The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility of a novel intervention approach for fathers arrested for an initial episode of intimate partner violence (IPV) by systematically developing an alternate version of a standard, statewide, court-mandated Family Violence Education Program (FVEP) to focus specifically on the importance of fathering within a cognitive-behavioral intervention to be called Fatherhood Focused FVEP (F3).

This study will aim to modify the treatment as usual FVEP framework to be father focused. Materials will be developed to accommodate the change in scope of program focus for the purposes of training and supervising group leaders. An evaluation of the fidelity to the original FVEP model will be assessed through the review of service delivery.

In addition, the acceptability of Fatherhood Focused FVEP (F3) will be compared to the treatment as usual, FVEP as it is presently implemented. To do this, fathers who participate in FVEP will be compared to men who participate in F3 around the constructs: group cohesion, motivation to change, satisfaction with the program and rates of successful completion. Tertiary outcomes will include the assessment of: aggression toward intimate partners and hostile-aggressive parenting behaviors as reported on assessment measures and subsequent arrest records.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Fathers referred to the FVEP program as a pretrial diversion following their first arrest for an incident of IPV with a female partner.
• Fathers must have at least one biological child under the age of 18.
• Fathers must have at least monthly contact with one of their biological children.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Fathers will be excluded if they are arrested for violence perpetrated against someone other than a current or former female partner.
• Fathers will be excluded if there is evidence of psychotic of suicidal symptoms on the Brief Symptom Inventory.
• Fathers will be excluded if they unable to complete questionnaires and group intervention in English.