Father-Focused Programs for Reducing Domestic Violence
(F4C Trial)
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
+1 other location
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: Yale University
Disqualifiers: Protective order, Substance addiction, Cognitive impairment, Psychotic disorder, Suicidal ideation, others
No Placebo Group
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?The goal of this clinical trial is to test the efficacy of Fathers for Change (F4C) compared to standard Batterer Intervention for fathers with a history of Intimate Partner Violence. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are:
1. Is F4C more efficacious than standard BIP in reducing family violence and child mental health impairment?
2. What are the trajectories of therapeutic change targets across interventions?
3. Does father's emotion regulation and reflective functioning mediate the relationship between the two interventions and child-related outcomes? Participants will be randomized to either Fathers for Change on Batterer Intervention.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you have a physiological addiction to a substance that requires detoxification, you will need to complete a detox program before participating.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Fathers for Change in reducing domestic violence?
Research shows that Fathers for Change, a treatment for fathers with issues of domestic violence and substance abuse, led to greater treatment completion, higher satisfaction, and reduced intrusive behavior with children compared to other counseling. It also showed significant reductions in anger and emotional regulation problems, suggesting it may help in reducing domestic violence.
12345Is the Fathers for Change program safe for participants?
The Fathers for Change program has been tested in several studies and has shown positive outcomes, such as reduced substance use and improved parenting interactions, without any reported safety concerns for participants.
23456How is the Fathers for Change treatment different from other treatments for domestic violence?
Fathers for Change is unique because it specifically targets fathers who have issues with both substance abuse and domestic violence, focusing on improving their parenting skills and addressing their role as fathers. This treatment integrates interventions for intimate partner violence and child maltreatment, which is not commonly addressed in traditional programs.
12357Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for fathers with a history of intimate partner violence who have at least one child aged 6 months to 12 years. They must be involved in or recently investigated by CT DCF, agree to involve the child's mother as an informant, and be able to complete assessments in English. Fathers with active protective orders against their children, severe substance addiction needing detoxification, significant cognitive impairment, untreated psychotic disorders, or current suicidal/homicidal thoughts are excluded.Inclusion Criteria
Are able to complete assessments in English
Have a currently open or recently investigated (in the last 6 months) case with CT DCF
Agree to have their female coparents (mother of target child) contacted as collateral informants and for consent for participation of their child. If a participant has more than one child in the age range, the youngest will be selected
+3 more
Exclusion Criteria
I have a psychotic disorder that is not being treated.
Physiological addiction to a substance that requires detoxification. Fathers will be evaluated using the Drug Abuse Screening Test and AUDIT. If fathers report significant difficulties with physiological withdrawal (e.g., alcohol tremors or dope sickness) they will be referred for detox services. They can be re-evaluated following a detox program with documentation from the detox center of successful completion and clean urine screen
Currently suicidal or homicidal ideation based on screening using the BSI
+4 more
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Treatment
Participants receive either Fathers for Change (F4C) or Duluth BIP intervention in weekly 60-minute sessions
18 weeks
18 visits (in-person)
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in family violence, child mental health, and father-child interactions
52 weeks
3 visits (in-person)
Participant Groups
The study compares 'Fathers for Change' (F4C) with standard Batterer Intervention Programs (BIP) to see which is better at reducing family violence and improving children's mental health. It will also examine how changes occur over time and if improvements in fathers' emotional regulation affect the outcomes for their children.
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Fathers for ChangeExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Defining features of F4C include: 1) focus on the fathering role to facilitate engagement, 2) focus on RF to understand self, partner and children and emotion regulation skills to reduce IPV and child maltreatment. F4C focuses on understanding of emotional experiences, how they impact thinking and behaviors related to partners, co-parents and children. F4C clients will meet individually with their F4C therapist for 60 minutes per week over 18 weeks.
Group II: Duluth BIPActive Control1 Intervention
The BIP is a psychoeducational intervention that will be delivered in 60- minute individual weekly sessions over 18 weeks. The intervention focuses on the impact of violence on victims, power and control tactics, and societal influences supporting men's violence toward women. The intervention includes didactics and experiential exercises including video vignettes and role plays to teach anger management skills.
Duluth BIP is already approved in United States, Canada, European Union for the following indications:
🇺🇸 Approved in United States as Duluth BIP for:
- Intimate Partner Violence
- Domestic Violence
🇨🇦 Approved in Canada as Duluth Model for:
- Intimate Partner Violence
- Domestic Violence
🇪🇺 Approved in European Union as Batterer Intervention Program for:
- Intimate Partner Violence
- Domestic Violence
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
UCONN Health CenterWest Hartford, CT
YaleNew Haven, CT
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Yale UniversityLead Sponsor
University of DelawareCollaborator
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)Collaborator
University of ConnecticutCollaborator
References
Integrating intimate partner violence and parenting intervention into residential substance use disorder treatment for fathers. [2019]Despite positive outcomes for the incorporation of gender- and motherhood-focused programing within substance use disorder treatment programs for women, a focus on gender and fatherhood has not been the focus of intervention or evaluation research for men in substance use disorder treatment. This was a mixed method study to examine the initial feasibility of incorporating a fatherhood-focused intervention within a substance use disorder treatment program for men. Forty-four fathers enrolled in a coordinated intervention for intimate partner violence and parenting. Interviews were conducted at baseline and follow-up to assess the impact of the intervention on anger, hostile thinking and emotion regulation problems. Focus groups were also conducted with the participants to gain further insight into their needs as fathers and their recommendations for interventions that they would find helpful. Results indicated a high prevalence of anger related thoughts at baseline that significantly decreased at follow up; there were also significant reductions in affect regulation problems. Importantly, 84.1% of participants completed the program in its entirety and were highly satisfied with the content. These findings suggest that Fathers for Change can be implemented, successfully, in a men's residential treatment program.
Fathers for change: a new approach to working with fathers who perpetrate intimate partner violence. [2021]Legal and social service systems rarely acknowledge the status of men as fathers in the conceptualization and delivery of interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV). Large percentages of men who are arrested and mandated to intervention programs for IPV are fathers who continue to live with or have consistent contact with their young children despite aggression and substance use. There are currently no evidence-based treatments that address co-morbid substance abuse and domestic violence perpetration with emphasis on paternal parenting for fathers. This article will describe the components of a new intervention, Fathers for Change, which addresses the co-morbidity of substance abuse, domestic violence, and poor parenting in fathers of young children. Fathers for Change is unique in its focus on the paternal role throughout treatment. A case example and initial feasibility of the intervention will be described to provide an understanding of the key ingredients and the gap this intervention could fill in the field once tested in efficacy trials.
Fathers for Change for Substance Use and Intimate Partner Violence: Initial Community Pilot. [2023]The lack of focus on the role of men as fathers within intervention programs for men with histories of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or substance abuse is of significant concern given the large numbers of these men who are actively parenting and coparenting children. Fathers for Change is a new intervention designed to fill this gap. Eighteen fathers with co-occurring IPV and substance abuse were randomly assigned to Fathers for Change or Individual Drug Counseling (IDC). They were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and 3 months following the 16-week intervention period. Men in the Fathers for Change group: (1) were more likely to complete treatment; (2) reported significantly greater satisfaction with the program; (3) reported a trend toward less IPV; and (4) exhibited significantly less intrusiveness in coded play interactions with their children following treatment than fathers in the IDC group. Results indicate further evaluation of this intervention in a larger sample is warranted. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.
Risk and Protective Factors for Family Violence among Low-Income Fathers: Implications for Violence Prevention and Fatherhood Programs. [2019]Over the last decade there has been an increased focus on improving father engagement to improve child and family outcomes. Recent research suggests that child and family outcomes improve with increased fatherhood engagement. This exploratory study examined risk and protective factors associated with approval of family violence among a sample of low-income fathers (N = 686) enrolled in a responsible fatherhood program. The program goals include increasing father involvement and economic stability and encouraging healthy relationships-with a focus on preventing intimate partner violence. Toward these aims, this study explored factors associated with fathers' self-reported approval of family violence. Understanding the prevalence of risk and protective factors in this population and factors associated with fathers' potential for family violence is important in developing programs to address responsible fatherhood and healthy relationships.
A randomized pilot trial of two parenting interventions for fathers in residential substance use disorder treatment. [2023]Residential substance misuse treatment programs for men typically do not integrate treatment for intimate partner violence (IPV) or parenting despite significant overlap between substance misuse, IPV and child maltreatment. A randomized trial compared two fatherhood focused interventions in 6-month residential substance misuse treatment programs. Fathers for Change (F4C) is an integrated intervention targeting IPV and child maltreatment. Dads 'n' Kids (DNK) is a psychoeducational intervention focused on child development and behavioral parenting skills. Sixty-two fathers were randomly assigned to F4C or DNK. They received 12 weeks of individual treatment while in the residential facility and were offered 4 aftercare sessions following discharge. They were assessed prior to treatment, at the time of residential discharge, following completion of the intervention booster sessions, and 3 months following intervention. Overall, both groups showed significant reductions in affect dysregulation, anger, and IPV. F4C fathers showed significantly greater decreases in affect dysregulation problems. There were no significant differences between groups on IPV but men who received F4C may have been less likely to use substances after leaving residential treatment. Integration of fatherhood focused interventions were possible and welcomed by residents at the facilities. F4C showed some benefit over DNK in terms of affect dysregulation symptoms and substance use relapse.
Reducing Family Violence Through Child Welfare Intervention: A Propensity Score-Matched Study of Fathers for Change. [2023]Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent, costly, and detrimental to children's health and development. It often co-occurs with child abuse and neglect. Most children referred to child protective services (CPS) have witnessed IPV and are at increased risk for subsequent exposure, as well as repeat maltreatment. For CPS referred children, there is often a missed opportunity to interrupt family violence and prevent future occurrences. Fathers for Change (F4C) is a family level intervention designed to reduce IPV by improving emotion regulation and reflective functioning in fathers. To date, no study has examined whether F4C is associated with reduced recidivism in families referred to CPS. Using propensity score matching (PSM) to simulate an experimental design, the current study tests the hypothesis that families with fathers who completed F4C will have significantly lower rates of new CPS reports over a 12-month period compared to a PSM sample of families of fathers not referred to F4C. Data were extracted from a state CPS electronic case records system on all accepted child maltreatment reports received between January 1, 2015, and April 30, 2020. PSM was successful in balancing potential confounders (e.g., race, number of prior maltreatment reports, risk level, date of report), resulting in a comparison group approximate to one that could be achieved via a randomized control trial. Logistic regression analyses of 1:1 PSM pairs revealed that control fathers were 2.4 times more likely to have a repeat maltreatment report during the 12-month follow-up period than F4C fathers. These findings suggest that F4C may provide an effective approach for reducing risk of repeat maltreatment among CPS referred children with identified IPV exposure.
Examining Partnership Approaches for Engaging Fathers to Address Domestic Violence. [2022]Little is known about partnerships fatherhood programs establish to engage fathers in addressing domestic violence (DV). The study aimed to (a) describe partnership activities between fatherhood programs and organizations that address DV, (b) highlight strategies for productive partnerships, and (c) identify areas in need of improvement for addressing DV. This study discusses findings from qualitative interviews with 27 individuals from 17 fatherhood and DV organizations across the United States including the variety of partnership activities used to prevent and address DV (e.g., conducting trainings or facilitating referrals); strategies for creating productive partnerships; and partnership areas that need further attention.