Evaluation of a Statewide Implementation of Fathers for Change: a Fathering Intervention for Families Impacted by Partne
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Evaluation of a Statewide Implementation of Fathers for Change: a Fathering Intervention for Families Impacted by Partner Violence Carla Smith Stover 1
&
Rebecca Beebe 2,3 & Meghan Clough 2 & Susie DiVietro 2,3 & Linda Madigan 4 & Damion J. Grasso 3
Accepted: 27 August 2020 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract A substantial number of families are involved with the child welfare system because of children’s exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), which has significant impact on the health of the entire family. This study presents a program evaluation for a statewide implementation of a fatherhood focused individual and family treatment for men referred by the child welfare system and provided by six community mental health agencies. Data from 204 fathers and their coparents referred to Fathers for Change (F4C) were analyzed to assess a) the feasibility of F4C and b) the impact of the intervention on IPV as measured by mothers’ reports on the Abusive Behavior Inventory, children’s exposure to conflict on the Coparenting Relationship Scale, and fathers’ symptoms. Completion rates for the program were 73%. Age, race, severity of IPV and alcohol misuse were not associated with drop out, but those with significant drug use problems were 2.3 times more likely to drop out. Among treatment completers, mothers reported significantly reduced IPV and children’s exposure to conflict, with medium to large effect sizes. Fathers reported significant improvements in their emotion regulation, parental reflective functioning, as well as anger and hostility. F4C was feasible with high completion rates and significant reductions in IPV and children’s exposure to conflict. Keywords Intimate partner violence . Fathers . Intervention . Child welfare . Emotion Dysregulation
Introduction More than a third of children involved with child protective services (CPS) live in homes with intimate partner violence (IPV) (Casanueva et al. 2014; Hamby et al. 2011). For these children, IPV in the home increases risk for experiencing direct victimization like physical abuse, other forms of adversity and trauma (community violence, poverty, and neglect), and repeated contact with CPS (Casaneuva et al. 2009; Colletti et al. 2008; Grasso et al. 2019; O’Dea et al. 2020; Stover et al. 2017b). Exposure to adversity and trauma can * Carla Smith Stover [email protected] 1
Yale University School of Medicine Child Study Center, 230 S. Frontage Road, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
2
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Injury Prevention Center, 282 Washington Street, Hartford, CT 06106, USA
3
University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 65 Kane Street, Room 2028, West Hartford, CT 06119, USA
4
The State of Connecticut Department of Children and Families, 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06103, USA
accumulate across childhood to impose detrimental effects on development and functioning that can persist into adolescence and adulthood (Grasso et al. 2016; Kitzmann et al. 2003). There is sub
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