Gentle Warriors Academy for Fatherhood

Age: 18+

Sex: Male

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Midwest Evaluation & Research

Disqualifiers: Minor, Not father, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if the Gentle Warriors Academy program can improve parenting skills, co-parenting relationships, and overall well-being for fathers. Participants will attend workshops on fatherhood, child safety, and anger management, along with additional support services known as Primary Services. The program suits fathers or father figures with children under 16 living in the Metro Atlanta area. Surveys will be conducted at the start, end, and one year after the program to track changes in attitudes and behaviors. As an unphased trial, participants can contribute to valuable research that may enhance family dynamics and personal growth.

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 this program is safe for participants?

Research shows that parent training programs can help reduce child abuse in families. These programs, which aim to improve parenting skills and family relationships, are usually well-received. Studies have found that workshops on managing anger and caring for children typically do not cause serious negative effects for participants.

While specific data on negative effects from similar programs is limited, the focus on education and support is generally safe. Participants often report improved attitudes and behaviors in their parenting roles. This suggests that components like anger management and co-parenting workshops are safe for those involved. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Gentle Warriors Academy for Fatherhood because it offers a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to improving fatherhood skills, which is different from traditional single-focus interventions. Unlike standard parenting programs that often concentrate on just one aspect, this program includes 26 hours of tailored fatherhood curriculum, child maltreatment workshops, anger management workshops, and optional legitimation workshops, all while providing ongoing case management and support services. This holistic approach aims to address various challenges fathers face, potentially leading to more effective and lasting positive outcomes for both fathers and their families.

What evidence suggests that the Gentle Warriors Academy program is effective for improving parenting outcomes?

Studies have shown that fatherhood programs like the Next Level Fatherhood curriculum, which participants in this trial will receive, effectively improve how fathers interact with their children and enhance their parenting skills. Research indicates that these programs help fathers engage more positively with their kids, reduce instances of child abuse, and improve co-parenting relationships. Participants often report better control over stress and anger, which is important for a healthy family life. Evidence also suggests that these programs help fathers build stronger bonds with their children and partners, benefiting the whole family. The combination of structured workshops and support services, as provided in this trial, plays a key role in achieving these positive results. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Matt D Shepherd, PhD

Principal Investigator

Midwest Evaluation and Research

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for fathers interested in improving their parenting, co-parenting, and overall parental well-being. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

Reside in Metro Atlanta area

I am a father or father figure with children under 16.

Exclusion Criteria

I am under 18 years old.

I am older than 16 years.

Not a father/father figure

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Program Enrollment

Participants complete surveys and begin the Next Level Fatherhood curriculum

26 hours

In-person workshops

Program Exit

Participants complete surveys to assess changes in attitudes and behaviors after completing the primary workshops

2 hours

In-person survey completion

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in parenting and co-parenting behaviors 12 months after program enrollment

12 months

Survey at 12 months post-enrollment

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Primary Services

Trial Overview

The study evaluates the Gentle Warriors Academy program by surveying participants when they join, finish, and a year after joining to see if there's improvement in parenting-related outcomes.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Primary Services Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants receive 26 hours of Next Level Fatherhood curriculum, 2 hours of child maltreatment workshops, 2 hours of anger management workshops, and 2 hours of optional legitimation workshops. Participants also receive ongoing case management and support services.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Midwest Evaluation & Research

Lead Sponsor

Trials

11

Recruited

11,700+

Fathers Incorporated

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

710+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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 online training program for practitioners in Canada and the UK significantly improved their confidence and competence in engaging fathers in family-based interventions, with results comparable to those from Australia.

Practitioner satisfaction with the training was high, and feedback indicated that incorporating local resources and diverse representation could enhance the training's relevance and effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Global Workforce Development in Father Engagement Competencies for Family-Based Interventions Using an Online Training Program: A Mixed-Method Feasibility Study. Sawrikar, V., Plant, AL., Andrade, B., et al.[2023]

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]

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]

Citations

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mchandaids.org

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brightpoint.org

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nyc.gov

nyc.gov/assets/dycd/downloads/pdf/Evaluation_of_Fatherhood_Initiative-January_2016.pdf

P S A P S A

abuse program, educational certifications obtained, or improvements in the relationship with the child's mother. Providing a menu of possible outcome.

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6.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6651871/

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A well-known parent training program that aims to reduce the incidence of child maltreatment in physically abusive parents is Parent–child ...

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acf.gov

acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/opre/learning-cycles-strengthen-fatherhood-programs-mar-2022.pdf

Using Learning Cycles to Strengthen Fatherhood Programs

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futureswithoutviolence.org

futureswithoutviolence.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/healing-and-supporting-fathers_may_2020.pdf

Healing and supporting fathers

for fathers' economic stability and other outcomes of interest to fatherhood programs. ... anger management programs), see the Additional Resources List. Focus on ...

9.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0145213425000079

Parents' experiences of parent training after reported child ...

Parenting programs can be effective for preventing child maltreatment, though effects are often modest, and motivating parents reported for abuse to ...

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cebc4cw.org

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Caring Dads Helping Fathers Value Their Children ...

Results indicate that fathers' level of hostility, denigration, and rejection of their child and their level of angry arousal to child and family situations ...