Elevating Black fathers' experiences in the National Fatherhood Initiative

Strengths and areas for improvement of 24/7 Dad® curriculum and case management services

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21320063
AutoresLaura A Voith (0000-0002-6842-418X, Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio USA, autor de correspondencia), Katie Russell (0000-0003-0439-7095, Case Western Reserve University), Katie N Russell (Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio USA), Ashley Withrow (0000-0001-5584-6749, Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio USA), Jennifer Kearney (Passages: Connecting Fathers and Families Cleveland Ohio USA), Tian Xia (0000-0002-9545-9476, Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio USA), Darrell Coleman (Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio USA)
Año2024
Volumen63
Número4
Páginas1926-1946
Fecha de publicación2024-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaFamily Process (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0014-7370 • E-ISSN: 1545-5300
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/famp.13036
PMID39009824
OpenAlexW4400696800
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas33

The Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grant program is one of the most robust mechanisms supporting fatherhood programming in the United States, with the gold standard of care including fatherhood curriculum (e.g., 24/7 Dad®) and case management services. Despite the fact that fatherhood in the United States is not a monolith and Black fathers make up over 40% of those served through Responsible Fatherhood (RF) program, little research explicitly centers the lived experiences of low‐income Black fathers. The current study used focus groups with fathers ( n = 23) and staff ( n = 8) enrolled in a RF grantee program. Thematic analysis was used to determine programmatic mechanisms supporting these fathers' success and areas for improvement. Our findings highlight that the creation of a “safe space” by facilitators and the power of the group dynamic were essential elements for fathers' success overall. We also identified numerous programmatic mechanisms supporting Black fathers' success specific to fathering, healthy relationships, and economic stability. Finally, we highlighted important limitations that may impede the success of low‐income, Black fathers related to the 24/7 Dad® curriculum, engagement efforts, and economic stability, and discuss related practice, policy, and research recommendations

African american · Curriculum · Economic stability · Focus group · Medical education · Pedagogy · Political science · Qualitative research · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Gender Studies · Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Medicine · Psychology