Lessons Learned on Recruiting and Retaining Young Fathers in a Parenting and Repeat Pregnancy Prevention Program
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Lessons Learned on Recruiting and Retaining Young Fathers in a Parenting and Repeat Pregnancy Prevention Program Sara McGirr1 · Jennifer Torres1 · Julia Heany1 · Hillary Brandon2 · Carrie Tarry2 · Christopher Robinson2
© The Author(s) 2020
Abstract Introduction Research shows that mainstream parenting and repeat pregnancy prevention programs generally do not effectively engage with fathers and that young men’s levels of participation in such services are low. To support practitioners in overcoming the barriers to recruiting and retaining young fathers, the current study aimed to gather lessons learned from one program’s state administrators, case managers, and young fathers about the most effective strategies for engaging this population in intensive case management. Methods Three focus groups were conducted. One focus group was held with the creators and managers of the Michigan Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting Program MI-APPP at the state Department of Health and Human Services (n = 3). The other two groups were designed to jointly engage young fathers currently involved in intensive case management (n = 11) and their case managers (n = 5). A qualitative analysis of the focus group transcripts was conducted using a coding scheme developed from emerging themes in the transcripts and related literature. Results The findings highlight a selection of those strategies that focus group participants perceived to be most successful in improving male recruitment and retention in intensive ongoing case management. Among these strategies were centralizing feedback from young fathers in program decision making, offering opportunities for young fathers to connect, and challenging staff’s negative stereotypes about young fathers. Discussion Despite the small sample size, the results of this study nevertheless contribute to debates in the field regarding appropriate strategies for engaging young fathers by informing professional practice. Keywords Fatherhood · Young men · Recruitment · Retention · Teenage pregnancy
Significance What is already known Recruiting and retaining young fathers in programs for pregnant and parenting adolescents is difficult. Additional strategies informed by the lived experiences of young fathers and program staff are needed to improve engagement. What this study addsPractitioners developing programs for young men should create explicitly father-focused recruitment messaging shared through participant word of mouth and case managers’ existing community ties. To * Sara McGirr [email protected] 1
Michigan Public Health Institute, 2342 Woodlake Drive, Okemos, MI 48864, USA
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, 109 W Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48933, USA
2
retain young men, programs should incorporate strategies that provide emotional support for participants to navigate relationships with parents, co-parents, and friends; allow fathers to guide programming; and provide opportunities to connect with other young fathers.
Introduction Adolescent fathers are an understudied a
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