Engaging Nonresident Fathers: Exploring Collaborative Competencies in Support of Family-Centered Practice

Social service providers in a variety of sectors have struggled to consistently engage nonresident fathers in service provision. A growing body of research indicates that practitioner characteristics and attitudes may help increase retention and engagement among this group of men. These findings coincide with recent mandates from federal policy makers to increase engagement of nonresident fathers in family-centered practice approaches. A central tenet of interest within this framework is the family–professional relationship. Using a collaborative competencies model, the current study seeks to advance this line of research by investigating practitioners’ perceptions of their preparedness to engage nonresident fathers. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were completed with 20 social service practitioners who have experience working with nonresident fathers. A directed content analysis revealed key aspects of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and professional collaborative competencies that practitioners believe are important to facilitate meaningful father engagement. Implications for practice and future research regarding effective social work practice with nonresident fathers are discussed.

“Why Don’t You Reach Out to Dad?”: Involving Fathers in Therapy

Purpose: The literature indicates that engaging fathers in family therapy improves children’s mental health outcomes; however, clinicians are generally ill prepared for this challenge. Method: This qualitative study applies multiple case-study design to focus group data addressing social worker’s training experiences and attitudes toward involving fathers in therapy. Results: From an analysis of qualitative data from 14 social workers in training, three themes are discussed: (1) clinician exposure to nonresident fathers and their perceptions of the role of fathers in families, (2) barriers experienced in engaging fathers in the therapeutic process, and (3) training to work with nonresident fathers. Discussion: The themes are discussed with sample responses from representative participants and training areas. The findings suggest areas of focus for clinician training and practice such as modeling in session strategies, providing supervision and consultation, adjusting institutional policy, and offering additional course work and seminars that encourage and scaffold father engagement.

Predictors of Maternal Participation in Fatherhood Intervention Research With African American Nonresident Fathers

Purpose: The goal of this study was to understand factors that predict mothers’ decisions to participate as data informants in a randomized controlled trial of a fatherhood intervention for African-American non-resident fathers. Method: Baseline data from 178 fathers and 125 mothers in the Dedicated African American Dad (DAAD) study were examined. Prior research and theoretical frameworks by Feinberg and Morawska informed father variable selection. Data were analyzed via bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: Mothers were likely to participate as data informants when they had younger children, the father reported higher stress, less conflict with the mother, and the mothers’ female relatives were less supportive of the father. Conclusion: Mothers’ decisions to participate as data informants in a fatherhood intervention are shaped by a complex array of social, interpersonal and family relationships that impact co-parenting. More research is needed to explore maternal characteristics and additional factors that could influence maternal predictors of participation. Future intervention research with African American non-resident fathers should seek to capitalize on the importance of the co-parenting relationship, by intervening prenatally, bolstering social support, and including extended family and kin networks.

Group-Based Parent Education Intervention for Nonresident Fathers

Research indicates that children with involved fathers fare better than children with disengaged fathers. In response, 4 Your Child provides fatherhood-specific parent education and solution-focused case management services aimed at helping nonresident fathers increase their capacity for taking more active roles in their children’s lives. The purpose of this study was to present the results of preliminary analyses from a sample of 508 nonresident fathers enrolled in 4 Your Child. The results reveal high levels of participant satisfaction and statistically significant increases in parenting knowledge and conflict resolution skills for program participants from pre- to postintervention. Recommendations for future research and practice are also included.