Topic: Parenting
Target Population: Parents
Sector: Community-Based
Military Sector: Marines, Navy
This program is for fathers with children who are 18 years old and younger.
The 24/7 Dad® program, a community-based program that is part of the National Fatherhood Initiative, is designed to encourage fathers to become responsible, caring, and interested parents.
24/7 Dad was implemented as the fatherhood training program provided by REACHUP, Inc., in Central Tampa, Florida. Measures of self-awareness, fathering skills, parenting skills, relationship skills, and self-care were assessed at pretest and posttest. Results indicated improvements in all areas, and younger participants experienced the most gains, particularly in relationship skills. Following program completion, significantly more participants were able to identify traits of an ideal father, the benefits of marriage, and where individuals learn what it means to be a man.
24/7 Dad intends to build self-awareness, strengthen fathering and relationship skills, and promote self-care. The program is available in two different formats, and both curricula are composed of sessions that are presented in either a group or one-on-one setting.
The program can be implemented using only the 24/7 Dad A.M. format, or sessions can be more comprehensive and consist of the basic 24/7 Dad A.M. curriculum followed by the more advanced 24/7 Dad P.M. curriculum.
Program content can be delivered to custodial and non-custodial fathers, and instructions are provided on how to deliver the program to non-custodial, unemployed, or underemployed fathers.
24/7 Dad, first introduced in 2003, has been used and is currently used extensively in community-based initiatives throughout the United States and by the U.S. military; however, the extent of use in the military is unclear.
This program is implemented by facilitators, and there is no minimum education requirement or specific background experience needed for these individuals. Training is not required as the Program Guide in the Facilitator’s Manual provides necessary information regarding how to run the program. However, public webinar, custom webinar, and on-site training options are available. Please visit https://store.fatherhood.org/trainings/, or use details in the Contact section for more information on training and costs.
Considerations for implementing this program include recruiting facilitators; acquiring buy-in from participants; obtaining funds to cover potential training costs, if desired; locating space to hold sessions; and finding a suitable time to hold sessions.
The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
If you are interested in implementing 24/7 Dad, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
The 24/7 Dad A.M. and 24/7 Dad P.M. programs consist of 12 2-hour sessions and 1 optional introductory session each. One session per week is recommended; however, the program may be delivered twice per week for 6 weeks.
The complete program kit costs $779 each and includes a Facilitator’s Manual with Program Guide, Fathering Handbooks, Quick Reference Cards, and a thumb (flash) drive. Please visit https://store.fatherhood.org/24-7-dad-programs/ for more information on additional products and costs.
To move the 24/7 Dad program to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation with a strong study design should be performed demonstrating positive effects lasting at least six months from program completion.
The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu
You may also contact FatherSOURCE™ Resource Center by mail c/o National Fatherhood Initiative, PO Box 37635, PMB 84123, Philadelphia, PA, 19101-0635, phone 1-240-912-1263, fax 1-301-948-6776, email fathersource@fatherhood.org, or visit http://store.fatherhood.org/contact-us/
Wilson, R. E., Obure, R., Omokaro, P., Salihu, H. M., Berry, E. L., Austin, D. A., & Christner, J. G. (2020). Effectiveness of a 24/7 Dad® curriculum in improving father involvement: Profiles of engagement. International Journal of MCH and AIDS, 9(1), 34-41. https://doi.org/10.21106/ijma.338
Hong, P. Y. P., Lewis, D., Park, J. H., Hong, R., & Davies, E. (2021). Transforming impossible into possible (TIP) for fatherhood: An empowerment-based social work intervention. Research on Social Work Practice, 31(8), 826-835. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315211004743
Obure, R., Salihu, H. M., Aggarwal, A., Turner, A. E., Berry, E. L., Austin, D. A., … Wilson, R. E. (2020). Evaluation of an evidence-based and community-responsive fatherhood training program: Providers' perspective. International Journal of MCH and AIDS, 9(1), 64-72. https://doi.org/10.21106/ijma.297
Perry, A. R., & Langley, C. (2021). Group-based parent education intervention for nonresident fathers. Research on Social Work Practice, 31(8), 860-867. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315211003669
Randles, J. (2018). “Manning up” to be a good father: Hybrid fatherhood, masculinity, and U.S. responsible fatherhood policy. Gender & Society, 32(4), 516-539. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243218770364
Randles, J. (2020). “Harder being without the baby”: Fathers' coparenting perspectives in responsible fatherhood programming. Journal of Marriage and Family, 82(2), 550-565. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12641
Randles, J. (2020). The means to and meaning of “being there” in responsible fatherhood programming with low‐income fathers. Family Relations, 69(1), 7-20. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12376
