Fresno FIRE Program for At-Risk Fathers

Overseen By Matt D Shepherd

Age: Any Age

Sex: Male

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Midwest Evaluation & Research

Disqualifiers: Minor, Not father, Child over 24, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if the Fresno FIRE program can improve behaviors and attitudes in at-risk fathers, focusing on healthy parenting and financial stability. Participants will attend workshops and receive ongoing support for job readiness and employment. Fathers or father figures living in Fresno, CA, who have a child under 24 and face challenges such as living in a high-poverty area or involvement with the justice system, might be a good fit. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to community-focused research and receive valuable support.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the Fresno FIRE Program trial?

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

What prior data suggests that the Fresno FIRE Program is safe for participants?

Research shows that the Fresno FIRE Program helps fathers at risk improve their parenting skills and financial stability. The program includes 16 hours of classes on parenting and career workshops. It focuses on education and support, not medical treatment, so participants need not worry about traditional side effects.

Because it is not a medical treatment, no reports of negative effects, like those seen with medication, exist. Participants generally find the program easy because it emphasizes learning and skill-building. They engage in activities aimed at improving family relationships and job readiness. Thus, in terms of safety, there is no risk of physical harm from joining these educational sessions. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

The Fresno FIRE Program is unique because it combines parenting education with career readiness, offering a comprehensive approach for at-risk fathers. Unlike traditional parenting programs that focus solely on family dynamics, this program integrates the 24/7 Dads curricula with practical job readiness and post-employment support. Researchers are excited about this trial because it addresses both personal and professional aspects of participants' lives, potentially leading to more sustainable and impactful outcomes for fathers and their families.

What evidence suggests that the Fresno FIRE Program is effective for improving behaviors and attitudes in at-risk fathers?

Research has shown that programs involving fathers can positively impact family life and financial stability. The Fresno FIRE Program, which participants in this trial will receive, aims to improve parenting skills and financial well-being. It includes 16 hours of classes focused on fatherhood and job preparation workshops. Past evaluations demonstrated that participants experienced better family relationships and financial stability. These results suggest that the program effectively supports fathers at risk in their parenting roles and financial situations. ^{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?

This trial is for fathers or father figures over the age of 18, with a child under 24 years old, living in Fresno, CA. It's aimed at those who are considered at-risk due to factors like living in high poverty areas or having past justice involvement. Men not residing in Fresno or without children under 24 cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a father or father figure to a child under 24 years old.

Has at-risk factors (residing in high poverty area, formerly justice-involved)

Residing in Fresno area, CA

Exclusion Criteria

I am under 18 years old.

Not a father/father figure

Reside outside of Fresno area, CA

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Enrollment and Program Participation

Participants enroll in the nine-week Fresno Fatherhood program, which includes 16 hours of 24/7 Dads curricula and at least 2 hours of career readiness workshops.

9 weeks

Immediate Post-Program Assessment

Participants' primary and secondary outcomes are assessed immediately after completing the program to evaluate changes in attitudes and behaviors.

1 week

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in parenting and employment behaviors and attitudes 12 months after program enrollment.

12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Fresno FIRE Program

Trial Overview The evaluation focuses on the effectiveness of the Fresno FIRE program in improving behaviors and attitudes related to parenting and financial stability among at-risk fathers. The study will assess changes before and after program completion.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Primary Services Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Primary services: Participants receive 16 hours of 24/7 Dads curricula and at least 2 hours of career readiness workshops over the course of 9 weeks. Participants also receive ongoing job readiness support and post-employment support.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Midwest Evaluation & Research

Lead Sponsor

Trials

11

Recruited

11,700+

Fresno Area Workforce Development Board (FAWDB)

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

470+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Current early parenting programs primarily target mothers, which may limit the involvement of fathers in family support initiatives.

The paper highlights barriers to father involvement in these programs and suggests that insights from European and international fatherhood research can help create more inclusive strategies to engage fathers effectively.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Fathers in Early Parenting Programs. Impulses from the European and International Fatherhood Research]. Ahnert, L.[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]

Citations

1. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-fathers-3-2021-71686

Fresno FIRE Program for At-Risk Fathers Trial Overview The evaluation focuses on the effectiveness of the Fresno FIRE program in improving behaviors and attitudes related to parenting and financial ...

2. clinicaltrial.be clinicaltrial.be/en/details/32771?per_page=20&only_recruiting=0&enrolling_by_invitation=1&active_not_recruiting=1&not_yet_recruiting=0&completed=0&only_eligible=0&only_active=0

Fresno FAWDB FIRE Program Evaluation Primary outcome measures will indicate whether behavior improved for healthy family relationships (parent, co-parent, and partner) and economic ...

3. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/261142/fresno-fawdb-fire-program-evaluation/

Fresno FAWDB FIRE Program Evaluation Primary outcome measures will indicate whether behavior improved for healthy family relationships (parent, co-parent, and partner) and economic stability ( ...

4. aging.networkofcare.org aging.networkofcare.org/sanmateo/CommunityResources/ClinicalTrials/Detail/NCT05239754?keyword=%22Fathers%22

Fresno FAWDB FIRE Program Evaluation The purpose of the Fresno Area Workforce Development Board FIRE program evaluation is to determine whether primary (i.e., behaviors) and secondary (i.e., ...

5. ccfc.ca.gov ccfc.ca.gov/pdf/commission/meetings/handouts/Commission_Handouts_2024_1_25/Item%209%20-%20Attachment%20A%20-%20First%205%20California%20Fatherhood%20Focused%20Environmental%20Scan%20&%20Literature%20Review.pdf

First 5 California Fatherhood Focused Environmental Scan ... Research indicates a connection between family structures that include fathers and positive outcomes for children and their mothers.1 Despite the ...

6. acf.gov acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/opre/catalogofresearch_fathers_508.pdf

Catalog of Research: Programs for Low-Income Fathers Catalog of Research: Programs for Low-Income Fathers, OPRE Report #. 2011-20, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for ...