22, indicating a strong positive impact over five years.

Attendance in the program nearly doubled from 55 participants in 2013 to 97 in 2017, highlighting a growing recognition of the importance of male involvement in parenting, with benefits extending to non-biological fathers like grandfathers and uncles.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of a 24/7 Dad® Curriculum in Improving Father Involvement: Profiles of Engagement. Wilson, RE., Obure, R., Omokaro, P., et al.[2022]

In a pilot study involving 50 male caregivers, those with education beyond high school were over 5 times more likely to complete the SafeCare Dad to Kids (Dad2K) program, highlighting the importance of educational background in program engagement.

Qualitative interviews with program completers revealed that fathers were motivated to participate in the Dad2K program to improve their parenting skills, suggesting that targeted engagement strategies may be needed for less-educated fathers to enhance their participation in such programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploration of Factors Predictive of At-risk Fathers' Participation in a Pilot Study of an Augmented Evidence-Based Parent Training Program: A Mixed Methods Approach. Rostad, WL., Self-Brown, S., Boyd, C., et al.[2019]

The Text4Dad text messaging intervention successfully engaged fathers in home visiting programs, with Fatherhood Community Health Workers (F-CHWs) effectively enrolling fathers and finding the content acceptable for their needs.

Despite the usability of the Text4Dad platform, F-CHWs faced challenges accessing it during home visits, which contributed to a lower than expected response rate from fathers to the text messages.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementing a Text Messaging Intervention to Engage Fathers in Home Visiting. Lee, JY., Lee, SJ.[2023]

Citations

1. acf.gov acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ofa/ANTHEM_Impact_Report.pdf

Impact Evaluation of The TYRO Champion Dads Project in ... Efficacy of the TYRO Dads curriculum is supported by evidence that suggests completing it facilitates positive outcomes for incarcerated fathers ...

2. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/272503/tyro-champion-dads-project-study/?&radius=50&query=Family&smt=true

TYRO Champion Dads Project Study This impact evaluation aims to determine if the addition of 10 hours of domestic violence prevention programming is effective at improving ...

3. dallascounty.org dallascounty.org/Assets/uploads/docs/courts/county-criminal/ccc11/Tyro.pdf

TYRO-Champion Dads Program The TYRO Champion. Dad program will target those dads trapped in generational cycles of poverty, welfare dependency, crime, economic crisis and inadequate ...

4. anthemstrongfamilies.org anthemstrongfamilies.org/programs/tyro-champion-fatherhood-program/

TYRO Champion Fatherhood Program The TYRO CHAMPION DAD PROGRAM is a 90-day evidenced-based intensive process that assists men to move from a survival mentality and poverty mindset to one of ...

5. dataverse.harvard.edu dataverse.harvard.edu/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.7910/DVN/H7RQ2Y

TYRO Champion Dads: Father-focused, Interconnected, ... TYRO Champion Dads: Father-focused, Interconnected, Resilient, and Essential (FIRE) Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) Study.

6. digitalcommons.georgefox.edu digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1028&context=sw_fac

A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effectiveness of ... Fathers who attend TYRO are more likely to show an increase in parenting efficacy, parenting role identity, and coparenting relationship with the child's mother ...