Highlights from the FRAMING Research Responsible Fatherhood Technical Work Group

Recognizing the importance of fathers to their families, as well as, the difficulties that many fathers with low-income backgrounds face supporting their children, the federal government has supported responsible fatherhood (RF) programs for more than a decade. However, many questions remain about how to best serve fathers and their families. The Office of Family Assistance and the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, both within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), are committed to building the evidence base to strengthen healthy marriage (HM) and RF programming. To systematically identify current gaps in the knowledge base for HMRF programming, ACF launched the Fatherhood, Relationships, and Marriage – Illuminating the Next Generation of Research (FRAMING Research) project.

On July 23, 2019, ACF convened the first meeting of the FRAMING Research RF technical work group (TWG). The group included RF practitioners and researchers. This brief describes the meeting, which focused on three topics: (1) measuring the effects of RF programs on child well-being; (2) improving fathers’ engagement with their children through RF programs; and (3) increasing participation rates in RF programs. These topics emerged from the project team’s review of relevant literature and discussions with ACF about agency priorities. The day concluded with TWG members participating in a brainstorming session on RF research priorities.