An Adapted Evidence-Based Coaching Program for Fathers and Their Young Children in the Context of Home Visiting

Randomized Controlled Trial of an Adapted Evidence-Based Coaching Program for Fathers and Their Young Children in the Context of Home Visiting

Father-child pairs (N=200; children ages 12-36 months) will be randomized to FIND-F or a waitlist control group. Assessments comparing the two groups will occur at baseline, end of program, and 6 months post-program. Our aims include:

Aim 1: Evaluate the main impacts of FIND-F on the primary program target (fathers' supportive parenting) and related child and parent outcomes.

Aim 2. Identify mechanisms of FIND-F's intervention effects.

Aim 3. Examine variation by select child, father, and program measures.

The proposed work will achieve three specific aims in the context of a two-arm, fully powered RCT. This will be one of the first large-scale RCTs focused on evaluating the impacts and underlying theory of a nurturing fathering program.

As fathers enroll, they will be randomly assigned to either FIND-F (Group A) or a waitlist control group (Group B). A waitlist control group design is proposed based on community views that it would be unethical to deny consenting, eligible fathers access to FIND-F. This is a common approach in early childhood evaluations to increase program access. Both groups will be assessed at three time points: baseline, endpoint, and 6-Month follow-up. After the 6-month follow-up assessment, the waitlist group will be given the opportunity to receive FIND-F.

Each FIND-F session focuses on a specific element of a serve and return interaction, using the edited films to support fathers in learning about that element. The five elements are: (a) Sharing Child's Focus- when the father notices what the child is interested in and puts his attention there too; (b) Supporting and Encouraging- when the father responds to the child's "serve" through acknowledging, soothing, comforting, or praising the child; (c) Naming - when the father provides a word or explanation for what the child is seeing, doing, or feeling; (d) Back and Forth- when the father and child continue interacting in a longer back-and-forth manner; and (e) Endings and Beginnings- when a child signals the end of an activity, a new serve and return interaction begins, and the father follows the child's lead.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Identify as a father
• Speak English or Spanish
• Have a child between the ages of 12-36 months who lives with you
• Be enrolled in Akin services

Exclusion Criteria:

• No additional exclusion criteria