Predictors associated with fathers' successful completion of the FOCUS program

• Published date: 01 July 2022
• Author: Matthew R. Rodriguez,Ghaffar Ali Hurtado Choque
• Date: 01 July 2022
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12633

RESEARCH

Predictors associated with fathers’successful

completion of the FOCUS program

Matthew R. Rodriguez|Ghaffar Ali Hurtado Choque

Department of Family Science, University of

Maryland at College Park, College Park,

Maryland, USA

Correspondence

Matthew R. Rodriguez, University of

Maryland, School of Public Health,

Department of Family Science, 4200 Valley

Drive, Suite 1142, College Park, MD 20742-

2611, USA.

Email: mattrod@umd.edu

Abstract

Objective: This research examines fathers’individual and

social characteristics associated with completion of a

fatherhood education program in the context of Child Pro-

tective Services (CPS).

Background: Responsible Fatherhood and similarprograms

are known to contribute to healthy parenting relations.

Despite the growing body of literature on fatherhood pro-

grams, few studies have examined factors that may influ-

ence fathers’completion of a fatherhood program. In this

study, we examined predictors of fathers’completion of the

Families Offering Children Unfailing Support (FOCUS)

program.

Method: The study used secondary data of fathers

(n=675) involved with child welfare services who partici-

pated in the FOCUS program in the Dallas–Fort Worth,

Texas, region. The analyses included binomial logistic

regression and classification tree to examine associations

between fathers’successful program completion and pre-

dictor variables.

Results: Logistic regression analysis revealed fathers hav-

ing higher annual income were 1.59 times more likely to

complete the program than were fathers having lower

annual income. Also, fathers having a child welfare con-

servatorship referral were 1.89 times more likely to com-

plete the program compared to fathers having other types

of referrals. Classification tree analysis revealed that eth-

nicity, nonmarried status, and older age predicted fathers’

program completion.

Conclusion: This study advances understanding of which

individual and social characteristics predict fathers’com-

pletion of the FOCUS for Fathers program.

Implications: To increase father participation, practitioners

may consider increasing the scheduling and session format

options along with reconsidering the sequencing of their

incentives. Programs also may consider the importance of

Received: 7 August 2020Revised: 24 June 2021Accepted: 15 August 2021

DOI: 10.1111/fare.12633

© 2022 National Council on Family Relations.

1142 Family Relations. 2022;71:1142–1158.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fare

facilitating trust and camaraderie between the program

facilitators and participants.

KEYWORDS

child welfare/well-being, fathers and fatherhood, program development

and evaluation

INTRODUCTION

Fathers involved with Child Protective Services (CPS) can face a myriad of challenges, such as

co-parenting conflict, financial and housing instability, mental health issues, and substance

abuse (Huebner et al., 2008; Jarpe-Ratner et al., 2015; Lee, 2013). Maternal gatekeeping also

may prove challenging to many fathers seeking to improve their relationships with children

(Schoppe-Sullivan et al., 2008). Child welfare figures for the state of Texas in 2019 show a total

of 51,417 children in the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services legal responsibil-

ity (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, 2020b). Because of the challenges

that fathers and their families face, Congress has supported responsible fatherhood through the

passage of legislation that funds community-based initiatives and other services (“Deficit

Reduction Act,”2005). One of the programs in the Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas, region assisting

fathers with children involved with child welfare services is called Families Offering Children

Unfailing Support (FOCUS) for Fathers. This study aims to understand which paternal individ-

ual and social characteristics predicted successful completion of the FOCUS for Fathers pro-

gram. The study findings will help practitioners and researchers understand the participant

characteristics and kinds of support needed when helping fathers complete their child welfare

program service requirements.

Potential influences of program attendance

This study addresses multiple gaps in the literature regarding predictors of attendance in father-

ing programs. An evaluation of attendance in community-based fatherhood programs reveals

that program intensity, sequencing of activities, scheduling, transportation access, and other

participant factors appear to influence fathers’participation in fatherhood programs (Pearson

et al., 2018). Symptoms of depression or anxiety or lower couple relationship satisfaction may

negatively affect fathers’attendance (Pruett et al., 2009). Being married has been found to be a

significant predictor of father program attendance (Holmberg & Olds, 2015). Unemployment

and unstable employment have been found to be barriers to fathers’involvement in home-based

programs (McAllister et al., 2004). Program components, such as services attraction, facilitator

skill, and regular contact with the participants, may influence high program attendance (Cowan

et al., 2009).

Regarding program dosage thresholds, a study found that fathers who attended at least

eight out of 10 sessions reported significant increases in fathers’self-perceived parenting efficacy

(Kim & Jang, 2018). Another study found that programs lasting at least 2 months were more

effective than programs lasting only a couple of hours (Bronte-Tinkew et al., 2012). Providing

transportation assistance, such as bus passes and metro cards, along with offering sessions at

numerous community site locations, proved important to multiple programs seeking to increase

father participation (Tannehill et al., 2009). Court mandates also were found to be associated

with higher participation rates (Pearson et al., 2011).

Despite these findings, some researchers have found a need for more rigorous examinations

of influences on fathers’dosage (Fagan & Pearson, 2020). Understanding program graduation

PREDICTORS ASSOCIATED WITH FATHERS’COMPLETION OF

FOCUS PROGRAM

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