Gentle Warriors Academy for Fatherhood

Age: 18 - 65

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

709 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

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 data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Primary Services in the Gentle Warriors Academy for Fatherhood clinical trial?

Research shows that engaging fathers in family-based interventions can improve parenting practices and reduce child behavior problems. Online training programs have been effective in increasing practitioners' confidence and competence in engaging fathers, suggesting that similar approaches could be beneficial in the Gentle Warriors Academy for Fatherhood. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does the Gentle Warriors Academy for Fatherhood treatment differ from other treatments for fatherhood engagement?

The Gentle Warriors Academy for Fatherhood treatment is unique because it focuses on engaging fathers through a structured program that likely includes elements of parenting education and support, similar to programs like Caring Dads and SafeCare Dad to Kids, which aim to improve parenting behaviors and family relationships. Unlike traditional parenting programs that often target mothers, this treatment specifically addresses the needs and engagement of fathers, potentially offering a novel approach to fatherhood involvement. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this descriptive study is to explore whether there is an association between participation in the Gentle Warriors Academy and improvements in outcomes related to parenting, co-parenting, and parental well-being. Participants are surveyed at program entry, program exit, and 12 months following program enrollment, and changes in participant attitudes and behaviors are assessed over time.

Research Team

Matt D Shepherd, PhD

Principal Investigator

Midwest Evaluation and Research

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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 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]

References

1. United States 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. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mentoring fathers of children newly diagnosed with T1DM. [2022]

3. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Low-cost self-paced interventions increase birth satisfaction in first time fathers. [2021]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Enhancing Father Engagement and Interparental Teamwork in an Evidence-Based Parenting Intervention: A Randomized-Controlled Trial of Outcomes and Processes. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An approach to preventing coparenting conflict and divorce in low-income families: strengthening couple relationships and fostering fathers' involvement. [2019]

6. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Working with Fathers to Prevent Child Abuse. A Pilot Evaluation of the Caring Dads Program in Germany]. [2021]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The piloting of a group for the fathers of children with Down syndrome. [2019]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Public health initiative at a young offenders institute. [2019]

9. England 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. [2019]