The Nurturing Dads and Partners (NDAP) Program: Findings from a Mixed-Methods Quasi-Experimental Study

Background and Purpose: This presentation will describe findings from an impact study of the Nurturing Dads and Partners (NDAP) manualized intervention funded through a Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Grant to the State of Colorado Department of Early Childhood. The NDAP integrates two evidence-supported interventions: the Nurturing Fathers Program (Perlman, 1998, 2021) and the Dads Matter-Home Visiting Program (HV) (Bellamy et al., 2021) to leverage both peer and co-parenting support to promote healthy relationships and responsible parenting for fathers. Few fatherhood programs include direct co-parent involvement. This study aimed to contribute to the evidence base on fatherhood programs by examining the impact of NDAP within a holistic, co-parent inclusive, community-based approach to fatherhood programming built on evidence-supported interventions and community support and services tailored to individuals’ needs.

Methods: Data for the study were collected through a quasi-experimental study conducted with 7 intervention sites and 12 comparison sites across Colorado. There were no statistically significant differences between groups on baseline outcome measures. The sample included primarily white and Hispanic/Latino identifying fathers and their partners, most of whom were never married or divorced, with an average age of 36 years in the intervention group and 42 years in the comparison group. The study aimed to estimate the effect of the intervention on parent-child relationships (conflict and closeness), parenting self-efficacy, and co-parent relationships (undermining, alliance, and gatekeeping) and co-parent communication. Qualitative data were collected through interviews and focus groups with fathers and their co-parents. Quantitative data were collected through post-retrospective surveys administered to fathers after participation in NDAP (n = 64) or upon engagement through services as usual at comparison sites. Due to the small sample size, independent samples t-tests were conducted to test between group differences and paired sample t-tests were conducted to test within group differences and generate effect sizes.

Results: Analyses conducted to address the primary research question revealed that NDAP fathers reported significant or trend-level improvements in parent-child relationships, parenting self-efficacy, and co-parenting relationships, and co-parent communication as a result of program participation (all p <.01), with medium-to-large effect sizes. Relative to comparison fathers, they also reported less parent-child conflict (p < .05) and more positive attitudes about their relationship with their child post-intervention (p <.001). Qualitatively, fathers described many positive outcomes, including personal growth, improved family relationships, parenting and communication skills, increased confidence and emotional literacy, and better coping skills.

Conclusion: Study findings suggest that NDAP combined with case management is a promising new model for improving fathers’ parent-child relationships, co-parenting relationships, father self-efficacy, communication skills, and problem-solving skills that fathers, co-parents, and providers find feasible and acceptable. Actively engaging co-parents in programming is particularly innovative and highlights the potential for co-parent engagement to boost co-parenting outcomes beyond those typically observed in fatherhood programs.