Please consult these additional resources, as applicable, for additional considerations in key areas of Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage (HMRF) programming and research.
General Resources
The 2015 Cohort of Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Grantees: Interim Report on Grantee Programs and Clients. This report describes the 2015 cohort of 85 Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grantees, which were awarded five-year grants in September 2015. The report covers their operations from July 2016 through March 2019 and describes characteristics of the grantees, the clients they serve, the services they provide, and ways in which clients have changed from the beginning to the end of the program. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/the-2015-cohort-of-healthy-marriage-and-responsible-fatherhood-grantees-interim-report-on-grantee-programs-and-clients
At the Center of Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Programs. A Data Snapshot of Program Staff and Support. This snapshot describes program staffing, as well as support for program staffing in the 2015 cohort of Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grantees. Topics include levels of staff education, frequency of staff training and supervision, and implementation challenges related to staffing. The brief also provides practice tips on using the data presented. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/opre/hmrf_2015_program_staffing_508.pdf
Supporting Program Progress: Performance Measures, Data System, and Technical Assistance for the 2020 Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Grantees. This report describes planned performance measures, the data collection system, and supports for the 2020 Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood cohort. It includes proposed strategies to support grantees in collecting high quality performance measures data and recommendations for updating and maintaining nFORM. This report also includes drafts of data collection instruments where applicable.
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/supporting-program-progress-performance-measures-data-system-and-technical-assistance-for-the-2020-hmrf-grantees
Building Data Capacity in Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Grantees: Challenges and Recommended Support. This report describes strategies for strengthening the data capacity of future Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grantees. It includes a summary of common challenges to becoming data-driven based on the experiences of the 2015 Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grantees. Additionally, this report proposes technical assistance strategies to help future Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grantees acquire and hone skills necessary to collect and use data to implement and improve their program and contribute to the knowledge base in the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood field. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/building-data-capacity-healthy-marriage-and-responsible-fatherhood-grantees-challenges
PACT Pathways to Outcomes. This set of resources depicts how specific HMRF program activities might help explain effects of HMRF programs found in federal evaluations. They also suggest research questions evaluators can use to study the implementation and effectiveness of HMRF program activities. These resources might be helpful as you think through the activities you will include in your HMRF program, and as you design an evaluation of your program. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/project/parents-and-children-together-pact-evaluation
Using Data to Understand Your Program. This infographic presents examples of how programs in the B3 study used data from different sources to gain insights about the program participants, services content, and how many services the clients received. Using data to understand these aspects can help programs identify specific opportunities to incorporate new strategies and monitor data for improvement. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/using-data-to-understand-your-program
A Guide to Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Programs for Hispanic Couples and Families. This guide, from the National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families, is an extensive review of programs serving Hispanic couples and fathers. The guide summarizes multiple aspects of Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education and Responsible Fatherhood programs that seek to engage and serve Hispanic populations and is accompanied by detailed profiles of each program listed. This might be a useful resource to consult when considering your program design. http://www.childtrends.org/?publications=healthy-marriage-and-responsible-fatherhood-programs-for-hispanic-couples-and-families-a-program-guide
The Complex and Varied Households of Low-Income Hispanic Children. This research brief, from the National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families, examines the household composition of low-income Hispanic children and reports on the size and structure of households and the employment status of adult household members. The findings from this brief might help programs better understand the families they seek to serve. http://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2015-04ComplexHouseholdsLowIncomeHispanic.pdf
Family Structure and Family Formation among Low-Income Hispanics in the U.S. This research brief, from the National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families, provides a national portrait of low-income Hispanic families in the United States. The brief describes the relationship and childbearing histories of low-income Hispanic men and women ages 15 to 44. This brief might advance understanding of low-income Hispanic families and could help programs in their efforts to assist these families. http://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2014-48HispanicFamilyStructure-1.pdf
Resources for Responsible Fatherhood Projects
Strengthening the Implementation of Responsible Fatherhood Programs (SIRF). The SIRF project will address common implementation challenges faced by Responsible Fatherhood programs (i.e., recruiting fathers, enrolling them in services, and keeping them actively engaged in services) through continuous learning cycles with select grantees from the 2020 cohort of Responsible Fatherhood grantees. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/research/project/strengthening-the-implementation-of-responsible-fatherhood-programs-sirf
Who Enrolls in Responsible Fatherhood Programs? A Data Snapshot of Clients at Program Entry. This snapshot describes clients served by 40 Responsible Fatherhood grantees, which received five-year grants in September 2015. It covers clients enrolled from July 2016 through March 2019 and describes how they learned about the program, their reasons for enrolling, and their demographic and economic characteristics. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/opre/rf_2015_clients_508.pdf
Inside, Outside, Round and Round: Sustaining Engagement in Responsible Fatherhood Programs. This web-based brief provides tips and strategies for improving father engagement in RF programs. The strategies include things programs can address inside the program, outside the program, and through continual learning (“round and round”). The webpage also includes a one-page tip sheet that practitioners can download and print. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/inside-outside-round-and-round-sustaining-engagement-in-responsible-fatherhood-programs
Preventing and Addressing Intimate Violence when Engaging Dads (PAIVED): Challenges, Successes, and Promising Practices from Responsible Fatherhood Programs. This report summarizes findings from the PAIVED research study, which examines the specific approaches that responsible fatherhood programs take to provide intimate partner violence (IPV)-related services. It provides information about the strengths and gaps in existing RF IPV services and referrals and a summary of promises practices that may improve the provision of RF services to prevent and address IPV. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/preventing-and-addressing-intimate-violence-when-engaging-dads-final-report
Applying Cognitive-Behavioral Techniques to Employment Programming for Fathers: Findings from the B3 Study. This brief describes how each organization in B3 implemented CBI-Emp within their existing services and how fathers engaged in both CBI-Emp and the organizations’ usual menus of services. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/applying-cognitive-behavioral-techniques-to-employment-programming-for-fathers-findings-from-the-b3-study
Implementing an Innovative Parenting Program for Fathers: Findings from the B3 Study. This brief describes how each organization in the B3 study implemented the Just Beginning (JB) program within their existing services and how fathers engaged in both JB and the organizations’ usual menus of services. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/implementing-an-innovative-parenting-program-for-fathers-findings-from-the-b3-study
Creating a Trauma-Informed System of Care for Formerly Incarcerated Dads. This brief describes how fatherhood programs serving men in reentry can infuse their programming with the principles and elements of a trauma-informed system of care to support fathers and staff who have experienced trauma. It includes resources that may help fatherhood programs implement a trauma-informed system of care. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/creating-a-trauma-informed-system-of-care-for-formerly-incarcerated-dads
Supporting the Fatherhood Journey: Findings from the Parents and Children Together Evaluation (PACT). This online report describes the four RF programs who participated in PACT, the services they provided, and the impacts they had on the fathers who participated. This report includes videos and quotes from the program staff and fathers. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/supporting-the-fatherhood-journey-findings-from-the-parents-and-children-together-evaluation-pact
Effects of Four Responsible Fatherhood Programs for Low-Income Fathers: Evidence from the Parents and Children Together Evaluation This brief presents the impacts of the RF programs in PACT on fathers’ parenting, relationships, economic stability, and well-being about one year after the fathers enrolled. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/effects-four-responsible-fatherhood-programs-low-income-fathers-evidence-parents-and-children-together-evaluation
Fatherhood Research and Practice Network (FRPN). The FRPN, funded by ACF from 2014 through 2019, promotes advancements in research and practice related to fatherhood programs that serve low-income fathers. The FRPN website includes publications, webinars, and other resources on research and practice. Resources on research focus on topics such as conducting process evaluations and measuring outcomes of fatherhood programs. Practice-focused resources focus on topics such as increasing fathers’ attendance in fatherhood programs and including fathers in state programs and policies. https://www.frpn.org
Resources for Healthy Marriage Projects
Strengthening the Implementation of Marriage and Relationship Services (SIMR). The SIMR project will use rapid-cycle learning to pilot and refine promising solutions to common Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education program implementation challenges (i.e., recruitment, participation, and program completion) with select grantees from the 2020 cohort of Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education grantees. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/research/project/strengthening-the-implementation-of-marriage-and-relationship-services-simr
The Marriage Strengthening Research & Dissemination (MAST) Center conducts research on marriage and romantic relationships in the U.S. and healthy marriage and relationship education programs designed to strengthen these relationships. The MAST Center’s website provides evaluation resources, new research published by the MAST Center, and information for emerging scholars (including current graduate students and early-career professionals in the fields studying relationships and families). https://mastresearchcenter.org
Who Enrolls in Healthy Marriage Programs? A Data Snapshot of Adult Clients at Program Entry. This snapshot describes adult clients served by 45 Healthy Marriage grantees, which received five-year grants in September 2015. It focuses on adult clients enrolled from July 2016 through March 2019 and describes how they learned about the program, their reasons for enrolling, and their demographic and economic characteristics. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/opre/healthy_marriage_2015_clients_508.pdf
Effects of Two Healthy Marriage Programs for Low-Income Couples: Evidence from the Parents and Children Together Evaluation. This brief presents the impacts of these programs about one year after evaluation enrollment on the status and quality of the couples’ relationships, the co-parenting relationships, and job and career advancement. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/effects-of-two-healthy-marriage-programs-for-low-income-couples-evidence-from-the-parents-and-children-together-evaluation
MotherWise: Implementation of a Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education Program for Pregnant and New Mothers. This process study report presents findings on the development and implementation of MotherWise, an HMRE program designed to serve low-income pregnant women and new mothers in Denver, Colorado. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/motherwise-implementation-of-a-healthy-marriage-and-relationship-education-program-for-pregnant-and-new-mothers
“We get a chance to show impact”: Program staff reflect on participating in a rigorous, multi-site evaluation. The Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education (PACE) project was a multi-site, random assignment evaluation of promising strategies for increasing employment and self-sufficiency among low-income families. This brief summarizes findings from interviews conducted with leadership and staff from eight programs about why they decided to participate in the PACE evaluation and what their experience was like. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/we-get-a-chance-to-show-impact-program-staff-reflect-on-participating-in-a-rigorous-multi-site-evaluation
Implementation of Two Versions of Relationship Smarts Plus in Georgia. This process study report presents findings on the implementation of the Relationship Smarts Plus 3.0 (RS+) curriculum in two high schools in suburban Atlanta, Georgia. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/implementation-of-two-versions-of-relationship-smarts-plus-in-georgia
Five Tips for Teaching Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education in Schools. This brief provides five practical tips for HMRE practitioners interested in teaching HMRE in high schools. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/five-tips-for-teaching-healthy-marriage-and-relationship-education-in-schools
Integrating Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education (HMRE) and Employment Services: Design Choices of Two HMRE Grantees. This brief describes how two grantees in the STREAMS evaluation are integrating HMRE and economic stability services, with the goal of increasing participants’ exposure to both types of services. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/integrating-healthy-marriage-and-relationship-education-hmre-and-employment-services-design-choices-of-two-hmre-grantees
Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education Programs for Youth: An In-Depth Study of Federally Funded Programs. This report summarizes findings from a study on HMRE programs serving youth. It aims to examine the extent to which programs serving youth are tailored to their specific developmental and cultural needs. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/healthy-marriage-and-relationship-education-programs-for-youth-an-in-depth-study-of-federally-funded-programs
Promoting Self-Regulation in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Practice Brief. Adolescence and young adulthood are times of both risk and opportunity with regard to self-regulation, which is an important component of healthy development. This brief describes the importance of self-regulation for adolescents and young adults, and provides guidelines practitioners can consider for supporting self-regulation development for 14-25-year-olds. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/promoting-self-regulation-in-adolescents-and-young-adults-a-practice-brief
Current Approaches to Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in Healthy Relationship Programs. This paper, also from the RIViR project, describes current approaches used by healthy relationship programs (who received grants in 2015) to address intimate partner violence (IPV) and teen dating violence (TDV). This summary does not describe best practices, but is a foundational step for exploring how healthy relationship programs influence IPV and TDV. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/current-approaches-to-addressing-intimate-partner-violence-in-healthy-relationship-programs
Evidence for Understanding How Healthy Relationship Programs May Influence Intimate Partner Violence. This brief, from the Responding to Intimate Violence in Relationship Programs (RIViR) project, provides a summary of how healthy relationship program participation could affect intimate partner violence and teen dating violence, how those effects might occur, and how they might differ for different groups of adults and youth. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/healthy-relationship-program-influences-evidence-understanding-healthy-relationship-programs-influence-intimate-partner-violence
Strengthening Families Evidence Review. This review identified and assessed the research on programs for fathers and couples. Studies are rated on the strength of their design for detecting impacts of the program. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/project/strengthening-families-evidence-review-sfer-2010-2013