Parents and Children Together: Spotlight on Responsible Fatherhood Programs and the Men They Serve

Research shows that fathers want to be involved in their children’s lives. For many low-income fathers, complex and interrelated life challenges can limit their ability to be present and provide for their children. The desire to address these challenges is the motivation for many fathers to enroll in a Responsible Fatherhood (RF) grant program, which provides services in parenting education, employment and economic stability, and healthy marriage and relationship skills.

Through the Parents and Children Together (PACT) evaluation, conducted on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (Office of Family Assistance and Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation), Mathematica researchers are contributing to the evidence base regarding approaches to increase positive father involvement in children’s lives.

On December 7, a powerful discussion with PACT researchers, RF program administrators, and RF program participants, shared their experiences and what they learned.

Welcoming Remarks:

• Seth Chamberlain, Senior Social Science Research Analyst, Office of Planning Research and Evaluation (OPRE), Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Robin McDonald, Division Director State Territory TANF Management, Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Presenters:

• Robin Dion, Mathematica senior fellow, PACT project director
• Pamela Holcomb, Mathematica senior researcher
• Heather Zaveri, Mathematica senior researcher

Moderator:

• Waldo E. Johnson, Jr., Associate Professor, School of Social Service Administration and Faculty Affiliate, Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture of the University of Chicago

Panel Discussants:

• Halbert Sullivan, CEO, Fathers’ Support Center, St. Louis, MO
• Brad Lambert, COO and co-founder, Connections to Success, Kansas City, KS and MO
• TBA: Fatherhood program participants

For more information, please contact events@mathematica-mpr.com.